Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

LATHAM — Evidently, the Symmes Valley Vikings don’t mind bad weather.
The Vikings battled the elements both inside and out as they upset the Western Indians 64-62 in a Southern Ohio Conference game on Friday.
“The boys were able to weather the storm in the first quarter and really played well to get a huge win,” said Vikings’ coach Chad Coffman. “Western is a very good basketball team and coach (P.J.) Fitch has them playing well.
“With the schedule and weather and being young, it has been a challenge to put together a full 32 minutes. Having an off-day Tuesday and getting an entire week of practice made a really big difference. I thought it was the best we have played in varsity and jayvee all season.”
Luke Leith had 22 points to lead the Vikings (3-12, 3-6). Jack Leith scored 17 and Drew Scherer got 14 points.
Alex Humphrey scored a game-high 28 points for Western and Maveric Ferneau added 12.
Humphrey made three 3-pointers and scored 11 points while Ferneau hit two 3-pointers and Wester jumped in front 23-11 in the first quarter.
Jack Leith had six points in the quarter.
The Indians had just eight points in the second quarter and the Vikings rallied to get within 31-26 at the half as Jack Leith scored seven points and Scherer hit a trifecta.
Each team scored 11 points in the third quarter and Western’s lead was 42-37.
Luke Leith got six points in the quarter for the Vikings while Humphrey had a 3-pointer and scored six points and Broc Jordan added four more for the Indians.
In the decisive fourth quarter, the Vikings outscored Western 27-20 as Luke Leith got 12 points including 6-of-8 at the foul line and Scherer hit another trey and scored seven points. Alec Carpenter also hit a 3-pointer for the Vikings who were 9-of-15 at the line in the quarter.
Humphrey had a 3-pointer and scored 11 points including 6-of-7 from the foul line. Coleman Gibson added a 3-pointer and Lane Brewster scored four points in the quarter.
The Vikings played at St. Joseph on Saturday and host Portsmouth Notre Dame next Friday.
Sym. Valley 11 15 11 27 = 64
Western 23 8 11 20 = 62
SYMMES VALLEY (3-12, 3-6): Luke Leith 8 0 6-8 22, Jack Leith 6 0 5-8 17, Drew Scherer 2 2 4-7 14, Alec Carpenter 0 1 0-2 3, Josh Ferguson 2 0 0-0 4, Trent Turner 1 0 1-2 3, Toby Smathers 0 0 1-2 1. Totals: 19 3 17-29 64. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: Carpenter.
LATHAM WESTERN (11-3, 8-3): Coleman Gibson 0 1 0-0 3, Austin Beckett 0 0 0-0 0, Maveric Ferneau 1 3 1-3 12, Colton Montgomery 0 0 0-0 0, Sheldon Richardson 1 0 2-4 4, Alex Humphrey 3 5 7-10 28, Lane Brewster 2 0 2-3 6, Broc Jordan 4 0 1-4 9. Totals: 11 9 13-24 62. Fouls: 19. Fouled out: Brewster.