The Symmes Valley Vikings shot terrible in the first half. Then things got bad.

The Vikings struggled through a cold shooting night as they lost 59-54 to the Portsmouth Clay Panthers Friday in a Southern Ohio Conference Div. I game.

“We shot as bad as we possibly could shoot and still had a chance,” said Vikings’ coach Alvin Carpenter after his team was just 23-of-73 from the field for 31 percent.

“We played hard and battled the whole game, but we just couldn’t find the basket.”

The Vikings (0-2, 0-1) opened the game with a 10-4 run and Robbie Powell scored seven of his nine points for a 12-11 lead.

But then the offense began to misfire as the Vikings missed 11 layups or putbacks under the basket. The result was a 29-23 halftime deficit.

Clay built a 15-point lead during the third quarter and led 45-32 at the end of the quarter.

Things changed in the fourth quarter as the Vikings got within three points and had three straight possessions with a chance to get closer or tie the game only to turn the ball over.

“We got close, but we’re so young and inconsistent we just couldn’t get over the hump,” said Carpenter.

Kris Tibbs — who scored all nine of the Vikings’ points in the third quarter — netted 13 points in the fourth quarter as the Vikings outscored Clay 22-14.

But Cody Buster sank three key foul shots down the stretch as the Panthers converted 9-of-13 from the line in the quarter.

Tibbs finished with 27 points, 16 rebounds, and four steals.

John Valentin scored 22 points to lead Clay (1-1, 1-0).

The Vikings travel to Green Tuesday for an SOC game.

Portsmouth Clay 11 18 16 14 = 59

Symmes Valley 12 11 9 22 = 54

PORTSMOUTH CLAY (1-1, 1-0): Chaz Lawson 1 0 1-2 3, T.J. Mershon 2 0 2-5 6, Brandon Puckett 1 2 0-0 8, John Valentin 6 1 7-8 22, Cody Buster 3 0 3-5 9, Cameron Caseman 1 0 0-0 2, Gabe Duduit 4 0 1-2 9. Totals: 18 3 14-22 59. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None.

SYMMES VALLEY (0-2, 0-1): Josh Craft 1 1 0-0 5, Kris Tibbs 11 1 2-4 27, Luke Taylor 2 1 2-5 9, Robbie Powell 3 1 0-1 9, Brandon Bowling 2 0 0-0 4, Justin Payne 0 0 0-0 0, Jesse Graybeal 0 0 0-0 0, Hunter Johnson 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 23-73 4-10 54. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: None. 3-point goals: 4. Rebounds: 32 (Tibbs 16, Bowling 7). Assists: 9 (Bowling 4, Payne 3). Steals: 14 (Tibbs 4, Bowling 4, Payne 4). Turnovers: 14.