By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

WILLOW WOOD — Cut off the head and you can beat the snake.

The Symmes Valley Vikings’ defense took away the St. Joseph Flyers’ leading scorer Justin Mahlmeister for the most part and the result was a 59-44 win on Saturday.

The Vikings used Alec Herrell and Tanner Conley to limit Mahlmeister to 13 points including one field goal.

“Alec Herrell and Tanner Conley did a nice job on Mahlmeister,” said Vikings’ coach Jerome Fuller. “We tried to keep him out of rhythm.”

“Our kids really wanted the game and we needed it. D.J. (Miller) had a big game for us.”

Miller had 24 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists for the Vikings (7-10). Austin Baldwin added 10 points, 7 rebounds, 4 steals and 3 blocked shots.

The Flyers (9-9) also got 12 points from Ike Palmer and 8 from Zack Dalton.

The Vikings led 12-7 after the first quarter. Miller scored 10 points in the second quarter and the Flyers managed only 3 points to make it 25-10 at the half.

The Flyers made just two field goals —Palmer and Joseph Payton had one each — in the first half.

Palmer had 6 points but both teams scored 17 in the third quarter and it was 42-27.

Mahlmeister scored 6 points in the fourth quarter but Miller had 7 points including 5 of 6 at the foul line as each team scored 17 points again.

St. Joseph hosts Portsmouth Notre Dame on Tuesday for senior night.

Symmes Valley visits Notre Dame next Friday in an SOC game.

St. Joseph 7 3 17 17 = 44

Symmes Valley 12 13 17 17 = 59

SAINT JOSEPH (9-9): Grant Geswein 1 0 0-0 2, Ike Palmer 4 0 4-5 12, Joseph Payton 1 0 0-0 2, Zack Dalton 3 0 2-3 8, Eli Lewis 2 0 3-6 7, Justin Mahlmeister 0 1 10-12 13, Troy Scott 0 0 0-0 0, Lane Johnson 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 11 1 19-26 44. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None.

SYMMES VALLEY (7-10): Alec Herrell 2 1 1-2 8, Zane Wheeler 0 0 0-0 0, Dylan Pelletier 1 0 1-2 3, D.J. Miller 7 1 7-9 24, Tyler Wilson 1 0 0-0 2, Tanner Conley 0 0 0-0 0, Austin Baldwin 5 0 0-0 10, Mitch Corn 2 0 0-0 4, Tyler Rowe 4 0 0-0 8. Totals: 24-47 9-13 59. 3-point goals: 2-7. Rebounds: 23 (Baldwin 7, Miller 5, Rowe 5). Assists: 12 (Baldwin 4, Rowe 3). Blocked shots: 6 (Baldwin 3). Turnovers: 16. Fouls: 20. Fouled out: Herrell.

RESERVES: Symmes Valley 38-29. SV leaders: Jonathan Kouns 9, Dylan Malone 9, Lane Wilson 8.