Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

WILLOW WOOD — In order to score, the ball needs to go into the basket.
The ball wasn’t finding its way into the basket as the Symmes Valley Lady Vikings fell to the Portsmouth Clay Lady Panthers 62-44 in a Southern Ohio Conference game on Thursday.
“We shot really bad,” said Lady Vikings’ coach Shannon Pierce as his team made only 14-of-44 shots including 9-of-34 from the 3-point line.
“It’s tough to win when you shoot that poorly.”
Symmes Valley (5-12, 4-8) was led by Rachael Hayes with 14 points including four 3-pointers. Taylor Sells had 11 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocked shots.
Hunter Payton had 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals. Jenna Malone added 4 rebounds.
Clay (4-14, 4-9) rode the shooting of Shaley Munion who had a career-high 29 points. Jaelyn Warnock scored 15 points.
Clay was up 18-13 in the first quarter as Munion scored 8 points. Sells hit a 3-pointer and scored 5 points and Spring Ross got all 4 of her points to keep the Lady Vikings close.
Munion poured in 10 points in the second quarter and the lead was 34-28 at the half. Hayes hit a pair of 3-pointers and Sells and Kylee Thompson added 3-pointers for Symmes Valley.
Warnock had 8 points as Clay extended the lead to 47-36. Hayes had 5 points as she and Sells each hit 3-pointers.
Munion scored 9 more points in the fourth quarter as Clay continued to pull away.
Ports. Clay 18 16 13 15 = 62
Sym. Valley 13 15 8 8 = 44
PORTSMOUTH CLAY (4-14, 4-9): Sophia Gatti 0 0 0-0 0, Shaley Munion 9 2 5-9 29, Kelsey Fowler 1 0 1-2 3, Megan Bazler 1 3 0-2 11, Kathryn Cochran 1 0 0-0 2, Jaelyn Warnock 7 0 1-3 15, Tabby Whitt 0 0 0-2 0, Mekenzie Loper 1 0 0-0 2. Totals: 20 5 7-19 62. Fouls:
SYMMES VALLEY (5-12, 4-8): Jenna Malone 0 0 3-3 3, Payton Hunter 0 0 0-0 0, Meredith Humphreys 0 0 0-0 0, Taylor Sells 1 3 0-0 11, Rachael Hayes 1 4 0-0 14, Kaylee Cade 0 0 0-0 0, Lauren Wells 0 0 2-2 2, Hailee Gordon 0 0 1-1 1, Kylee Thompson 0 1 0-0 3, Hailee Littlejohn 1 0 0-0 2, Spring Ross 2 0 0-0 4. Totals: 14-44 7-12 44. 3-pt goals: 9-34. Rebounds: 24 (Sells 7, Hunter 6, Malone 4). Assists: 6 (Hunter 2, Sells 2). Steals: 8 (Hunter 2, Sells 2, Littlejohn 2). Blocks: 7 (Sells 2). Turnovers: 21. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: Thompson.