By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

SCIOTOVILLE — The Symmes Valley Lady Vikings not only faced the challenge of the Sciotoville East Lady Tartans, but the loss of their leading scorer.

Kayla Hayes went down with an injury in the first quarter but the Lady Vikings continued undaunted as they rolled past East 49-29 Monday in a Southern Ohio Conference game.

“We had a chance to quit, but the girls didn’t. The kids had to play different and they were able to adjust,” said the Lady Vikings’ Brandon Walker who won his coaching debut.

Hayes scored all 10 of her points in the first quarter to stake the Lady Vikings to a 16-6 lead.

Taylor Michael had four points in the second quarter as the lead went to 27-16 at the break.

Gracie Waddell’s six points in the third quarter enabled Symmes Valley to outscore East 10-5 and take a comfortable 37-21 lead.

Megan Johnson scored four points in the fourth quarter as the Lady Vikings cruised to the season-opening win.

“We have to improve our shot selection and free throw shooting. We pressured well defensively, but we’re a long way from where we need to be defensively. It was a good effort,” said Walker.

“Taylor Michael came in off the bench when Hayes got hurt and she played well.”

The Lady Vikings host Portsmouth Clay on Thursday.

Symmes Valley 16 11 10 12 = 49

Sciotoville East 6 10 5 8 = 29

SYMMES VALLEY (1-0): Malenna Davis 1 0 0-0 2, Gracie Waddell 2 0 2-6 6, Elly Fulks 0 0 1-4 1, Kayla Hayes 3 1 1-1 10, Kalli Hunt 4 0 5-10 13, Megan Johnson 4 0 1-2 9, Sarah Crabtree 0 0 0-0 0, Hannah Maynard 0, Autumn Keathley 0 0 0-0 0, Lindsey Kouns 1 0 0-0 0, Taylor Michael 3 0 0-0 6. Totals: 18 1 10-23 49. Fouls: 12. Fouled out: Waddell.

SCIOTOVILLE EAST (0-1): Tiffany Craft 4 0 2-2 10, Jessie Monroe 1 0 1-2 3, Emily Howard 0 1 0-0 3, Brooke Newell 1 0 1-2 3, Ariel Loop 1 0 0-0 2, Torie Kelly 2 0 0-0 4, Haley Fisher 2 0 0-0 4. Totals: 11 1 4-6 29. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: Kelly.

 

Coal Grove 61

Fairview 46

COAL GROVE — The Coal Grove Lady Hornets went from bad to good.

The Lady Hornets struggled in the first half but turned in a strong second half to win their season opener 61-46 over the Fairview Lady Eagles on Monday.

“We got in foul trouble early with some starters and the Day kid capitalized off of it. She is a good player who knows how to draw fouls,” said Lady Hornets’ coach Rick Roach.

“Darrien Hankins had a big second quarter and Jacy Jones had a great game, especially defensively. (Katey) Erwin was an animal on the boards.”

Ashley Adkins led Coal Grove with 16 points while Darrien Hankins had 14. Day led all scorers with 34.

Adkins hit a pair of 3-pointers in the first quarter as Coal Grove jumped ahead 18-13.

Hankins scored 10 of her points in the second quarter as the Lady Hornets maintained their 34-29 lead at the half.

But Coal Grove outscored Fairview 15-7 in the third quarter to surge ahead 49-36.

“We came out in the second half hitting on all cylinders and never looked back,” said Roach.

Coal Grove held Fairview to just three field goals in the second half.

The Lady Hornets (1-0) play at Ironton St. Joseph next Monday.

Fairview 13 16 7 10 = 46

Coal Grove 18 16 15 12 = 61

FAIRVIEW (0-1): Day 34, Virgin 2, Hunter 2, Bell 3, McPeek 2, Humphrey 3. Fouls: 23. 3-point goals: Humphrey.

COAL GROVE (1-0): Jacy Jones 7, Deanna Bentley 5, Katey Erwin 8, Leah Crum 7, Ashley Adkins 16, Amanda Collins 2, Morgan Sites 2, Darrien Hankins 14. Fouls: 24. 3-point goals: Adkins 2.