By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

PEDRO — When the going got tough, the Rock Hill Redmen got going.

After losing an early big lead, the Redmen fought off a Symmes Valley comeback as they held of the Vikings 47-40 on Tuesday.

“The thing I was most proud of was late in the game they cut the lead to five and we didn’t roll over. We hit some shots and extended the lead,” said Rock Hill coach Bob Wilds.

Vikings’ coach Jerome Fuller lamented his team’s 15 of 47 field goal shooting for just 31.9 percent.

“You can’t spot a team a 15-point lead and expect to come back,” said Vikings’ coach Jerome Fuller. “We had our chances but we couldn’t score. We have to find some offense.”

Andy Knipp had 15 points and 9 rebounds to lead the Redmen (1-1). Will McCollister added 10 points and 9 rebounds. Trey Wilds had 7 rebounds and 3 assists.

D.J. Miller scored 11 points and had 4 steals while Tyler Rowe grabbed 11 rebounds to pace the Vikings (0-2).

Knipp had 5 points in the first quarter as the Redmen jumped in front 19-4.

McCollister had 5 points in the second quarter but Tanner Conley and Dylan Pelletier had 4 points each as the Vikings closed the gap to 28-16.

Miller scored all 11 of his points including three 3-pointers as Symmes Valley outscored the Redmen 18-11 and got within 39-34. Five different players scored in the third quarter for the Redmen.

After the Vikings closed the deficit to 4 points in the fourth quarter, Drew Kidd converted 3of 4 free throws over the final 30 seconds to seal the win.

“We tend to lose focus and when we do that we let teams make a run,” said coach Wilds.

Symmes Valley 4 12 18 6 = 40

Rock Hill 19 9 11 8 = 47

SYMMES VALLEY (0-2): Alec Herrell 1 0 0-0 2, Zane Wheeler 0 1 0-0 3, Dylan Pelletier 4 0 0-0 8, D.J. Miller 1 3 0-1 11, Lane Wilson 0 0 0-0 0, Tanner Conley 0 0 4-6 4, Austin Baldwin 0 1 0-0 3, Mitch Corn 0 0 0-0 0, Tyler Rowe 4 0 1-2 9. Totals: 15-47 5-9 40. 3-point goals: 5-17. Rebounds: 26 (Rowe 11). Assists: 5. Steals: 10 (Miller 4). Turnovers: 13. Blocked shots: 2 (Baldwin 2). Fouls: 17. Fouled out: Herrell.

ROCK HILL (1-1): Drew Kidd 0 1 3-4 6, Will McCollister 2 1 3-7 10, Evan Morris 2 0 1-1 5, Trey Wilds 1 1 0-0 5, Jared Bruce 0 0 0-0 0, Laden Delawder 0 2 0-1 6, Andrew Schwab 0 0 0-0 0, Andy Knipp 7 0 1-2 15. Totals: 17-38 8-15 47. 3-point goals: 5-12. Rebounds: 7-25=32 (Knipp 9, McCollister 9, Wilds 7). Assists: 7 (Wilds 3). Steals: 4. Turnovers: 14. Fouls: 15. Fouled out: None.