Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

WILLOW WOOD — In the past, the Symmes Valley Vikings were more like a quarter horse.

Tuesday night they did their best American Pharoah imitation.

The Vikings ran strong from start to finish as they beat the New Boston Tigers 75-53 in a Southern Ohio Conference game.

“Overall, it was a good performance. We put four quarters together,” said Vikings’ coach Donnie Saunders.

“We didn’t have that 10 or 12 possessions in a row when we didn’t get anything and we did well against their zones.”

Shawn Belville scored 20 points and Jarod Sheppard had 15 more to lead the Vikings (3-5, 2-2). Derek Smith added 11 points.

Drake Truitt scored a game-high 25 points for New Boston (0-5, 0-3). Kade Conley added 14 points in the loss.

The Vikings took a 20-15 led in the first quarter as Collin Webb scored 7 of his 9 points and Sheppard added 6 points.

Chayden Renfroe hit a pair of 3-pointers in the second quarter and Belville scored 6 points as well and the Vikings lead grew to 39-27 at the half.

Smith scored all 11 of his points in the third quarter as the Vikings stretched their lead to 60-41.

Belville added 8 more points in the fourth quarter before Saunders emptied his bench.

The Vikings will play at Western in a league game on Friday, Jan. 8.

New Boston 15 12 14 12 = 53

Sym. Valley 20 19 21 15 = 75

NEW BOSTON (0-5, 0-3): R.J. Hayes 0 0 0-0 0, Drake Truitt 9 0 7-9 25, Kade Conley 7 0 0-0 14, Edward McGahan 1 0 0-0 2, Austin Litz 1 0 0-1 2, Tyler Caldwell 1 0 0-0 2, Kyle McQuithy 1 2 0-0 8. Totals: 20 2 7-10 53. Fouls: 8. Fouled out: None.

SYMMES VALLEY (3-5, 2-2): Levi Cade 1 0 0-0 2, Chayden Renfroe 0 2 0-2 6, Collin Webb 3 1 0-0 9, Shawn Belville 10 0 0-0 20, Cameron Meadows 0 0 0-0 0, Payton Hayes 1 2 0-0 8, Derrek Smith 1 3 0-0 11, Jase Patterson 2 00-0 4, Eric Baldwin 0 0 0-0 0, Forrest Humphrey 0 0 0-0 0, Jarod Sheppard 7 0 1-5 15. Totals: 25 8 1-7 75. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None.