Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

WILLOW WOOD — It was a basketball game but it played out more like a tennis match.
The lead changed hands over and over before the South Gallia Rebels edged the Symmes Valley Vikings 56-54 on Friday.
“It was a really good, hard-fought rivalry game. It was back and for the entire time,” said Vikings’ coach Chad Coffman.
“Give them credit. They were able to come up with a couple of big rebounds and make a couple of shots down the stretch. Hopefully, we will learn from it and continue to improve in the second half of the season.”
Scherer five and Jack Leith four in first quarter to give Symmes Valley an 11-10 lead.
Garrett Saunders knocked down a pair of 3-pointers and scored all 10 of South Gallia’s points in the quarter.
Braxton Hardy scored 15 of the Rebels’ 19 points in the second quarter including a pair of 3-pointers as they took a 29-28 halftime lead.
Jack Leith got eight points and Scherer five more points in the quarter for Symmes Valley.
The Vikings regained the lead at 44-43 at the end of the third quarter as Luke Leith scored nine points and Scherer added five points including a 3-pointer.
Saunders hit a trey and the Rebels were 5-of-9 at the foul line in the quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Hardy took over the offense again with 10 points as he hit a 3-pointer and converted 5-of-6 free throws and South Gallia outscored the Vikings 13-10.
Trent Turner and Luke Leith had four points each for the Vikings in the quarter.
Luke Leith and Scherer scored 15 points each and Jack Leith 14 points to lead the Vikings (2-8).
Hardy had a game-high 27 points including three 3-pointers and 8-of-9 at the foul line. Saunders also had three triples and scored 16 points for the Rebels.
The Vikings play at Green on Friday.
South Gallia 10 19 14 13 = 56
Sym. Valley 11 17 16 10 = 54
SOUTH GALLIA (NA): Braxton Hardy 5 3 8-9 27, Garrett Saunders 2 3 3-4 16, Jared Burdette 0 0 0-0 0, Eli Ellis 1 0 2-4 4, C.J. Mayse 1 0 1-2 3, Kyle Northrup 0 0 0-0 0, Nick Hicks 1 0 2-3 4, Austni Day 1 0 0-2 2. Totals: 11 6 16-24 56. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: Hicks.
SYMMES VALLEY (2-8): Luke Leith 6 0 3-7 15, Jack Leith 7 0 0-0 14, Caden Brammer 0 0 0-0 0, Drew Scherer 5 1 2-6 15, Alec Carpenter 1 0 0-0 2, Logan Brace 0 0 0-0 0, Josh Ferguson 1 0 0-0 2, Trent Turner 1 0 2-2 4, Toby Smathers 1 0 0-1 2. Totals: 22 1 7-16 54. Fouls: 224. Fouled out: Carpenter.