Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

WILLOW WOOD — Every kid dreams of hitting a last-second shot to win a game. Payton Hayes’ dream came true.

Hayes hit a long 3-point goal just as the clock ran out to give the Symmes Valley Vikings a 55-52 win over the St. Joseph Flyers on Saturday.

The Flyers (2-9) tied the game with 20 seconds to play and the Vikings called a timeout and then ran the clock down for the final shot.

Hayes stepped back and launched a 30-footer that found the bottom of the net to give the Vikings the win.

“We just got to get more confident on offense. The defense has been playing really well. Maybe this kind of win will help us,” said Vikings’ coach Donnie Saunders.

“We came out and played pretty well after a tough loss last night. But St. Joe played hard from beginning to end. We were fortunate to hit the shot at the end.”

The Flyers (2-9) tied the game with 20 seconds to play and the Vikings called a timeout and then ran the clock down for the final shot.

Hayes stepped back and launched a 30-footer that found the bottom of the net to give the Vikings the win.

“Our kids battled their butts off tonight. We were down 12 in the third quarter and never quit,” said Flyers’ coach Kevin Sheridan. “We grew up a bit tonight.”

Hayes finished with 18 points while Jared Shepherd had a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.

Tyler Ward scored a career-high 28 points — 22 in the second half — to lead St. Joseph. Chase Walters added 12 points.

The game was 14-14 after the first quarter. Hayes scored 8 in the second quarter as the Vikings took a 29-23 lead.

Ward had all 10 of the Flyers’ points in the third quarter and it was 39-33.

Ward scored 12 points in the fourth quarter but Chadyen Renfroe scored 5 points and Hayes had 7 including the game-winner.

Hayes 7 in fourth. Renfro 5 in fourth.

Symmes Valley hosts Portsmouth Notre Dame on Tuesday and St. Joseph visits Portsmouth West on Wednesday.

St. Joseph 14 9 10 19 = 52

Sym. Valley 14 15 10 16 = 55

ST. JOSEPH (2-9): Judge Williams 1 1 1-3 6, Isaac Whaley 0 0 0-0 0, Clay Willis 1 1 0-0 5, Seth Kelley 0 0 0-0 0, Tre Neal 0 0 1-2 1, Tyler Ward 12 0 4-6 28, Chase Walters 5 0 2-5 12. Totals: 19 2 8-16 52. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: None.

SYMMES VALLEY (4-6): Levi Cade 2 0 0-0 4, Chayden Renfroe 2 1 1-2 8, Collin Webb 0 0 1-2 1, Shawn Belville 2 0 4-5 8, Payton Hayes 2 4 2-2 18, Derrek smith 0 00-0 0, Eric Baldwin 0 0 0-0 0, Forrest Humphrey 2 0 0-0 4, Jared Shepherd 4 0 4-6 12. Totals: 14 5 11-16 55. Fouls: 15. Fouled out: None.