Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

WILLOW WOOD — The Symmes Valley Lady Vikings dug an early hole. From the looks of how it went, they must have used a back hoe.
The Lady Vikings fell behind by 15 points in the first quarter and never recovered in a 74-59 loss to the New Boston Lady Tigers in a Southern Ohio Conference game.
“We just dug a hole early and couldn’t dig our way out,” said Lady Vikings’ coach Alvin Carpenter.
Rachael Hayes had 19 points, two assists and two steals for the Lady Vikings (6-3, 3-3). Taylor Sells had a solid all-around game with 13 points, 10 rebounds and four assists.
Jenna Malone added 11 points while Emily Johnson grabbed 11 rebounds.
“The girls played hard, they just couldn’t get over the hump. Sells had another double-double and played great defense,” said Carpenter.
New Boston (3-8, 2-6) was led by Lexus Oiler with 24 points and Sammie Oiler with 22 points including six 3-pointers. Kenzie Whitley had 14 points.
Sammie Oiler had three 3-pointers and scored 13 points while Taylen Hickman and Whitley also had triples and the Lady Tigers led 24-9.
The Lady Vikings bounced back in the second quarter to cut the spread to 41-31 at the half. Hayes and Sells combined for 11 points with each hitting a 3-pointer along with Kylie Deer.
Lexus Oiler scored 10 points, Sammie Oiler hit a pair of treys and Whitley had five points including a 3–pointer as New Boston upped its lead to 62-48.
Sells and Hayes had five points each in the quarter.
Shelby Easter scored six of her seven points in the fourth quarter for the Lady Tigers to offset four points by Hayes and a 3-pointer by Deer.
On Monday, Symmes Valley visits St. Joseph.
New Boston 24 17 21 12 = 74
Sym. Valley 9 22 17 11 = 59
NEW BOSTON (3-8, 2-6): Lexus Oiler 12 0 0-0 24, Reagan Helphinstine 0 0 0-0 0, Sammie Oiler 2 6 0-0 22, Shelby Easter 2 0 3-4 7, Kenzie Whitley 4 2 0-0 14, Adrianne Shultz 0 0 0-0 0, Taylen Hickman 2 1 0-3 7. Totals: 22 9 3-7 74. Fouls: 10. Fouled out: None.
SYMMES VALLEY (6-3, 3-3): Jenna Malone 4 0 3-4 11, Payton Hunter 1 0 0-2 2, Meredith Humphreys 0 0 0-0 0, Kylie Deer 1 2 0-0 8, Taylor Sells 2 3 0-2 13, Rachael Hayes 5 2 3-4 19, Kaylee Cade 0 0 0-0 0, Kelsi Gothard 1 0 0-0 2, Hailee Littlejohn 1 0 0-4 2, Emily Johnson 1 0 0-2 2. Totals: 23-66 6-16 59. 3-pt goals: 7-18. Rebounds: 16-O, 20-D = 36 (Johnson 11, Sells 10). Assists: 10 (Sells 4, Hayes 2, Deer 2). Steals: 8 (Hayes 2, Littlejohn 2). Blocks: 6 (Sells 2, Littlejohn 2). Turnovers: 11. Fouls: 10. Fouled out: None.