Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

WILLOW WOOD — All season the Symmes Valley Lady Vikings have used a team effort. Now, they have team success.

The Lady Vikings beat the Western Lady Indians 53-47 on Wednesday to clinch their first winning season since 2006-07 and a second place finish in the Southern Ohio Conference.

“We don’t have a dominant player so this has been a total team effort. We’ve played pretty good defense and we’ve improved as the year went on. It’s a tribute to their hard work,” said Lady Vikings’ coach Alvin Carpenter.

Kaitlyn Payne scored 14 points to go with eight rebounds and four assists to lead a balanced Lady Vikings’ offense.

Meranda Hayes added 12 points and six steals, Payton Walsh scored 12 points, Jensyn Shepherd grabbed eight rebounds and Breanna Brumfield had five assists and five steals for Symmes Valley (12-8, 10-3).

C.C. Sanks scored 16 points to lead Western.

Payne had seven points in the first quarter as the Lady Vikings took a 12-9 lead. Shanks had five points for Western.

Sylvia Evans scored all nine of her points in the second quarter as Western rallied to take a 22-20 halftime lead.

Hayes scored eight points in the third quarter as the Lady Vikings rallied to take a 32-31 lead.

Walsh got eight points in the fourth quarter and the Lady Vikings were 7-of-8 from the foul line over the final two minutes to clinch the win. Payne was 3-of-4 while Walsh and Brumfield made two each.

The Lady Vikings host Clay on Thursday on senior night in a varsity-only game at 6 p.m.

Western 9 13 9 16 = 47

Sym. Valley 12 8 12 21 = 53

WESTERN (NA): Sylvia Evans 3 1 0-0 9, Haley Whitt 1 0 1-2 3, Erin Brewster 2 1 0-2 7, C.C. Shanks 3 2 4-7 16, Mallorie Williams 4 0 0-0 8, Kylie Tong 1 0 2-2 4. Totals: 14 4 7-13 47. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: None.

SYMMES VALLEY (12-8, 10-3): Caitlyn Crabtree 0 0 0-2 0, Sierra Ross 0 0 1-2 1, Breanna Brumfield 3 0 2-2 8, Jensyn Shepherd 3 0 0-1 6, Meranda Hayes 6 0 0-0 12, Kaitlyn Payne 4 1 3-7 14, Payton Walsh 5 0 2-2 12. Totals: 22-53 8-16 53. 3-point goals: 1-6. Rebounds: 35 (Shepherd 8, Payne 8). Assists: 13 (Brumfield 5, Payne 4). Steals: 17 (Hayes 6, Brumfield 5). Turnovers: 18. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None.