Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

ROCKSPRINGS — Giving others a second chance is an admirable quality, unless it’s a basketball game.
Capitalizing on second chance points the Miller Falcons edged the Symmes Valley Vikings 62-59 in the Division IV sectional finals on Tuesday.
“We lost on the offensive rebounds. They got the ball and put it back up and that hurt us. They had 10 points in the first quarter and eight were on offensive rebounds,” said Vikings’ coach Donnie Saunders.
“That’s how they beat people all year. They’ve been strong on the boards.”
The Vikings (8-15) also were hurt at the foul line where they made 4-of-10 attempts.
“There weren’t a lot of free throws but they came at crucial times,” said Saunders.
Jordan Lucas led the Vikings with a game-high 19 points that included three 3-point goals. Sam Angelo scored 16 points and Jarod Sheppard and Payton Hayes added eight points each.
Miller (11-12) was led by Alec Cleland with 15 points. Carson Starlin and Seattle Compston scored 13 each.
Angelo 12 in the first quarter as the Vikings took a 14-10 lead. Compston had four put-back points for the Falcons.
Cleland and Starlin each hit 3-pointers to spark a second half rally as Miller took a 30-25 halftime lead. Hayes hit a 3-pointer for the Vikings.
Lucas heated up in the third quarter as he drained three 3-pointers and scored 13 points in the third quarter and the Vikings rallied to tie the game at 49.
Sheppard had four points and Laykin Gothard hit a triple as the Vikings outscored the Falcons 24-19 in the quarter.
Starlin — who had five points in the quarter — hit a 3-pointer along with Cleland while Cole Geil scored five of his seven points.
Hayes made 3-of-4 free throws and Chayden Renfroe knocked down a 3-pointer in the fourth quarter, but Starlin scored five points and Compston had four as Miller got the win.
“We came to play. Our effort was there. It was just the little things that kept eating at us,” said Saunders. “We had our chances. It was just a tough loss.”
Sym. Valley    14    11    24    10    =    59
Miller         10    20    19    13    =    62
SYMMES VALLEY (7-15): Levi Cade 0 0 0-0 0, Chayden Renfroe 0 1 0-0 3, Sam Angelo 6 1 1-1 16, Payton Hayes 1 1 3-6 8, Jordan Lucas 5 3 0-2 19, Laykin Gothard 0 1 0-0 3, Hunter Adams 1 0 0-0 2, Jarod Sheppard 4 0 0-1 8, Brock Carpenter 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 17 7 4-10 59. Turnovers: 12. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None.
CORNING MILLER (11-12): Carson Starlin 3 2 1-3 13, Alec Cleland 3 3 0-1 15, Colton Brown 0 0 0-0 0, Colby Bartley 4 0 4-4 12, Collin Pargeon 1 0 0-0 2, Cole Geil 3 0 1-2 7, Seattle Compston 5 0 3-3 13. Totals: 19 5 9-13 62. Turnovers: 11. Fouls: 9. Fouled out: None.