Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

WILLOW WOOD — The Symmes Valley Viking have to learn not to give their opponent a head start.

The Vikings fell behind early, then staged a late rally that fell short yet again as they lost 65-52 to the Portsmouth Clay Panthers on Tuesday in a Southern Ohio Conference game.

The Vikings (2-11, 1-7) fell behind by 17 points at the half only to have their fourth quarter rally come up short.

“We got off to bad start and they hit some shots,” said Vikings’ coach Donnie Saunders. “They got off to a bad start and we couldn’t answer.”

Clay (11-3, 7-1) remained in a three-way tie for the SOC lead as Nate Hinze scored 20 points, Zach Phillips 14 and Cole Gilliland and Cameron King 10 each.

Josh Dial led Symmes Valley with 12 points, Collin Webb scored 11 and Blake Sells added 10.

Hinze scored 9 points while King and Phillips had 6 each to give Clay a 21-8 first quarter lead

It was 36-19 at the half and the Panthers outscored the Vikings 16-11 in the third quarter for a 52-30 lead despite 9 points by Dials in the stanza.

The Vikings outscored Clay 22-13 in the fourth quarter but the Panthers converted 11 of 14 free throws. Hinze was 8 of 10 from the line in the second half and 3 of 4 down the stretch.

The Vikings visit Green on Friday in an SOC game.

Ports. Clay 21 15 16 13 = 65

Sym. Valley 8 11 11 22 = 52

PORTSMOUTH CLAY (11-3, 7-1): Aaron Phipps 2 1 0-0 7, Conner Phipps 0 0 0-0 0, Zack Phillips 3 2 2-4 14, Cole Gilliland 2 1 3-4 10, Brody Riffe 0 0 2-2 2, Cameron King 4 0 2-4 10, Matt Smith 0 0 2-2 2, Bryson Hurt 0 0 0-0 0, Nate Hinze 3 2 8-10 20. Totals: 14 6 19-26 65. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None.

SYMMES VALLEY (2-11, 1-7): Josh Dial 4 1 1-1 12, Collin Webb 4 1 0-1 11, Shawn Belville 4 0 0-0 8, Blake Sells 0 3 1-3 10, Payton Hayes 0 0 0-1 0, Jacob Klaiber 3 0 3-6 9, Matt Rutt 1 0 0-0 2, Jarod Shepherd 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 15 5 5-12 52. Fouls: 21. Fouled out: None.