Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

SCIOTOVILLE — There was an old Bing Crosby movie called “Going My Way.”
The Symmes Valley Vikings must have watched it on Friday.
With things going against them early, the Vikings altered the direction of the game in their favor as they rallied in the second half and beat the Sciotoville East Tartans 67-58 in a Southern Ohio Conference game.
“East really came out aggressive and ready to play. We had to adjust in order to change the way the game was going,” said Vikings’ coach Chad Coffman.
Layken Gothard led the Vikings with 26 points, eight rebounds and seven steals. Brock Carpenter scored 13 points to go with an amazing 17 rebounds and he had five assists.
Austin Mannon turned in his best overall performance of the season with 13 points and six rebounds, Hunter Adams added nine rebounds and Jack Leith got 10 points and five steals.
“Austin Mannon had a great game for us (Friday). He played how the coaching staff has always believed he was capable, it was fun to watch,” said Coffman.
Will Shope scored 14 points while Michael Bivens and J.D. Hatcher scored 10 points each to lead East.
East came out and took an 18-11 lead as Devon Stevens scored all six of his points, Hatcher had five points and Shope hit a 3-pointer.
Gothard hit a 3-poitner and scored five points in the quarter.
The Titans added a point to their lead in the second quarter to go up 37-29. Shope hit a pair of 3-pointers and scored 10 points with Bivens adding five points.
The Vikings remained close as Gothard got the hot hand and knocked down three 3-pointers and scored 13 points.
Symmes Valley then turned the game in the third quarter by outscoring the Titans 25-8 to go up 54-45.
Carpenter scored nine points, Mannon had six points and Gothard hit a 3-pointer as he scored five points.
Leith had four points in the fourth quarter and the Vikings made just 5-of-16 from the foul line, but it proved to be enough as both teams scored 13 points in the quarter.
Zach Garrett scored five points in the quarter for East.
“This was a good road win for us. The guys will be excited to get back to practice and prepare for our upcoming home games,” said Coffman.
Symmes Valley hosts Portsmouth Clay on Friday and St. Joseph on Saturday.
In the reserve game, the Vikings (12-4, 9-2) beat East 67-32 as Drew Scherer scored 17 points and both Luke Leith and Brady Shephard 10 points each.
Sym. Valley    11    18    25    13    =    67
Sciotoville    18    19    8    13    =    58
SYMMES VALLEY (9-8, 5-7): Jack Leith 4 0 2-5 10, Alec Carpenter 0 0 0-0 0, Nick Klaiber 0 0 1-2 1, Layken Gothard 3 5 5-7 26, Austin Mannon 5 0 3-8 13, Hunter Adams 2 0 0-3 4, Brock Carpenter 5 0 3-10 13. Totals: 19 5 14-35 67. Fouls: 19. Fouled out: None
SCIOTOVILLE EAST (NA): Will Shope 1 3 3-4 10, Ethan Carver 0 0 0-1 0, Austin Smith 2 0 0-0 4, Jordan Huffman 0 1 0-0 3, Devon Stevens 2 0 2-2 6, Zach Garrett 4 0 1-1 9, J.D. Hatcher 3 1 1-3 10, Braydon Queen 1 0 0-2 2. Totals: 15 6 10-17 58. Fouls: 26. Fouled out: Stevens.