Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

WILLOW WOOD — When Symmes Valley Vikings’ coach Chad Coffman says it was a great game, he means by both teams.
In a game that went down to the final seconds, the Vikings edged the St. Joseph Flyers 49-47 on Saturday night.
“What a great high school basketball game. Both teams played incredibly well. It reminded you of a great tournament basketball game,” said Coffman.
“I was really proud of how we played, how we executed against a really good St. Joe basketball team. Games like these are those that the kids never forget. This is one that years from now I will look back and be thankful that I got to watch and maybe be a small part of.”
Layken Gothard led the Vikings (11-8) with 16 points, six rebounds, five assists and five steals.
Nick Klaiber had 16 points and eight rebounds while Hunter Adams grabbed 10 rebounds and Jack Leith finished with eight points, four rebounds and three blocked shots.
Zac Roach hit four 3-pointers and scored 16 points and Chase Walters got 14 points for the Flyers (14-6).
Each team hits eight 3-point goals.
The game was tied 37-37 after three quarters.
Roach and Clay Willis each hit a trifecta for the Flyers with Willis adding two foul shots and Walters a basket.
But the Vikings got two 3-pointer from Klaiber and one from Gothard and Hunter Adams had a basket and 1-of-2 at the line.
Each team scored 15 points in the first quarter.
Gothard scored 10 points including two 3-pointers while Klaiber had a triple and scored five points.
Walters scored eight points, Joey McDavid had a basket and Roach had a trifecta and scored five points in the quarter.
The Vikings took a 32-28 lead at the half as Leith scored six points, Austin Mannon had all five of his points as he and Klaiber hit 3-pointers.
Isaac Whaley, Jimmy Mahlmeister and Roach all had 3-pointers and Walters scored four points for the Flyers.
St. Joseph rallied to tie the game in the third quarter as Roach scored five points. Roach and Whaley each hit trifectas and McDavid was 1-of-2 at the line.
Leith and Gothard had the only baskets for the Vikings in the quarter. Gothard’s basket came on a three-point play.
St. Joseph hosts Covenant on Monday and Symmes Valley entertains Rock Hill on Tuesday.
St. Joseph    15    13    9    10    =    47
Sym. Valley    15    17    5    12    =    49
ST. JOSEPH (14-6): Isaac Whaley 0 2 0-0 6, Zac Roach 2 4 0-0 16, Clay Willis 0 1 2-2 5, Joey McDavid 1 0 1-2 3, Chase Walters 6 0 2-2 14, Jimmy Mahlmeister 0 1 0-0 3. Totals: 9 8 5-6 47. Fouls: 10. Fouled out: None.
SYMMES VALLEY (11-8): Derik Brace 0 0 0-0 0, Jack Leith 4 0 0-1 8, Nick Klaiber 1 4 1-2 15, Layken Gothard 3 3 1-1 16, Austin Mannon 1 1 0-0 5, Hunter Adams 1 0 1-2 3, Brock Carpenter 1 0 0-0 21. Totals: 10 8 3-6 49. Fouls: 6. Fouled out: None.