WILLOW WOOD — The lead singer is the star of the show, but the backup vocals are very important, too.

While the starting lineup is usually the key for the Symmes Valley Vikings, their backups proved to be more valuable Wednesday in a 50-32 win over the Green Bobcats in a Southern Ohio Conference game.

“Our bench came out and played defense and made some shots and got us rolling. (Michael) Ferris and (Hunter) Johnson are playing better for us,” said Vikings’ coach Jerome Fuller.

While the bench was giving the Vikings a much-needed jump start, senior forward Kris Tibbs continued his leading role in the offense. Tibbs scored 14 points and eclipsed the 1,000-point career scoring mark.

“We’ve changed things and asked him to play differently and he’s adjusted. He’s played better defense. When he makes shots, we’re hard to beat,” Fuller said.

The Vikings (11-5, 9-3) needed their defense. The offense struggled with 20-of-60 shooting for 33 percent. Green (9-7, 8-5) shot 13-of-54 for just 24 percent.

Green took a 9-2 lead before the Vikings went on a 12-0 run to take a 14-9 lead early in the second quarter. Tibbs had 6 points in the second quarter to give the Vikings a 25-16 lead at the half.

Tibbs scored 6 more points in the third quarter and reached his personal milestone. He also helped the Vikings go up 37-26.

Symmes Valley continued to pull away in the fourth quarter and Fuller emptied his bench early.