Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

GALLIPOLIS — The flu bug has been running rampant through area schools and the Symmes Valley Lady Vikings weren’t immune.
But the Lady Vikings overcame feeling sick and the Gallipolis Blue Angels to get a 59-44 win on Monday.
“A lot of our girls have been hit with the flu bug, so it was good to get through the game and get a win,” said Lady Vikings’ coach Alvin Carpenter.
“We played pretty well. We had to run some girls in and out to give them a rest, but we had some girls who stepped up.”
Jensyn Shepherd stepped up with 25 points, 14 rebounds and 3 blocked shots while Payton Walsh had 17 points including four 3-pointers to go with 11 rebounds and 5 steals to lead the Lady Vikings (6-3).
Kaitlyn Crabtree had only 4 points but got 7 assists, 6 steals and 3 blocked shots in the win.
Hunter Copley hit four 3-pointers and scored 16 points for the Blue Angels (2-4). Adrienne Jenkins added 10 points.
Shepherd scored 12 points in the first quarter to offset 5 points by Copley as the Lady Vikings took a 16-13 lead.
Shepherd had 8 more points in the second quarter while Copley had 6 for Gallipolis and it was 30-25 at the half.
Sierra Ross scored 7 of her 8 points in the third quarter but Jenkins had 6 points as Gallipolis got within 39-36.
Walsh and the defense took over in the fourth quarter. Walsh hit three 3-pointers as the Lady Vikings held the Blue Angels to 8 points to pull away.
Symmes Valley hosts South Point on Thursday, Dec. 29.
Sym. Valley    16    14    9    20    =    59
Gallipolis    13    12    11    8    =    44
SYMMES VALLEY (6-3): Kaitlyn Crabtree 1 0 2-6 4, Jensyn Shepherd 12 0 1-2 25, Sierra Ross 2 1 1-2 8, Rachael Hayes 0 1 0-0 3, Kassie Baldwin 1 0 0-0 2, Payton Walsh 1 4 3-4 17, Kinsey Kazee 0 0 0-0 0, Payton Hunter 0 0 0-0 0, Hailee Littlejohn 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 23-55 7-14 59. 3-point goals: 6-14. Rebounds: 44 (Shepherd 14, Walsh 11). Assists: 12 (Crabtree 7). Steals: 14 (Crabtree 6, Walsh 5). Blocked shots: 8 (Shepherd 3, Crabtree 3). Turnovers: 15. Fouls: 11. Fouled out: None.
GALLIPOLIS (2-4): Abby Unroe 2 0 0-0 4, Alex Barnes 3 0 2-2 8, Hunter Copley 2 4 0-3 16, Carly Shriver 2 0 2-4 6, Adrian Jenkins 5 0 0-2 10, Kimberly Edelmann 0 0 0-0 0, Abby Cremeans 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 14 4 4-11 44. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None.