WILLOW WOOD – Justin Myers returned Friday, and so did a victory.

Saturday, January 08, 2000

WILLOW WOOD – Justin Myers returned Friday, and so did a victory.

Myers, the team’s leading scorer and rebounder who had missed more than a month with an injury, returned to the Symmes Valley lineup and helped spark the Vikings to a 57-54 win over the Portsmouth East Tartans in a Southern Ohio Conference game.

Myers had 15 points, 16 rebounds, and four blocked shots to lead the Vikings. Josh Blanton scored 12 points and three steals while Brad Carpenter had six assists and three steals in the winning effort.

The Vikings, 3-4 and 1-2 in the SOC, are still missing Jeremy Copley with an injury.

"It was nice to have Myers back. He makes a difference inside," Vikings coach Brent Wilcoxon said. "But we’re still not at full strength. Copley is a real steady player and leads us in a lot of categories, so we’re missing him. We should have him back next week."

Matt Shafer scored 16 points, Dustin Walker 15, and Randy Cooper 10 for East.

The Tartans raced to a 19-8 first quarter lead, but the Vikings used 6 points by Myers to spark a second quarter rally that gave them a 29-26 halftime lead.

"After the first quarter, we played good defense," Wilcoxon said. "Our halfcourt defense played pretty well. We played hard."

Blanton nailed two 3-pointers the third quarter to help offset 9 points by Shafer as the Vikings took a 47-43 lead and held on the fourth quarter for the win.

Symmes Valley plays at Portsmouth Clay Tuesday in a league game.