Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

ROCKSPRINGS — Maybe there was a lack of gravity, but for some reason the shots wouldn’t drop.

Symmes Valley couldn’t get the shots to connect as the Vikings lost to the South Webster Jeeps 67-54 on Tuesday in the Division IV sectional tournament semifinals at Meigs High School.

“The kids played well and they played hard, but they just shot better than us,” said Vikings’ coach Donnie Saunders.

“We had a lot of opportunities we didn’t capitalize on. It was a nice ball game, we just missed a lot of shots we should have hit.”

Payton Hayes scored 18 points, Collin Webb had 10 points and Shawn Belville 9 to lead the Vikings (3-17).

Shane Zimmerman led the Jeeps with 21 points including 12-of-16 at the foul line. Elijah Ruark scored 12 and Alex Blevins had 10 points as three players reached double figures.

South Webster (8-15) not only shot better from the field but capitalized from the foul line as well. The Jeeps made 20-of-33 free throws and the Vikings connected on 12-of-22 attempts.

The Jeeps led 12-8 at the end of the first quarter and Ruark scored 7 points in the second quarter as the lead went to 30-20 at the half.

Blevins got 6 points in the third quarter to help offset 7 points by Hayes as the South Webster extended the spread to 51-37.

Hayes had 8 points and Belville 5 points in the fourth quarter as the Vikings outscored the Jeeps 17-16, but Zimmerman hit a 3-pointer and went 4-of-7 at the line to help secure the win.

“South Webster played a solid game. They got a 10-point lead at the half just a little at a time. They were just steady,” said Saunders.

The Vikings will host Sciotoville East on Thursday for senior night and entertain New Boston on Saturday in a pair of Southern Ohio Conference games.

Sym. Valley 8 12 17 17 = 54

South Webster 12 18 21 16 = 67

SYMMES VALLEY (3-17): Levi Cade 0 0 0-0 0, Josh Dial 1 0 0-0 2, Collin Webb 2 1 3-5 10, Shawn Belville 2 1 2-3 9, Blake Sells 1 0 0-0 2, Payton Hayes 3 2 6-11 18, Cody Christian 0 0 0-0 0, Nick Klaiber 0 0 0-0 0, Jase Patterson 0 0 0-0 0, Jacob Klaiber 3 0 0-0 6, Matt Rutt 0 0 1-2 1, Jarod Sheppard 3 0 0-1 6, Chayden Renfroe 0 0 0-0 0, Forrest Humphrey 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 15 4 12-22 54. Fouls: 23. Fouled out: J. Klaiber.

SOUTH WEBSTER (8-15): Matthew Shonkwiler 1 1-2 4, Shane Zimmerman 0 3 12-16 21, Elijah Ruark 3 1 3-4 12, P.J. Winters 1 0 0-2 2, Blake Fulk 0 0 0-0 0, Bennington 0 0 0-0 0, Alex Blevins 5 0 0-2 10, Sean Lockhart 4 0 1-2 9, Trevor Coriell 0 0 0-0 0, Nate Hadinger 3 0 1-2 7, Nathan Wolfenbarker 0 0 2-2 2, Greg Copas 0 0 0-0 0, Dom Holding 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 16 5 20-33 67. Fouls: 20. Fouled out: Shonkwiler.