Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

ROCKSPRINGS — It has been a broken record for the Symmes Valley Vikings this season.
In yet another close game, the Vikings came up short as they lost 54-51 to the Federal Hocking Lancers on Thursday in the Division IV sectional tournament.
The Vikings (7-15) were led by Jack Leith with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Trenton Turner scored a career-high 17 points while Luke Leith had eight points and 13 rebounds.
Wes Carpenter scored 21 points and Hunter Smith hit six 3-pointers for 18 points as Federal Hocking (6-17) won its first tournament game in 11 years.
The Lancers hit 9-of-14 shots from behind the arc and 9-of-16 at the foul line. The Vikings made only 2-of-12 shots from the 3-point line and were 9-of-11 at the line.
The game was tied five times and there were six lead changes in the first half. The Lancers led 12-11 after the first quarter and 30-28 at the half.
Josh Ferguson hit a jumper to end the third quarter and put the Vikings up 37-36.
The Lancers scored seven unanswered points in the fourth quarter to go up 46-39.
Carpenter sank two fouls shots to give the Lancers a 52-41 lead but the Vikings forced turnovers on the next four possessions and Turner hit back-to-back 3-pointers to cut the deficit to 52-49 with less than a minute to play.
Elijah Lucas was foul with 5.2 seconds to play and hit both free throws for a 54-49 lead. A layup with two seconds left by the Vikings set the final score.
Federal Hocking plays Coal Grove at 8 p.m. on Tuesday in the sectional finals.
Sym. Valley 11 17 9 14 = 51
Fed. Hocking 12 18 6 18 = 54
SYMMES VALLEY (7-15): Luke Leith 2 0 2-2 8, Jack Leith 7 0 3-5 17, Drew Scherer 0 0 3-3 3, Alec Carpenter 1 0 0-0 2, Josh Ferguson 1 0 0-0 2, Trenton Turner 5 2 1-1 17, Toby Smathers 1 0 0-0 2. Totals: 20-58 9-11 51. 3-pt goals: 2-12. Rebounds: 34 (L. Leith 13, J. Leith 10). Assists: 9 (Scherer 3, Carpenter 3). Steals: 10 (J. Leith 3). Blocks: 2. Turnovers: 12. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None.
FEDERAL HOCKING (6-17): Hunter Smith 0 6 0-0 18, Wes Carpenter 4 3 4-5 21, Collin Jarvis 3 0 0-2 6, Elijah Lucas 1 0 2-2 4, Brad Russell 1 0 2-3 4, Quinton Basin 0 0 0-2 0, Adam Douglas 0 0 0-0 0, Ian Miller 0 0 1-2 1. Totals: 18-42 9-16 54. 3-pt goals: 9-14. Rebounds: 30 (Russell 10). Assists: 12 (Russell 5). Steals: 4. Blocks: 1. Turnovers: 17. Fouls: 7. Fouled out: None.