Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

WILLOW WOOD — One team stepped on the gas and the other team ran out of gas.
The Symmes Valley Lady Vikings stepped on the accelerator in the fourth quarter as they pulled away to a 52-24 win over the St. Joseph Lady Flyers on Monday.
The Lady Vikings were leading just 31-23 but outscored the Lady Flyers 21-1 in the final quarter to win going away.
Taylor Sells had a big game for Symmes Valley as she led all scorers with 21 points to go with 12 rebounds and three assists.
Rachael Hayes added 10 points and three assists, Payton Hunter grabbed eight rebounds and Emily Johnson grabbed seven rebounds for the Lady Vikings (7-3).
Kaitlyn Sheridan scored nine points and had six rebounds, Bella Whaley eight points and 12 rebounds and Emma Whaley seven points for the Lady Flyers (5-7).
Symmes Valley held a lopsided 51-27 rebound advantage including 30 on the offensive glass.
“We didn’t have our center Faith Mahlmeister who rolled an ankle in practice on Saturday,” said Lady Flyers’ coach Bart Burcham.
“They really hurt us on the boards and they’re a pretty good team. Being down a player hurt. We just ran out of gas at the end.”
Sells had the hot hand from the start with nine points including a 3-pointer and two free throws as the Lady Vikings took an 11-6 lead.
Bella Whaley had all six points for the Lady Flyers.
Johnson and Hailee Littlejohn scored four points each and Sells hit another triple as the Lady Vikings led 24-14 at the half.
Emma Whaley hit a trifecta and scored six points in the second quarter while Sheridan added a basket to keep the Lady Flyers close.
St. Joseph outscored Symmes Valley 9-7 in the third quarter to make it 31-23. Sheridan scored nine points including a trey while Johnson had three points for the Lady Vikings.
But in the fourth quarter, Sells hit a 3-pointer and scored seven points while Hayes scored six more as the Lady Vikings pulled away.
On Thursday, St. Joseph hosts Hannan while Symmes Valley visits Western.
St. Joseph 6 8 9 1 = 24
Sym. Valley 11 13 7 21 = 52
ST. JOSEPH (5-7): Kaitlyn Sheridan 2 1 2-2 9, Emilee Blankenship 0 0 0-0 0, Emma Whaley 1 1 2-5 7, Bella Whaley 3 0 2-6 8, Laiken Unger 0 0 0-1 0, Chloe Sheridan 0 0 0-0 0, Lydia Sheridan 0 0 0-0 0, Kerri Jenkins 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 6 2 6-14 24. Rebounds: 27 (B. Whaley 12, K. Sheridan 6, Unger 3). Fouls: 9. Fouled out: None.
SYMMES VALLEY (7-3): Jenna Malone 2 0 0-0 4, Payton Hunter 1 0 0-0 2, Kylie Deer 0 0 0- 00, Taylor Sells 5 3 2-2 21, Rachael Hayes 4 0 2-2 10, Kaylee Cade 0 0 0- 0, Kelsi Gothard 0 0 0- 00, Hailee Littlejohn 3 0 0-0 6, Emily Johnson 2 0 3-5 7, Spring Ross 1 0 0-0 2. Totals: 21-59 7-10 52. 3-pt goals: 3-16. Rebounds: 30-O, 21-D = 51 (Sells 12, Hunter 8, Johnson 7, Malone 5). Assists: 14 (Malone 4, Hayes 3, Sells 3). Steals: 6 (Deer 3, Malone 2). Blocks: 2 (Sells, Malone). Turnovers: 10. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: None.