By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

WILLOW WOOD — The Portsmouth Notre Dame Lady Titans won the Southern Ohio Conference title Thursday, but the Symmes Valley Lady Vikings didn’t make it easy for them.

The Lady Vikings battled the Lady Titans before falling 50-37.

“We’re playing the best we’ve played all year at this point,” said Lady Vikings’ coach Brandon Walker. “(Megan) Johnson did a good job on (Jen) Arnzen holding her down again below her average.”

Arnzen scored 12 points and Mattie Phillips and Raigan Sammons 9 each to lead the Lady Titans (17-3, 11-1).

Sarah Crabtree scored 12 points and Gracie Waddell 8 to pace the Lady Vikings (7-13, 7-7).

Katie Kayser and Arnzen scored 4 points each in the first quarter to give the Lady Titans a 14-6 lead.

Crabtree scored 8 points in the second quarter as the Lady Vikings got within 22-17 at the half.

Arnzen scored 6 points to help offset 8 combined points by Waddell and Hunt and the Lady Titans’ lead was 38-29.

Notre Dame outscored the Lady Vikings 12-8 in the fourth quarter to secure the lead.

The Lady Vikings play Federal Hocking at 6:45 p.m. on Monday in the sectional tournament at Meigs.

Notre Dame 14 8 16 12 = 50

Symmes Valley 6 11 12 8 = 37

PORTSMOUTH NOTRE DAME (17-3, 11-1): Katie Stevenson 0 0 2-2 2, Katie Kayser 4 0 0-0 8, Stacie Ramey 1 0 0-0 2, Mattie Phillips 4 0 1-2 9, Sammie Marting 4 0 0-0 8, Jen Arnzen 5 0 2-4 12, Raigan Sammons 3 1 0-0 9, Leigh Ann Morgan 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 21 1 5-9 50. Fouls 10. Fouled out: None.

SYMMES VALLEY (7-13, 7-7): Malenna Davis 0 1 1-4 4, Sarah Crabtree 6 0 0-0 12, Gracie Waddell 4 0 0-0 8, Elly Fulks 0 0 0-0 0, Kalli Hunt 2 0 1-5 5, Megan Johnson 1 0 0-0 2, Hannah Maynard 2 0 0-0 4, Taylor Michael 1 0 0-0 2. Totals: 16 1 2-9 37. Fouls: 12. Fouled out: None.