Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

PORTSMOUTH — In the words of Spongebob, “I’m ready. I’m ready.”

The Symmes Valley Vikings were ready as they jumped to a big first half lead and coasted past the Portsmouth Clay Panthers 62-46 in a Southern Ohio Conference game on Friday.

“We really came out ready to play early. I thought our defensive effort in the first half was pretty good. Still working on trying to play that full 32 minutes,” said Vikings’ coach Chad Coffman.

“It was a nice win getting back over .500 before Christmas.”

Symmes Valley is now 4-3 overall and 3-3 in the SOC.

The Vikings had a balanced offense led by Layken Gothard with 18 points and Jack Leith with 12. Alec Carpenter, Austin Mannon and Nick Klaiber scored seven each.

Caleb Cline scored 16 and Reece Whitley 14 for Clay (1-9, 1-5).

Gothard drained a pair of 3-pointers and scored 10 points while Leith had six points as the Vikings jumped in front 22-10 after the first quarter.

Mannon hit a 3-poitner and score five points and Gothard and Carpenter added triples as seven different players scored and the Vikings extended their lead to 42-19 at the half.

Clay outscored the Vikings 13-9 in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 51-32. Klaiber made a 3-pointer and scored five points while Gothard had another 3-pointer.

Whitley had six point in fourth quarter but Leith scored four points including 2-of-2 at the foul line and Carpenter added a 3-pointer to end any comeback thoughts by Clay.

The Vikings play at Rock Hill on Friday.

In the jayvee game, the Vikings (7-0) won 37-33 as Justin White score 13 and Drew Scherer 12. Woods had 12 for Clay.

Sym. Valley    22        20        9          11        =          62

Ports. Clay      10        9          13        14        =          46

SYMMES VALLEY (4-3, 3-3): Jacob Sites 0 0 0-0 0, Derik Crace 1 0 0-1 2, Justin White 0 0 0-0 0, Jack Leith 5 0 2-4 12,Drew Scherer 0 0 0-0 0, Alec Carpenter 0 2 1-2 7, Nick Klaiber 2 1 0-0 7, Layken Gothard 3 4 0-1 18, Austin Mannon 2 1 0-0 7, Hunter Adams 2 0 1-6 5, Brock Carpenter 2 0 0-0 4. Totals: 17 9 4-14 62. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None.

PORTSMOUTH CLAY (1-9, 1-5): Mason Newton 0 0 1-2 1, Chase Hudson 0 0 0-0 0, Caleb Cline 5 0 6-7 16, Hunter Mathis 3 0 0-0 6, Reece Whitley 6 0 2-5 14, Teddy McCall 0 0 0-0 0, Garrett Beegan 1 0 0-0 2, Shaden Malone 0 0 0-0 0, Gage Moore 0 1 2-2 5, Jacob Wellman 1 0 0-0 2, Tyler Hobbs 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 16 1 11-16 46. Fouls: 11. Fouled out: None.