Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

BEAVER — It was worth the wait.
The Symmes Valley Lady Vikings waited for the better shots and it paid off as they rolled past the Beaver Eastern Lady Eagles 67-35 in a Southern Ohio Conference game on Thursday.
The Lady Vikings were 26-of-58 for 45 percent including 7-of-16 from the 3-point line.
“We were patient and worked the ball really well. We played pretty good defense. (Sierra) Ross has been running the point and she keeps us calm and in our offense,” said Lady Vikings’ coach Alvin Carpenter.
Jensyn Shepherd had 16 points and eight rebounds while Payton Walsh got 15 points to lead the Lady Vikings (9-4, 5-2).
Kaitlyn Crabtree had eight rebounds, Ross eight assists and Crabtree and Kassie Baldwin three steals each for the Lady Vikings.
Cassidy Freemont got 14 points for Eastern.
Shepherd scored six points in the first quarter and the Lady Vikings bolted to an 18-4 lead. Walsh scored eight in the second quarter to offset nine by Freemont and the lead was 38-19 at the half.
Shepherd got eight more in the third quarter and the Lady Vikings extended the lead to 54-29 as they cruised to the league win.
The Lady Vikings play Wellston at Fairland on Saturday, Jan. 21.
Sym. Valley    18    20    16    13    =    67
Eastern       4    15    10    10    =    35
SYMMES VALLEY (9-4, 5-2): Kaitlyn Crabtree 3 0 0-1 6, Payton Hunter 0 1 0-0 3, Kinsey Kazee 4 0 0-0 8, Jensyn Shepherd 6 0 4-6 16, Rachael Hayes 1 1 0-0 5, Hailee Littlejohn 2 0 2-4 6, Kassie Baldwin 0 2 0-0 6, Payton Walsh 2 3 2-2 15, Taylor Sells 1 0 0-0 2, Sierra Ross 0 0 0-0 0, Kinzi Kitts 0 0 0-0 0, Kaylee Cade 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 26-58 8-13 67. 3-point goals: 7-16. Rebounds: 36 (Crabtree 8, Shepherd 8). Assists: 14 (Ross 8). Steals: 8 (Crabtree 3, Baldwin 3). Blocked shots: 6  (Shepherd 3). Turnovers: 16. Fouls: 15. Fouled out: None.
BEAVER EASTERN (NA): Olivia Hatfield 2 3 1-3 14, Maddy Southworth 0 0 3-7 3, Shay Tomlison 2 0 0-0 4, Cassidy Freemont 5 0 4-14 14, Kristina McDaniel 0 0 0-0 0, Jenny Dearth 0 0 0-0 0, Morgan Legg 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 9 3 8-24 35. Fouls: 10. Fouled out: None.