WELLSTON — Looks can be deceiving.

On paper, Wednesday’s Division IV sectional tournament semifinal game looked like an even match. But when Symmes Valley had finished, the Vikings looked like anything but an equal to the Trimble Tomcats.

The Vikings put together one of their best performances of the season as they routed Trimble 68-38.

“We played three of the better quarters we have all year. Trimble is a 12-win team and if you beat them by 30, you have to play pretty well,” said Vikings’ coach Jerome Fuller.

Chuck Love hit a 3-pointer and Trimble had a lead.

It didn’t last long.

The Vikings then hit 7-of-10 shots from the field. Josh Craft scored 10 points and Kris Tibbs 7 as Symmes Valley went on a 20-0 run to end the quarter.

Trimble was able to get within 28-16 at the half as the Vikings scored just 8 points in the second quarter.

“We relaxed and took a few shots we shouldn’t have taken. That’s how we’ve played all year,” said Fuller.

Trimble got within 30-20 in the third quarter, but the Vikings put together a 16-4 run and put the game out of reach at 46-24.

Fuller emptied his bench in the fourth quarter and the Vikings still outscored the Tomcats 22-14.

Craft led all scorers with 23 points including a pair of 3-point goals. Tibbs had 13 points, 9 rebounds, 3 steals and 3 blocked shots.

Luke Taylor scored 11 points and grabbed 12 rebounds.

“Kris Tibbs played one of his best games and he only had 13 points. He played hard on defense and had his best defensive game,” said Fuller.

Besides, Tibbs, Fuller said center Ryan Stanley played well against the Tomcats’ 6-foot-6 center Noah Guthrie.

‘Stanley contributed for us. He did a good job keeping (Guthrie) away from the basket. He played him tough,” said Fuller.

Guthrie led Trimble (12-9) with 16 points but half came in the fourth quarter.

The Vikings will play Eastern at 6:15 p.m. Tuesday in the sectional finals at Wellston High School.

Sym. Valley 20 8 18 22 = 68

Trimble 3 13 8 14 = 38

SYMMES VALLEY (13-6): Justin Payne 1 0 0-1 2, Kris Tibbs 2 1 6-7 13, Luke Taylor 5 0 1-2 11, Hunter Johnson 2 0 0-0 4, Josh Craft 7 2 3-3 23, Drew Brock 0 1 0-1 3, Michael Ferris 2 0 1-2 5, Ryan Stanley 1 0 1-1 3, Brandon Bowling 0 0 0-0 0, Jacob Patterson 1 0 0-2 2, Brad Lemaster 1 0 0-0 2, Corey Brown 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 26-60 12-17 68. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: None. 3-point goals: 4-10. Rebounds: 43 (Taylor 12, Tibbs 9). Assists: 13 (Johnson 3). Steals: 9 (Tibbs 3). Turnovers: 11. Blocked shot: 5 (Tibbs 3).

TRIMBLE (12-9): Zac Smith 2 0 0-0 4, Charles Kish 1 1 0-0 5, Chuck Love 0 1 5-6 8, Noah Guthrie 6 0 4-7 16, Richard Drake 2 0 1-2 5, Devin Earich 0 0 0-0 , Tyler Davis 0 0 0-0 0, Kendall Herbert 0 0 0-0 0, Matthew Azbell 0 0 0-0 0, Cyrus Jones 0 0 0-0 0, Chris Spears 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 13-44 10-15 38. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: Kish, Drake. 3-point goals: 2-14. Rebounds: 26 (Guthrie 13). Steals: 2. Turnovers: 17.