Vikings overcome struggles to beat Portsmouth Clay

Published 3:21 am Wednesday, January 25, 2012

By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

PORTSMOUTH — Everything seemed to be going wrong for the Symmes Valley Vikings.

The Vikings were struggling with their shooting and point guard D.J. Miller was trying to play on a sprained ankle as well as battling foul trouble.

Despite their problems, the Vikings dug deep and found a way to win as they beat the Portsmouth Clay Panthers 51-44 in a Southern Ohio Conference game on Tuesday.

“We didn’t shoot well and we turned it over too much and that let them slow the game down,” said Vikings’ coach Jerome Fuller.

“Clay likes to keep the score low and try to hit 3’s. That’s what they did but we found a way to overcome all our problems and win.”

The Panthers made nine 3-pointers and just six 2-point goals for the game

Tyler Rowe scored 17 points to go with 15 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals to lead the Vikings (6-7, 6-2). Austin Baldwin added 10 rebounds.

“Rowe had a big game for us,” said Fuller.

Chandler King scored 17 and Chase Hiles 16 for Clay (1-12, 1-7).

The Vikings were up 13-7 after the first quarter and then Rowe scored 9 points in the second quarter to make it 25-17.

Symmes Valley was up 35-26 after three quarters. Baldwin was 3-of-4 and Mitch Corn 2-of-2 from the line to help the Vikings overcome four 3-pointers in the quarter by Clay.

Symmes Valley 13 12 10 16 = 51

Portsmouth Clay 7 10 9 18 = 44

SYMMES VALLEY (6-7, 6-2): Alec Herrell 1 0 2-4 4, Zane Wheeler 0 1 0-0 3, Dylan Pelletier 0 0 0-0 0, D.J. Miller 1 1 0-0 5, Tyler Wilson 2 0 0-0 4, Tanner Conley 3 0 0-0 6, Austin Baldwin 1 0 4-6 6, Mitch Corn 2 0 2-2 6, Tyler Rowe 8 0 1-6 17. Totals: 20-52 9-18 51. 3-point goals: 2-11. Rebounds: 39 (Rowe 15, Baldwin 10). Assists: 12 (Wilson 4, Baldwin 3, Rowe 3). Steals: 8 (Rowe 3). Turnovers: 16. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: Miller.

PORTSMOUTH CLAY (1-12, 1-7): Chase Hiles 3 3 1-4 16, Mason Pelphrey 0 0 0-0 0, Chandler King 1 5 0-1 17, Zach Jackson 0 1 0-0 3, Jared Ruby 0 0 2-2 2, Levi Evans 1 0 0-2 2, Jacob Crosier 0 0 0-0 0, Jacob Schmidt 1 0 2-4 4. Totals: 6 9 5-13 44. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: King.