WILLOW WOOD — It’s better to go some directions than others.

The Symmes Valley Vikings were coming and going this weekend as they beat Western on Friday but lost to Eastern on Saturday.

Symmes Valley used a big fourth quarter to beat the Western Indians 64-53 Friday. The Vikings battled back from an early deficit on Saturday but couldn’t overtake the Southern Ohio Conference champion Eastern Eagles as they fell 65-54.

Eastern took an 18-9 first quarter lead and fought off the Vikings who drew within one point of the lead in the second half.

“We didn’t shoot the ball well and they did. They played like league champs,” said Vikings’ coach Jerome Fuller.

“We came back and cut into their lead and got within one or two a couple of times and they answered. And down the stretch they made their free throws.”

Eastern converted 15-of-19 from the line for the game with almost all of their attempts coming in the fourth quarter. Jordan Thornsberry was was 9-of-10 from the line in the final quarter.

Michael Ferris had 12 points to pace a balanced offense for the Vikings. Luke Taylor had 10 rebounds and Kris Tibbs 7.

Doug McVey and Kevin Montgomery scored 14 points each, Kole Wheeler 12 and Derek Lawhorn 11 for Eastern (16-2, 14-0).

On Friday at Western, the Vikings had to overcome a season-high 24 turnovers including 19 in the first half.

“That was our worst game of the season. We turned it over too much in the first half and we didn’t shoot well. Michael Ferris saved us,” said Fuller.

Ferris hit 7-of-9 shots from the field as he scored 18 points. Tibbs scored 13 points including 8-of-12 from the foul line.

Taylor grabbed 12 rebounds while Hunter Johnson had 7.

Kory Bakenhaster had 14 points and Sean Flint 11 to pace Western (4-15, 4-9).

The Vikings led 19-18 at the end of the first quarter and pulled away to a 29-23 lead at the half.

Western came back to within 44-42 after three quarter before the Vikings began to pull away.

Symmes Valley was 8-of-15 from the line the fourth quarter as Western fouled in an attempt to get back in the game.

The Vikings are now 12-6 and finish 10-4 in the SOC. They play Trimble at 8 p.m. Wednesday in the Division IV sectional at Wellston.

Saturday’s Game

Eastern 18 12 12 23 = 65

Sym. Valley 9 17 13 15 = 54

BEAVER EASTERN (16-2, 14-0): Dakota Hawks 1 0 0-0 2, Chad Landlow 0 1 0-0 3, Jordan Thornsberry 0 0 9-10 9, Derek Lawhorn 1 3 0-0 11, Jordan Selby 0 0 0-2 0, Doug McVey 2 2 4-4 14, Kole Wheeler 5 0 2-2 12, Kevin Montgomery 7 0 0-1 14. Totals: 16 6 15-19 65.

SYMMES VALLEY (12-6, 10-4): Drew Brock 0 1 0-0 3, Justin Payne 2 1 2-3 9, Kris Tibbs 4 0 0-0 8, Luke Taylor 2 0 4-5 8, Hunter Johnson 3 0 0-1 6, Josh Craft 1 0 0-0 2, Brandon Bowling 3 0 0-0 6, Jacob Patterson 0 0 0-0 0, Michael Ferris 4 1 1-2 12, Ryan Stanley 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 22-58 7-11 54. 3-point goals: 3-16. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: Taylor. Rebounds: 33 (Taylor 10, Tibbs 7). Assists: 8 (Tibbs 2, Ferris 2, Brock 2). Steals: 5 (Payne 2). Turnovers: 14. Blocked shots: Tibbs 2.

Friday’ Game

Sym. Valley 19 10 15 20 = 64

Western 18 5 19 11 = 53

SYMMES VALLEY (12-5, 10-3): Drew Brock 0 0 2-2 2, Justin Payne 1 0 0-0 2, Kris Tibbs 1 1 8-12 13, Luke Taylor 2 0 1-4 5, Hunter Johnson 3 0 1-2 7, Josh Craft 2 1 6-8 13, Brandon Bowling 2 0 0-2 4, Jacob Patterson 0 0 0-0 0, Michael Ferris 7 0 4-8 18, Ryan Stanley 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 20-50 22-38 64. Fouls: 21. Fouled out: Taylor. 3-point goals: 2-8. Rebounds: 38 (Taylor 12, Johnson 7). Assists: 3. Steals: 15 (Tibbs 3, Ferris 3). Turnovers: 24.

LATHAM WESTERN (4-15, 4-9): Cody Cooper 2 0 0-0 4, Bruce Knauf 0 0 0-0 0, Aaron Satterfield 2 1 2-4 9, Colton Ross 0 0 0-0 0, Klay Park 0 1 3-4 6, Sean Flint 5 0 1-2 11, Dustin Gragg 0 0 0-0 0, Stephen Stojanovic 2 0 5-8 9, Kory Bakenhaster 5 0 4-4 14. Totals: 16 2 15-22 53. Fouls: 29. Fouled out: Stojanovic.