By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

WILLOW WOOD — Symmes Valley Lady Vikings’ coach Lisa Bryant thought she was dealing with imposters Saturday.

Not playing anything like they had in their previous two games, the Lady Vikings shot just 27 percent from the field in suffering their first loss of the season in a 56-44 setback to the South Gallia Lady Rebels.

“I don’t know who those players were who showed up for me today. They had their Symmes Valley uniforms, but I just didn’t recognize any of them,” said Bryant.

“We couldn’t buy a basket and our defense never showed up like it did the last two games for us. We stood around and out of position all afternoon on the defensive side.”

Kalli Hunt had 6 points as the Lady Vikings trailed just 9-8 at the end of the first quarter.

But the defense allowed the Lady Rebels 17 points in the second quarter as Meghan Caldwell had 8 points and Tayler Duncan 5 as the lead went to 26-21 at the half.

South Gallia outscored the Lady Vikings 20-8 in the third quarter to build a 46-29 cushion. Chandra Canaday had 8 points and Caldwell 6 to spark the Lady Rebels in the quarter.

Jessie Morris had half of Symmes Valley’s points.

“The third quarter killed us on both ends of the floor,” said Bryant.

The Lady Vikings fell behind by as many as 17 points in the fourth quarter but battled back as Morris scored 9 points including a 3-pointer.

“I was proud of how our kids never quit. Some young teams will do that and just give up, but this bunch never quits and for that I am grateful,” said Bryant.

Morris led the Lady Vikings (2-1) with 19 points and 5 rebounds. Ada Humphrey and Hunt had 6 rebounds each.

Canaday scored 17 points, Caldwell 16 and Duncan 15 for South Gallia (2-1).

South Gallia 9 17 20 10 = 56

Symmes Valley 8 13 8 15 = 44

SOUTH GALLIA (2-1): Tayler Duncan 6 0 3-5 15, Bostic 3 0 0-0 6, Morgan Gilliland 0 0 0-0 0, Lesley Small 0 0 0-0 0, Chandra Canaday 6 0 5-7 17, Meghan Caldwell 8 0 0-1 16, Chelsea Johnson 0 0 0-2 0, Tori Duncan 1 0 0-0 2. Totals: 24 0 8-15 56. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: None.

SYMMES VALLEY (2-1): Malenna Davis 1 0 0-0 2, Abby Hankins 0 0 0-0 0, Hannah Maynard 0 0 0-0 0, Yenni Kim 0 0 0-0 0, Jessie Morris 7 1 2-4 19, Kayla Hayes 1 0 0-0 2, Kalli Hunt 3 0 0-0 6, Megan Johnson 3 0 0-0 6, Taylor Michael 0 0 0-2 0, Ada Humphrey 2 0 3-4 7. Totals: 18-65 7-16 44. Fouled out: None. 3-point goals: 1. Rebounds: 26 (Hunt 6, Humphrey 6, Johnson 5, Morris 5). Assists: 9. Steals: 11. Turnovers: 10.