By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

WILLOW WOOD — Coach Brandon Walker is starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel.

The youthful Symmes Valley Lady Vikings continued to show improvement as they beat the Green Lady Bobcats 47-33 Monday in a Southern Ohio Conference game.

“Our young kids are playing better. It was a physical game and our girls kept battling,” said Walker. “(Hannah) Maynard pressured the ball well and (Kalli) Hunt hit some big free throws for us.”

Maynard scored a career-high 12 points while Hunt had a solid all-around game with 12 points, 10 rebounds, 4 steals and 3 assists. Taylor Michael had 7 rebounds while Megan Johnson added 8 points, 11 rebounds, 5 steals and 3 assists.

Brianna Bridges led Green (0-14, 0-10) with 15 points and 7 rebounds.

Hunt scored 6 points and Gracie Waddell 5 as Symmes Valley (6-7, 6-4) jumped out to a 17-8 first quarter lead.

“They got us going,” said Walker.

Hunt went 4-for-4 at the line in the second quarter and the lead was 25-13 at the half.

Green cut the deficit to 34-25 at the end of the third quarter despite 6 points by Maynard.

But Johnson converted 4-of-5 at the line in the fourth quarter as the Lady Vikings dashed any Green comeback hopes.

The Lady Vikings host Eastern at 6 p.m. on Thursday in a varsity-only game.

Green 8 5 12 8 = 33

Symmes Valley 17 8 9 13 = 47

GREEN (0-14, 0-10): Bobbi Applegate 0 0 0-0 0, Hannah Collett 0 0 0-0 0, Erin Imes 2 0 1-2 5, Brianna Bridges 7 0 1-2 15, Madison Applegate 5 0 0-1 10, Jessica Patrick 0 0 0-0 0, Kayla McCallister 0 0 0-0 0, Sammi Crisp 1 0 1-4 3. Totals: 15 0 3-9 33. Fouls: 20. Fouled out: Crisp. Rebounds: 27 (Bridges 7, B. Applegate 6, Imes 6). Assists: 12 (Collett 7). Steals: 10 (Imes 5, B. Applegate 4).

SYMMES VALLEY (6-7, 6-4): Malenna Davis 1 0 0-0 2, Emmy Fulks 0 0 1-2 1, Autumn Keathley 0 0 0-0 0, Gracie Waddell 2 0 4-6 8, Kalli Hunt 3 0 6-6 12, Megan Johnson 2 0 4-5 8, Sarah Crabtree 0 0 0-0 0, Elly Fulks 0 0 0-0 0, Hannah Maynard 6 0 0-2 12, Hannah Maynard 6 0 0-2 12, Taylor Michael 2 0 0-3 4. Totals: 16-59 15-23 47. Rebounds: 17-25=42 (Johnson 11, Hunt 10, Michael 7). Assists: 9 (Hunt 3, Johnson 3). Steals: 12 (Johnson 5, Hunt 4). Turnovers: 19. Blocked shots: 2. Fouls: 10. Fouled out: None.

RESERVES: Symmes Valley 31-6. SV scoring leaders: Elly Fulks 9, Autumn Keathley 8, Sarah Crabtree 8.