Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

WILLOW WOOD — The Symmes Valley Lady Vikings made this one as easy as one, two, three.
Players, that is.
The trio of Rachael Hayes, Jensyn Shepherd and Kaitlyn Crabtree combined for 50 points in a 66-41 Southern Ohio Conference win over the Beaver Eastern Lady Eagles on Thursday.
Hayes had her second straight big games as she scored a game-high 20 points to go with six assists and two steals.
Shepherd had 19 points and 13 rebounds while Crabtree had a huge game with 16 rebounds to go with 11 points, two steals and two blocked shots.
Paige Carter scored 13 points for Eastern.
Symmes Valley (5-3, 4-3) was 31 percent from the floor as they made 25-of-80 attempts.
The Lady Vikings had a good start by going up 17-8 in the first quarter as Shepherd scored 10 points — she was 4-of-6 at the line — and Hayes scored six.
Hayes had nine points in the second quarter and Crabtree hit a 3-pointer and scored four points as the Lady Vikings opened up a 35-16 halftime lead.
Eastern found some offense in the third quarter as Carter scored seven points including a 3-pointer and Olivia Hatfield got six more.
But the Lady Vikings didn’t slow down as Crabtree scored seven points while Shepherd and Hayes had five each and it was 55-31.
Taylor Sell scored five points including a 3-pointer to offset four points by Eastern’ Morgan Legg and the Lady Vikings finished the game by outscoring the Eagles 11-10 in the fourth quarter.
The Lady Vikings play at New Boston on Thursday, Jan. 4.
Eastern     8    8    15    10    =    41
Sym. Valley    17    18    20    11    =    66
BEAVER EASTERN: Skylar White 0 0 0-00, Olivia Hatfield 3 1 0-0 9, Paige Carter 4 1 2-4 13, MaKenzie Greene 0 0 0-0 0, Morgan Legg 3 0 0-0 6, Jenny Dearth 2 0 0-0 4, Kristina McDaniel 0 0 0-0 0, Kallie Helton 1 0 0-0 2, Shoelyn Tomlison 0 0 0-0 0, Breanna Greene 0 0 0-0 0, Andrea Lester 3 0 1-2 7. Totals: 16 1 3-6 41. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: None.
SYMMES VALLEY (5-3, 4-3): Kaitlyn Crabtree 3 1 2-4 11, Payton Hunter 0 0 1-2 1, Jensyn Shepherd 7 0 5-11 19, Taylor Sells 2 1 1-4 8, Rachael Hayes 8 0 4-7 20, Ellie Johnson 1 0 0-0 2, Kaylee Cade 0 1 0-0 3, Emily Johnson 1 0 0-0 2, Paige Conley 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 25-80 13-27 66. 3-pt goals: 3-9. Rebounds: 22-O, 29-D = 51 (Crabtree 16, Shepherd 13, Sells 7). Assists: 14 (Hayes 6). Steals: 7 (Crabtree 2, Sells 2, Hayes 2). Turnovers: 12. Blocks: 3 (Crabtree 2). Fouls: 6. Fouled out: None.