Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

OAK HILL — For Symmes Valley, one bad apple did spoil the bunch.

The Vikings outscored Oak Hill over three quarters, but the Oaks used a big third quarter to deal Symmes Valley a 65-57 season-opening loss on Tuesday.

Despite the loss, Vikings’ coach Donnie Saunders was upbeat.

“I hate to lose, but we gave a good effort,” said Saunders. “We played hard and we’ll get better. There was no lack of effort for either team.”

Matt Rutt scored 17 points and Blake Sells added 11 to lead the Vikings.

Kyle Cox and Landon Carroll scored 18 points each and Jonathon Harrison added 12 to lead the Oaks (1-1).

The Vikings led 13-12 at the end of the first quarter before the Oaks tied the game 22-22 at the half.

Cox scored 9 points and Harrison had 7 in the third quarter to key the decisive outburst as the Oaks opened up a 46-36 lead.

Payton Hayes scored 7 of his 9 points in the fourth quarter for the VIkings, but the Oaks were 13 of 15 from the line as Carroll went 6 of 6, Harris 4 of 4 and Cox 3 of 5.

The Vikings visit Portsmouth Clay on Friday and host Rock Hill on Saturday.

Sym. Valley 13 9 14 21 = 57

Oak Hill 12 10 24 17 = 65

SYMMES VALLEY (0-1): Josh Dial 0 0 0-0 0, Collin Webb 2 0 0-0 4, Shawn Belville 1 1 0-1 5, Blake Sells 0 3 2-3 11, Payton Hayes 2 0 5-7 9, Jase Patterson 0 0 0-0 0, Jacob Klaiber 3 0 3-4 9, Matt Rutt 6 0 5-9 17, Jarod Sheppard 1 0 0- 2. Totals: 15 4 15-24 57. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: Webb.

OAK HILL (1-1): Jonathon Harrison 3 1 4-4 12, Landon Carroll 0 3 6-6 18, Mitchell Hale 1 2 0-0 8, Kyle Cox 4 1 7-9 18, Nolan Carroll 1 0 1-2 3, Ethan Kallner 0 0 0-0 0, Cody Swann 2 0 0-0 4, Dennis Fleming 2 0 0-0 4. Totals: 13 6 16-19 65. Fouls: 21. Fouled out: Fleming.