Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

WILLOW WOOD — When it came down to crunch time, the Symmes Valley Vikings were Captain Crunch.
The Fairview Eagles mounted a furious fourth quarter comeback, but the Vikings were able to sink 8-of-8 from the foul line at crunch time to hold on for a 70-65 win on Saturday night.
Symmes Valley (7-4) led 50-37 after three quarters when Fairview’s Jaxon Manning hit a 3-pointer, made 7-of-7 from the foul line and scored 16 points to rally his team.
But Caden Brammer and Drew Scherer each went 4-for-4 at the foul line to preserve the win. Brammer scored 8 of his 14 points in the quarter and Scherer had 6 of his 10 points in the quarter.
The Vikings took a 20-11 first quarter lead and Logan Walsh hit a pair of 3-pointers and Jack Leith scored 6 points.
Luke Leith and Jack Leith had 5 points each in the second quarter and Brammer added 4 more as the lead went to 34-22 at the half.
Luke Leith scored 9 points and Walsh hit another trey and scored 5 points as the Vikings extended the lead to 50-37 in the third quarter.
Manning scored 8 points and Terrick Smith 7 points — each hit a 3-pointer — as the Eagles kept the game within reach.
Luke Leith led five Vikings in double figures with 18 points. Jack Leith scored 15 and Walsh 11 to go with Brammer and Scherer.
Jack Leith raked in 17 rebounds to go with 6 assists, 3 steals and 4 blocked shots.
Luke Leith had 11 rebounds and 2 steals. Brammer had 4 assists.
Manning had a game-high 28 points and Smith scored 23 for the Eagles (3-9).
Symmes Valley host Green on Tuesday.
Fairview 11 11 15 28 = 65
Sym. Valley 20 14 16 20 = 70
FAIRVIEW (3-9): Tanner Johnson 0 0 0-0 0, Brandon Elswick 0 1 0-2 3, Tamel Smith 0 0 0-0 0, Jaxon Manning 7 2 8-10 28, Jay Ferguson 2 1 0-0 7, Gage Crooks 1 0 0-0 2, Camren Muncy 0 0 0-0 0, Cody Caldwell 0 0 0-0 0, Steven Day 1 0 0-0 2, Terrick Smith 3 4 5-6 23, Jaylen Terry 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 14 8 13-18 65. Fouls: 19. Fouled out: None.
SYMMES VALLEY (7-4): Caden Brammer 5 0 4-4 14, Luke Leith 8 0 2-3 18, Josh Ferguson 1 0 0-0 2, Jack Leith 6 0 3-7 15, Logan Walsh 1 3 0-0 11, Brady Shepherd 0 0 0-0 0, Drew Scherer 3 0 4-4 10, Logan Justice 0 0 0-0 0, Tobey Smathers 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 27-62 13-18 70. 3-pt goals: 3-11. Rebounds: 17-O, 25-D = 42 (J. Leith 17, L. Leith 11). Assists: 13 (J. Leith 6, Brammer 4). Steals: 7 (J. Leith 3, L. Leith 2). Blocks: 4 (J. Leith 4). Turnovers: 12. Fouls: 19. Fouled out: None.