Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

WILLOW WOOD — The Symmes Valley Vikings got an “A” for effort. Now if they can just turn that effort into a “W.”
The Vikings battled the favored New Boston Tigers throughout Friday’s Southern Ohio Conference game before falling 75-67.
“We really played hard. New Boston is a very talented basketball team. They made some big shots and hit free throws,” said Vikings’ coach Chad Coffman.
“That effort will win some games if we duplicate it. Jack (Leith) was really good. He dominated the game at times.”
Jack Leith scored a game-high 29 points and brother Luke Leith scored 15 while Drew Scherer had 10 points and Alec Carpenter eight.
Kyle Sexton scored 24 points and Tyler Caldwell 23 for New Boston (7-4, 5-2).
Caldwell and Sexton combined for 14 points in the first quarter as the Tigers took an 18-16 lead. The Leith brothers had six points each.
Symmes Valley (2-12, 2-6) rallied in the second quarter as Jack Leith scored 10 points for a 33-32 halftime lead.
New Boston (7-4, 5-2) came back to take a 53-48 lead after three quarters as Sexton scored 12 points including a 3-pointer and 3-for-4 at the foul line. Luke Leith scored seven points and Jack Leith four more in the quarter.
In a fast-paced fourth quarter, Caldwell hit a pair of 3-pointers and scored 10 points and both Grady Jackson and Sexton had four points each as New Boston outscored the Vikings 22-19.
Jack Leith scored nine points and Scherer got four points including a pair of free throws.
On Tuesday, Symmes Valley visits Western.
New Boston 18 14 21 22 = 75
Sym. Valley 16 17 15 19 = 67
NEW BOSTON (7-4, 5-2): Grady Jackson 6 1 0-0 15, Troy Carver 0 0 0-0 0, Kyle Sexton 8 1 5-8 24, Levi Bowman 0 0 0-0 0, Marcus Saunders 0 1 4-6 7, Tyler Caldwell 7 3 0-3 23, Royce McKinley 2 0 2-2 6. Totals: 25 6 11-19 75. Fouls: 10. Fouled out: None.
SYMMES VALLEY (2-12, 2-6): Luke Leith 6 0 3-4 15, Jack Leith 14 0 1-4 29, Caden Brammer 0 0 0-0 0, Drew Scherer 4 0 2-2 10, Alec Carpenter 4 0 0-0 8, Josh Ferguson 0 0 0-0 0, Trent Turner 2 0 0-1 4, Toby Smathers 0 0 1-2 1. Totals: 30 0 7-13 67. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: Carpenter.