Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

WELLSTON — Oh those last five minutes.
The Portsmouth Clay Lady Panthers finished the game with a 14-1 run over the final 5:12 to rally past the Symmes Valley Lady Vikings 55-52 in the Division 4 sectional tournament on Monday.
“We played pretty well. Clay just made some nice plays at the end of the game to win it,” said Lady Vikings’ coach Shannon Pierce.
The loss overshadowed a 22-point performance by Lady Vikings’ senior guard Rachael Hayes that including four 3-pointer goals.
Jenna Malone added 11 points for the Lady Vikings (5-17).
Clay (7-15) was led by Shaley Munion with 19 points. Jaeylyn Warnock scored 14 points and MeKenzie Loper added 10.
Warnock hit a 3-pointer and scored 5 points as Clay took a 10-7 first quarter lead. Hailee Littlejohn scored 4 points in the first quarter for the Lady Vikings.
Hayes hit a 3-pointer and scored 9 points as Symmes Valley rallied to take a 25-20 halftime lead. Munion scored 5 points as she and Loper each hit 3-pointers for Clay
Hayes drained two more triples and scored 8 points while Malone had 7 points including 3-of-3 from the foul line in the third quarter and the lead was 42-36.
Munion had another 3-pointer and scored 5 points, Warnock had 4 points and Loper hit a trey for the Lady Panthers.
But Symmes Valley went cold in the fourth quarter as Hayes hit a trifecta and scored 5 of the Lady Vikings’ 10 points.
Conversely, Clay had its best offensive quarter with 20 points to rally for the win.
Munion knocked down a trey and scored 8 points while Warnock also had a 3-pointer and scored 6 points.
Sym. Valley 7 18 17 10 = 52
Ports. Clay 10 10 16 19 = 55
SYMMES VALLEY (5-17): Jenna Malone 4 0 3-3 11, Payton Hunter 0 0 0-2 0, Meredith Humphreys 0 0 0-0 0, Taylor Sells 1 1 1-2 6, Rachael Hayes 5 4 0-0 22, Kylee Cade 0 0 0-0 0, Lauren Wells 0 0 0-0 0, Kylee Thompson 1 0 0-0 2, Hailee Littlejohn 2 0 3-4 7, Spring Ross 2 0 0-0 4. Totals: 15 5 7-11 52. Fouls: 11. Fouled out: None.
PORTSMOUTH CLAY (7-15): Shaley Munion 4 3 2-5 19, Kelsey Fowler 1 0 2-2 4, MeKenzie Loper 2 2 0-0 10, Megan Bazler 3 0 0-1 6, Kat Cochran 1 0 0-0 2, Jaelyn Warnock 4 1 3-4 14. Totals: 14 7 7-12 56. Fouls: 11. Fouled out: None.