By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

COAL GROVE — If South Park Elementary cartoon guidance counselor Mr. Mackey was asked to assess Saturday’s game, he would have said, “Turnovers are bad. Don’t commit turnovers.”

Turnovers were bad for the Symmes Valley Vikings as they committed 31 and the Coal Grove Hornets rallied for a 73-69 overtime win.

“We turned it over too much. You can’t expect to win if you turn the ball over 31 times,” said Vikings’ coach Jerome Fuller.

Alex Bare had a game-high 25 points to lead the Hornets (10-3). Conor Markins scored 23 points including three 3-pointers and Bryan Steele added 14 points.

Austin Baldwin led the Vikings (5-7) with 17 points and 13 rebounds. Tyler Wilson had 12 points while Tyler Rowe had 11 points and 15 rebounds.

Coal Grove led 15-13 at the end of the first quarter but Baldwin scored 7 points in the second quarter as the Vikings rallied to take a 34-29 halftime lead.

The Hornets cut the deficit to 46-43 as Steele had 10 of his points. Rowe scored 6 points as the Vikings kept the lead.

Bare had 8 points in the fourth quarter as Coal Grove rallied to tie the game at 60-60 and force the overtime. Wilson scored 6 in the quarter for the Vikings.

Baldwin had 6 points in the overtime but Bare scored 7 as the Hornets outscored the Vikings 13-9 to get the win.

“Coal Grove responded well. They’re strong and they shot the ball better than us,” said Fuller.

Sym. Valley 13 21 12 14 9 = 69

Coal Grove 15 14 14 17 13 = 73

SYMMES VALLEY (5-7): Alec Herrell 2 0 3-4 7, Dylan Pelletier 2 0 1-2 5, Tyler Wilson 5 0 2-2 12, D.J. Miller 2 1 2-4 9, Tanner Conley 1 0 0-0 2, Mitch Corn 2 0 2-2 6, Austin Baldwin 5 2 1-1 17, Tyler Rowe 5 0 1-2 11, Johnathan Kouns 0 0 0-0 0, Zane Wheeler 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 27-58 12-17 69. 3-point goals: 3-6. Rebounds: 45 (Rowe 15, Baldwin 13, Pelletier 8). Assists: 16 (Corn 5, Miller 4, Herrell 4). Steals: 9 (Herrell 2). Turnovers: 31. Blocked shots: 4. Fouls: 26. Fouled out: Conley.

COAL GROVE (10-3): Jordan Beals 3 0 3-8 9, Alex Bare 5 2 9-13 25, Isaiah Gunther 0 0 1-2 1, Conor Markins 4 3 6-7 23, Bryan Steele 7 0 0-1 14, Kyle Estep 0 0 1-4 1. Totals: 24-68 20-33 73. Turnovers: 12. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: Steele.