Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

WILLOW WOOD — It was the tale of two halves.
The Symmes Valley Vikings hung around for the first half, but the Eastern Eagles proved too strong in the second half as they pulled away to a 64-40 Southern Ohio Conference win on Friday.
The Vikings were down just 10 points at the half before Eastern went on an 18-6 binge in the third quarter to take control of the game.
“We stayed with them a little while, but they took over in the third quarter. We came to play, we just couldn’t handle them. I was proud of them,” said Vikings’ coach Donnie Saunders.
“They forced some mistakes and they shot well. They’ve got some shooters. They’re going to be hard to beat.”
Ethan Leist scored 17 points and Cody Weaver 16 to lead the Eagles. Clay Martin added 11 points.
Jared Sheppard scored 11 points for the Vikings (3-2, 1-1).
Michael Miller scored 6 points while Weaver and Martin had 4 each to put the Eagles up 17-14 in the first quarter. Laykin Gothard had 5 points, Chayden Renfroe 4 and Payton Hayes hit a 3-pointer to keep the Vikings close.
Leist and Weaver combined for 10 points to offset 4 points each by Renfroe and Brock Carpenter as Eastern went up 34-24 at the half.
“We got in a hurry and took too many 3’s early,” said Saunders.
Ethan Leist scored 9 pionts and Evan Leist 4 as Eastern built a 52-30 lead after three quarters.
Weaver and Bryce Hoover teamed up for 10 points in the fourth quarter as Eastern added to its lead. Sheppard had 5 points and Hayes knocked down another triple.
Symmes Valley visits New Boston on Tuesday.
Eastern     17    17    18    12    =    64
Sym. Valley    14    10    6    10    =    40
BEAVER EASTERN: Evan Leist 3 0 0-0 6, Noah Gray 0 0 0-0 0, Quentin Alley 1 0 0-0 2, Tyler Hale 0 0 0-0 0, Ethan Leist 7 0 3-4 17, Clay Martin 1 3 0-0 11, Cody Weaver 8 0 0-1 16, Michael Miller 3 0 2-2 8, Bryce Hoover 2 0 0-0 4. Totals: 25 3 5-7 64. Fouls: 5. Fouled out: None.
SYMMES VALLEY (3-2, 1-1): Levi Cade 1 0 0-0 2, Chayden Renfroe 4 0 0-0 8, Payton Hayes 0 2 0-0 6, Lakin Gothard 3 1 0-0 9, Hunter Adams 0 0 0-0 0, Jared Sheppard 5 0 1-1 11, Brock Carpenter 2 0 0-0 4.. Totals: 18-42 1-1 40. 3-point goals: 3-18. Fouls: 9. Fouled out: None.