Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

WILLOW WOOD — This game was about control.

The Portsmouth Notre Dame Titans grabbed control of the tempo and as a result they were able to slip past the Symmes Valley Vikings 50-46 Wednesday in a key Southern Ohio Conference game.

“We did get the lead once or twice and we were able to make them get out of their press, but they made a halfcourt game out of it and they were just a little more physical than us,” said Vikings’ coach Donnie Saunders.

Notre Dame improved to 9-0 overall and 5-0 in the SOC. The Vikings are now 6-3 on the season and 4-2 in the league.

Tyler Rowe and Jonathon Kouns scored 12 points each to lead the Vikings. C.J. Smith had 15 points and Jake Kayser 11 to lead the Titans.

Smith scored eight points in the first quarter as the Titans took a 13-11 lead.

Kouns and Rowe combined for nine points in the second quarter while Will Toleman scored all eight of his points for the Titans and Notre Dame led 26-24 at the half.

The Titans were able to take a 42-37 lead after three quarters. Rowe had four points in the fourth quarter as the Vikings outscored the Titans 9-8, but it was not enough to overcome the deficit.

“They were able to get second and third shots,” said Saunders. “You hold a team to 50 points, you should win. We just needed to make some plays.”

The Vikings host Sciotoville East Friday in a league game.

Notre Dame 13 13 16 8 = 50

Sym. Valley 11 13 13 9 = 46

PORTSMOUTH NOTRE DAME (9-0, 5-0): Dakota Smith 0 0 1-2 1, Jake Kayser 2 1 4-6 11, Will Haney 1 0 1-3 3, Will Toleman 3 0 2-5 8, C.J. Smith 5 1 2-5 15, Daniel Ogg 6 0 0-0 12. Totals: 17 2 10-21 50. Fouls: 9. Fouled out: None.

SYMMES VALLEY (6-3, 4-2): Dylan Malone 3 0 1-1 7, Seth Jarrell 1 0 0-0 2, Kurt Adams 1 1 0-0 5, Jonathon Kouns 4 1 1-2 12, Jacob Klaiber 2 0 1-3 5, Tyler Rowe 6 0 0-1 12, Ryan Gibson 0 1 0-0 3. Totals: 17 3 3-7 46. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: Malone.