Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

WILLOW WOOD — It seems 21 is the Symmes Valley Vikings’ lucky number.
The Vikings had just 7 points in the first quarter and found themselves behind. But they scored 21 points in each of the next three quarters as they rallied to in the second half to beat the St. Joseph Flyers 70-60 in a Southern Ohio Conference game on Friday.
“We were our own worst enemy,” said Flyers’ coach Chris Barnes. “We didn’t do a good job rebounding and that’s always big when you play against Symmes Valley and the Leith brothers.”
Jack Leith scored 25 points and had 22 rebounds to lead three players in double figures for the Vikings (8-4, 5-1). Logan Walsh scored 14 and Drew Scherer added 10.
The Flyers (9-3, 5-2) got a monster performance from Zach Roach with a game-high 31 points while Ryan Payne scored 16 points. The Flyers’ guard duo combined for seven 3-pointers.
The key for the Vikings came at the foul line as they were able to convert 23-of-37 free throw attempts while the Flyers were 8-of-11.
Payne hit a pair of 3-pointers and Roach scored 4 points as the Flyers lead 12-7 after the first quarter.
The Vikings cut the deficit to 31-28 at the half as Walsh made two 3-pointers and scored 8 points in the quarter and Leith scored 6 points including 4-of-4 at the line.
Roach made a 3-pointer and scored 7 points, J.C. Damron had 4 points while Jimmy Mahlmeister and Payne each knocked down a trifecta for the Flyers.
Caden Brammer got two 3-pointers, Leith scored 6 points and Luke Leith added 4 more as the Vikings rallied to take a 49-47 lead.
Roach scored 11 of the Flyers 16 points in the quarter. Roach hit a pair of triples and Payne added another.
In the fourth quarter, Roach scored 9 points and Payne 4, but the Vikings were 11-of-19 at the foul line.
Leith score 11 points, Luke Leith 5 points — he made 3-of-6 free throws — and Drew Scherer was 3-of-4 and Walsh 2-for-2 at the line.
On Tuesday, St. Joseph visits Sciotoville East and Symmes Valley goes to New Boston.
St. Joseph 12 19 16 13 = 60
Sym. Valley 7 21 21 21 = 70
ST. JOSEPH (9-3, 5-2): Jackson Rowe 0 0 0-0 0, Zach Roach 8 3 6-7 31, Matthew White 0 0 0-0 0, Ryan Payne 2 4 0-0 16, J.C. Damron 3 0 0-2 6, Jared Johnson 1 0 0-0 2, Jimmy Mahlmeister 0 1 0-0 3, Max Weber 0 0 2-2 2. Totals: 14 8 8-11 60. Fouls: 23. Fouled out: None.
SYMMES VALLEY (8-4, 5-1): Caden Brammer 1 2 0-2 8, Luke Leith 3 0 3-9 9, Josh Ferguson 1 0 2-2 4, Jack Leith 8 0 9-15 25, Logan Walsh 1 2 6-7 14, Grayson Walsh 0 0 0-0 0, Drew Scherer 2 1 3-4 10, Tobey Smathers 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 16 5 23-37 70. Fouls: 11. Fouled out: None.