WILLOW WOOD — If the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz still needs a heart, he might try the Symmes Valley Lady Vikings instead of fighting the Wicked Witch.

The Lady Vikings gave an emotional effort Thursday as they knocked off Southern Ohio Conference co-leader Portsmouth Clay 53-44.

“I am so proud of my kids tonight,” Lady Vikings coach Lisa Bryant said. “They played with so much heart and emotion and left it on the floor.”

Symmes Valley kept its SOC title hopes alive with the win. The Lady Vikings are 10-5 overall and 7-4 in the SOC. The Lady Panthers fell to 12-3 and 8-3 in the SOC.

The key to the game proved to be at the foul line. Symmes Valley made 26 of 38 free throws while Clay was only 13 of 34.

Emily Bowling sparked the Lady Vikings with 28 points including 16 of 21 at the foul line. She also had 7 rebounds and 5 steals.

Tiffany Bryant had 10 points and 9 rebounds and Kayla Saunders added 7 points and 2 assists.

“Emily Bowling had a complete all-around game,” coach Bryant said.

“I told our girls to be patient on the offensive end and not get into foul trouble that we would give ourselves a chance to win this game. Clay is a very good team and they played hard for four quarters.”

Bowling scored 8 points and Bryant 5 in the first quarter as Symmes Valley went up 14-8, but Clay closed to within 18-16 at the break.

Bowling hit a pair of 3-pointers as she scored 11 points in the third quarter to give Symmes Valley a 31-28 lead. She was 9 of 12 at the line in the fourth quarter as the Lady Vikings outscored Clay 22-16.

Mallory White had 11 points and Kristen Adams 10 for Clay.

“We did a good job defensively on both Adams and (Dani) Summers. They’re both really good players,” coach Bryant said.

Symmes Valley will now host Western Pike, the SOC’s other co-leader, on Saturday.

The girls jayvee will play at 1 p.m. followed by the boys’ jayvees and then the girls’ and boys’ varsity games.

Ports. Clay881216=44

Sym. Valley1441322=53

PORTSMOUTH CLAY (12-3, 8-3): Brittany Weeks 1 2 0-0 8, M. Burchett 1 0 0-0 2, Mallory White 1 0 9-16 11, Alex Jackson 2 0 0-0 4, Dani Summers 3 0 1-4 7, Tammi Groves 1 0 0-4 2, Kristen Adams 3 0 4-10 10. Totals: 12

2

14-34

44. Fouls: 19. Fouled out: Jackson.

SYMMES VALLEY (10-5, 7-4): Tiffany Bryant 4 0 2-5 10, Haily Pelletier 0 0 0-0 0, Emily Bowling 3 2 16-21 28, Chelsea Wall 0 0 0-0 0, Kayla Saunders 0 1 4-4 7, Natasha Pointer 1 0 4-8 6, Sarah Ashworth 0 0 0-0 0, Libby Ash 1 0 0-0 2. Totals: 12-48

(3)

26-38

53. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: Ash. Rebounds: 28 (Bryant 9, Bowling 7, Ash 5). Assists: 3 (Saunders 2). Steals: 11 (Bowling 5, Bryant 2). Turnovers: 17.