Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

PORTSMOUTH — The Symmes Valley Lady Vikings’ shooting was like a kitchen sink faucet. It was both hot and cold.

The Lady Vikings shot well in the first half but went cold in the second half in an 80-57 Southern Ohio Conference loss Saturday to the Portsmouth Clay Lady Panthers.

“We didn’t play bad, we just went cold in the second half. We were both knocking down shots in the first half,” said Lady Vikings’ coach Brandon Walker.

The Lady Vikings (7-11, 4-8) finished 24-of-63 from the field for the game for just 38 percent.

Merranda Hayes had 18 points and three steals while Kalli Hunt had 14 points and 17 rebounds to lead the Lady Vikings. Elly Fulks added 10 points.

Clay (14-5, 10-2) was led by Katie Redding with 27 points, Emily Widdowson scored 23 and Lexie Gilliland 22.

Hayes scored nine points and Breanna Brumfield hit a 3-pointer in the first quarter to offset seven points each by Widdowson and Redding and the Lady Vikings were down just 18-16.

Fulks scored seven points and Hannah Maynard five in the second quarter and Clay was up 38-36 at the break. Redding scored 10 points and Gilliland eight in the quarter.

Clay went on an 11-0 run to begin the second half that turned the complexion of the game.

“We got 15 and we had to change defenses and we just didn’t match up well against their size,” said Walker.

Gilliland scored 10 points with Redding and Widdowson getting eight each as Clay pulled away to a 64-49 lead. Hunt had seven points in the quarter for Symmes Valley.

Sym. Valley 16 20 13 8 = 57

Ports. Clay 18 20 26 16 = 80

SYMMES VALLEY (7-11, 4-8): Autumn Keathley 1 0 0-0 2, Sierra Ross 0 0 1-2 1, Breanna Brumfield 1 1 0-0 5, Elly Fulks 3 1 1-3 10, Merranda Hayes 8 0 2-5 18, Kalli Hunt 6 0 2-5 14, Kelsea Massie 1 1 0 0-0 2, Hannah Maynard 1 1 0-0 5, Kassie Baldwin 0 0 0-0 0, Athena Bruner 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 24-63 6-15 57. 3-point goals: 3-5. Rebounds: 18-OR, 21-DR = 39 (Hunt 17, Ross 5, Maynard 5). Assists: 6 (Maynard 3). Steals: 10 (Brumfield 4, Hayes 3). Turnovers: 24. Fouls: 10. Fouled out: None.

PORTSMOUTH CLAY (14-5, 10-2): Madison Freeman 1 0 0-0 2, Cami Whitley 0 0 0-2 0, Lexie Gilliland 10 0 2-2 22, Shannon Curley 1 0 0-0 2, Emily Widdowson 10 0 3-5 23, Katie Redding 12 0 3-6 27, Cassie Wolfe 2 0 0-0 4. Totals: 36 0 8-15 80. Fouls: 12. Fouled out: None.