By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

WILLOW WOOD — The Symmes Valley Vikings were short-handed but that didn’t keep them from meeting a major challenge head-on.

Playing without starting point guard D.J. Miller, the Vikings faced the Portsmouth Notre Dame Titans in a key Southern Ohio Conference game on Tuesday.

But the Vikings couldn’t overcame Miller’s absence and their offensive struggles as they lost 61-51 to the Titans.

“I knew our kids would play well. They are competitive kids,” said Vikings’ coach Jerome Fuller. “Alec Herrell stepped up and played his best game and Mitch Corn did a nice job.”

Herrell had a season-high 16 points to go with 3 assists for the Vikings who fell to 5-6overall and 5-2 in the SOC.

Tyler Rowe had 15 points and 10 rebounds and Mitch Corn 8 points and 9 rebounds.

Tyler Noel scored 15 points, J.P. Kayser 14 and Michael Mader 12 as the Titans improved to 10-2 and 6-1 in the SOC, one game behind league leader Eastern.

But the Vikings were just 19 of 53 from the field (36 percent) and 10 of 20 from the foul line.

“We had our chances. We didn’t shoot well and we didn’t make our free throws. Not having D.J. took away a lot of our pressure defense,” said Fuller.

Notre Dame was up 17-10 at the end of the first quarter and it was 28-18 at the half.

Herrell and Rowe scored 6 points each in the third quarter but the Titans still managed to extend the lead to 46-32.

The Vikings made a charge in the fourth quarter as Herrell scored 7 points and Rowe and Corn 6 each to cut the deficit to 7. But the Titans were able to hang on for the win.

Notre Dame 17 11 18 15 = 61

Symmes Valley 10 8 14 19 = 51

PORTSMOUTH NOTRE DAME (10-2, 6-1): Kevin Lewis 1 0 0-3 2, Dakota Smith 0 0 0-0 0, Joey Story 0 0 2-2 2, Tyler Noel 5 0 5-8 15, Will Haney 1 0 0-0 2, Michael Mader 2 0 8-10 12, Brad Pierron 4 1 3-4 14, Daniel Ogg 0 0 0-0 0, J.P. Kayser 1 4 0-1 14. Totals: 14 5 18-28 61. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None.

SYMMES VALLEY (5-6, 5-2): Alec Herrell 5 2 0-0 16, Johnathan Kouns 0 0 2-2 2, Zane Wheeler 0 0 0-0 0, Dylan Pelletier 0 0 1-4 1, Tyler Wilson 0 1 0-0 3, Tanner Conley 1 0 0-0 2, Austin Baldwin 2 0 0-2 4, Mitch Corn 3 0 2-2 8, Tyler Rowe 5 0 5-10 15. Totals: 19-53 10-20 51. 3-point goals: 3-9. Rebounds: 39 (Rowe 10, Corn 9). Assists: 10 (Baldwin 4, Herrell 3). Steals: 5. Turnovers: 19. Blocked shots: 1. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: None.