Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

PORTSMOUTH — The defense was there but the shots weren’t. Finally, the defense was there and so were some of the shots.
The Symmes Valley Vikings couldn’t seem to score in the first half, but the defense kept them in the game. When the shots started to fall, the Vikings were able to upset the Portsmouth Notre Dame Titans 39-32 in a Southern Ohio Conference game on Friday.
The Vikings were only 5-of-22 from the field in the first half for 23 percent and scored just 11 points before rallying in the second half.
“We got off to a slow start, but we knew the shots would start falling and they did and we played kept playing good defense,” said Vikings’ coach Donnie Saunders.
“We played well. We packed it in a little hoping they wouldn’t hit those outside shots and they didn’t.”
The Vikings (7-10, 4-8) were 10-of-22 in the second half for 45 percent.
Jarod Sheppard had 13 points and seven rebounds to lead the Vikings. Payton Hayes scored 12 points and Sam Angelo added 10 points and pulled down 19 rebounds. Brock Carpenter had five rebounds.
“Jordan Lucas played the point well and helped on defense. Payton (Hayes) showed good leadership. He really wanted that game and he helped closed it out. Brock Carpenter helped on the boards,” said Saunders.
Sheppard had six points and Hayes hit a 3-pointer as the Vikings took a 9-8 first quarter lead. Isiah Johnson — who led the Titans with 14 points — scored four points.
Symmes Valley had only two points in the second quarter while Ben Mader scored all five of his points to give the Titans a 15-11 halftime lead.
Angelo scored six points including a triple and Hayes had four points as the Vikings rallied to take a 24-21 lead in the third quarter.
Johnson scored six points in the fourth quarter but Sheppard got six for the Vikings and Hayes was 5-of-6 from the foul line to seal the win.
Symmes Valley was at South Gallia on Saturday and hosts Sciotoville East next Friday.
Sym. Valley    9    2    13    15    =    39
Notre Dame    8    7    6    11    =    32
SYMMES VALLEY (6-10, 3-8): Chayden Renfroe 2 0 0-0 4, Sam Angelo 3 1 1-2 10, Payton Hayes 2 1 5-6 12, Jordan Lucas 0 0 0-1 0, Laykin Gothard 0 0 0-0 0, Jarod Sheppard 6 0 1-2 13, Brock Carpenter 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 15-44 7-11 39. 3-point goals: 2-10. Rebounds: 35 (Angelo 19, Sheppard 7, Carpenter 5). Assists: 5. Turnovers: 13. Fouls: 10. Fouled out: None.
PORTSMOUTH NOTRE DAME (NA): Isiah Johnson 6 0 2-2 14, Sam Kayser 1 1 2-2 7, Trevon Turner 1 0 0-0 2, Grant Sparks 1 0 0-0 2, Aaron Bazler 1 0 0-0 2, Ben Mader 0 1 2-2 5. Totals: 10 2 6-6 32. Rebounds: 23. Fouls: 11. Fouled out: None.