By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

WILLOW WOOD — The Symmes Valley Vikings had to play a waiting game, and it turns out they knew how to play it very well.

The Vikings showed patience on offense as they beat the Portsmouth Clay Panthers 45-36 on Friday in a Southern Ohio Conference game.

“They sat in a zone and we had to be patient. We did a pretty good job waiting for our shots,” said Vikings’ coach Jerome Fuller.

“It wasn’t a pretty win, but it was a win and I’ll take it, especially since it’s a league game.”

Tyler Rowe led the Vikings with 13 points and 12 rebounds while Austin Baldwin added 12 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocked shots.

“We dominated the boards. The kids worked really hard on rebounding,” said Fuller.

The Vikngs (2-3, 2-0) took a 12-11 lead at the end of the first quarter and 18-15 at the half.

Baldwin and Rowe scored 4 points each in the third quarter as the Vikings pulled away to a 30-24 lead.

Baldwin had 6 more points in the fourth quarter to help seal the win.

The Vikings plays a pivotal SOC game at Green on Tuesday.

Portsmouth Clay 11 4 9 12 = 36

Symmes Valley 12 6 12 15 = 45

PORTSMOUTH CLAY (1-4, 1-1): Chase Hiles 1 3 0-1 11, Chandler King 3 2 2-2 14, Levi Evans 0 1 0-0 3, Michael Schmidt 4 0 0-2 8, Jared Ruby 0 0 0-0 0, Eldin Sarajlic 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 8 6 2-5 36. Fouls: 12.Fouled out: None.

SYMMES VALLEY (2-3, 2-0): Alec Herrell 4 0 0-0 8, Zane Wheeler 0 0 0-0 0, Dylan Pelletier 0 0 0-1 0, D.J. Miller 3 0 2-5 8, Tyler Wilson 0 0 0-0 0, Tanner Conley 1 0 0-0 2, Austin Baldwin 6 0 0-2 12, Mitch Corn 1 0 0-0 2, Tyler Rowe 60 1-2 13. Totals: 21-55 3-10 45. Rebounds: 46 (Rowe 13, Baldwin 7, Conley 6, Corn 6). Assists: 14 (Miller 5, Rowe 3). Steals: 8 (Miller 2, Baldwin 2). Blocked shots: 3 (Baldwin 2). Turnovers: 14.