PORTSMOUTH — The starting players may have put up some numbers, but it was the role players who kept the opposition from putting up hardly any numbers.

The Symmes Valley Vikings got a strong all-around team effort as they cooled off the Portsmouth Notre Dame Titans 55-30 Friday in a Southern Ohio Conference game.

“We played really well defensively and caused them to miss some shots,” Vikings coach Alvin Carpenter said.

Michael Humphrey led the Vikings as he poured in 27 points to go with 12 rebounds, 4 steals and 2 blocked shots. Kirt Shipley had 13 points and 3 steals while Chris Capper pulled down 10 rebounds.

Not only did the starters play well, the Vikings bench provided some needed defense from Brice Sexton, Matt Tibbs and Capper.

“Notre Dame has been playing well lately, so to go to their place and hold them to 10 points in the first half is a tribute to our kids. Capper, Tibbs and Sexton have been coming off the bench and played well defensively. That helps us out a lot,” Carpenter said.

Humphrey scored 6 points in the first quarter as the Vikings went up 8-6. Shipley had 6 points in the second quarter and the Vikings held the Titans to 4 points to build a 23-10 lead.

Humphrey pumped in 14 points in the third quarter as the lead ballooned to 44-21.

Sym. Valley8152111=55

Notre Dame64119=30

SYMMES VALLEY (10-3, 7-2): Tyler Smith 1 0 1-3 3, Brice Sexton 0 0 0-0 0, Jacob Johnson 0 1 0-0 3, Kirt Shipley 5 1 0-0 13, Jesse Graybeal 0 0 0-0 0, Chris Capper 1 0 0-0 2, Matt Tibbs 0 0 1-2 1, Kyle Meadows 2 0 0-0 4, Nate Spencer 0 0 0-0 0, Michael Humphrey 12 0 3-3 27. Totals: 24-52

5-8

55. 3-point goals: 2-6. Fouls: 12. Fouled out: None. Rebounds: 42 (Humphrey 12, Capper 10). Assists: 14 (Smith 4, Johnson 4). Steals: 9 (Humphrey 4, Shipley 3). Turnovers: 14. Blocked shots: 5 (Meadows 3, Humphrey 2).

PORTSMOUTH NOTRE DAME (NA): Kevin Delabar 2 0 0-0 4, Alex Davis 0 1 2-2 5, Daniel Sand 2 0 0-0 4, Matthew Massey 0 1 0-0 3, Mike Mullins 2 0 2-4 6, Shane Slack 2 0 0-0 4, Taylor Fitch 2 0 0-0 4. Totals: 10

2

4-6

30. Fouls: 12. Fouled out: None.