Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

WILLOW WOOD — It was defense in the present and offense in the future for the Rock Hill Redmen.
Rock Hill relied on its defense in the first half and waited for the offense to finally take off in 62-34 win over the Symmes Valley Vikings on Saturday.
The Redmen relied on their defense to hold the Vikings to 16 points in the first half because they shot a dismal 20 percent.
But Rock Hill finally got its offense going by shooting 44 percent in the second half .
“We played solid again tonight on defense and France again gave us great production in the paint,” said Redmen coach Gordy Collins.
“Again, all the kids played really well as a team tonight and that’s been the key so far this season in getting off to a 3-0 start.”
Rock Hill’s Kadin France was dominant inside for the third straight game with 20 points and 18 rebounds.
Logan Hankins added 11 points, three assists and two steals while Braden Stamper chipped in 10 points as Rock Hill ran its record to 3-0.
Symmes Valley (0-4) was led by Drew Scherer with 16 points and Jack Leith had 11.
Stamper hit a 3-pointer and scored seven points as Rock Hill held a slim 16-14 first quarter lead. Scherer had 10 of the Vikings 14 points.
Rock Hill’s defense held the Vikings to only two points in the second quarter and the Redmen were 8-of-15 from the foul line and it was 24-16 at the half.
But in the third quarter, The Redmen outscored the Vikings 24-13 to open up a 48-29 lead.
France — who had only two points in the first half — scored 10 points in the third quarter while Hankins and Blagg added four points each.
France had eight more points in the fourth quarter as the Redmen outscored the Vikings 14-5.
On Tuesday, Rock Hill visits Gallipolis and Symmes Valley hosts Western.
Rock Hill 16 8 24 14 = 62
Sym. Valley 14 2 13 5 = 34
ROCK HILL (3-0): Logan Hankins 1 1 6-6 11, Garrett Miller 1 0 4-5 6, Jake Blagg 3 0 1-5 7, Caleb Davis 0 0 1-2 1, Braden Stamper 2 1 3-4 10, Caleb Dillon 2 0 0-2 4, Owen Hankins 0 0 0-0 0, Brayden Malone 0 0 2-2 2, Cameron Donohue 0 0 1-2 1, Jacob Schwab 0 0 0-0 0, Kadin France 8 0 4-5 20. Totals: 19-52 22-33 62. 3-pt goals: 2-7. Rebounds: 9-O, 27-D = 36 (France 18). Assists: 10 (Blagg 5, L. Hankins 3). Steals: 6 (Blagg 2, L. Hankins 2). Blocks: 5 (France 3, Dillon 2). Turnovers: 10. Fouls: 19. Fouled out: None.
SYMMES VALLEY (0-4): Jacob Sites 0 0 0-0 0, Luke Leith 1 0 0-0 2, Justin White 1 0 1-2 3, Jack Leith 3 0 5-6 11, Caden Brammer 0 0 0-0 0, Drew Scherer 4 1 5-7 16, Alec Carpenter 0 0 0-0 0, Josh Ferguson 0 0 0-6 0, Trenton Turner 0 0 0-0 0, Toby Smathers 1 0 0-2 2. Totals: 10 1 11-24 34. Fouls: 24. Fouled out: Ferguson.