By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

ROCK SPRINGS — It didn’t take Symmes Valley Lady Vikings’ coach Brandon Walker long to figure out the reason for the end result.

Symmes Valley was only 7 of 23 from the foul line compared to 16 of 31 for the Lady Lancers as the Lady Vikings lost 47-43 to Federal Hocking on Monday in the first round of the Division IV sectional tournament.

“Free throws were definitely the story,” said Walker.

The Lady Vikings started slow, falling behind 13-5 at the end of the first quarter but Gracie Waddell had 4 points as they trailed 23-18 at the half.

Symmes Valley started the second half by getting within 24-23 and trailed 33-31 at the end of the quarter. Malenna Davis and Megan Johnson scored 4 points each in the quarter for the Lady Vikings.

A 9-0 run by the Lady Lancers made it 42-31 but the Lady Vikings answered with a 10-1 run of their own and trailed 43-41.

But the difference came in the fourth quarter at the foul line. The Lady Vikings was just 2 of 13 from the line while the Lady Lancers converted 8 of 13.

Whitney Gillian made one of two from the line with 34 seconds to go that but the Lady Lancers up 46-43 and the Lady Vikings couldn’t finish their comeback despite 7 points by Kalli Hunt.

Symmes Valley missed a 3-pointer with five seconds left and then failed to connect on two free throws with 2.6 seconds to play.

Hunt finished the game with 13 points, 11 rebounds, 6 steals and 3 assists. Megan Johnson added 9 points.

The Lady Vikings finish the season 7-14.

“We were young this year and I’m proud of them. They never laid down and they improved,” said Walker.

Carley Tabler scored a game-high 23 points for Federal Hocking (5-15). Cheyenne Singer scored 11.

Federal Hocking 13 10 10 14 = 47

Symmes Valley 5 13 13 12 = 43

FEDERAL HOCKING (5-15): Carley Tabler 7 1 6-11 23, Ashton Cale 0 0 5-8 5, Whitney Gillian 1 0 2-6 4, Megan Thompson 2 0 0-0 4, Cheyenne Singer 4 0 3-6 11, Taylor Carr 0 0 0-0 0, Daisha Casey 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 15-43 16-31 47. 3-point goals: 1-5. Rebounds: 45 (Singer 17). Assists: 5 (Cale 2). Steals: 15 (Tabler 6). Blocks: 3 (Singer 2). Turnovers: 25. Fouls: 21. Fouled out: Singer, Thompson.

SYMMES VALLEY (7-14): Malenna Davis 3 0 1-2 7, Gracie Waddell 2 0 2-2 6, Elly Fulks 1 0 0-0 2, Kalli Hunt 6 0 1-5 13, Megan Johnson 4 0 1-3 9, Sarah Crabtree 2 0 0-6 4, Hannah Maynard 0 0 2-5 2, Taylor Michael 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 18-62 7-23 43. 3-point goals: 0-5. Rebounds: 43 (Hunt 11). Assists: 11 (Hunt 3, Crabtree 3). Steals: 19 (Hunt 6). Turnovers: 20. Fouls: 21. Fouled out: Waddell.