Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

PORTSMOUTH — The Symmes Valley Lady Vikings couldn’t put two halves together.

The Lady Vikings led the favored Portsmouth Clay Lady Panthers at the half, but struggled offensively in the second half in a 42-32 Southern Ohio Conference loss on Thursday.

“Clay’s post players were very physical and they like to keep the pressure on you defensively. They have a nice team and we didn’t play well in the second half,” said Lady Vikings’ coach Brandon Walker.

Symmes Valley went up 9-8 at the end of the first quarter and led 18-15 at the half.

Clay held the Vikings to 5 points in the third quarter to take a 25-23 lead and outscored Symmes Valley 17-8 in the fourth quarter to pull away.

Kaitlyn Payne scored 11 points, Kalli Hunt 8 and Gracie Waddell 7 to lead the Lady Vikings (1-1, 1-1).

The Lady Vikings host Green at 6 p.m. Monday in a varsity-only game.

Symmes Valley 9 9 5 8 = 32

Portsmouth Clay 8 7 10 17 = 42

SYMMES VALLEY (1-1, 1-1): Breanna Brumfield 2 0 0-0 4, Gracie Waddell 3 0 1-2 7, Kalli Hunt 4 0 0-0 8, Hannah Maynard 1 0 0-0 2, Kaitlyn Payne 5 0 1-6 11, Malenna Davis 0 0 0-0 0, Merranda Hayes 0 0 0-0 0, Elly Fulks 0 0 0-0 0, Megan Johnson 0 0 0-0 0, Taylor Michael 0 0 0-0 0, Sarah Crabtree 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 15 0 2-8 32. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: None.

PORTSMOUTH CLAY (2-0, 2-0): Cam Whitley 0 0 0-3 0, Alison Castle 0 0 2-2 2, Lexi Gilliland 2 1 3-6 10, Courtney Delotell 2 0 1-2 5, Madison Whitley 2 0 0-2 4, Emily Widdowson 5 0 4-5 14, Katie Redding 3 0 0-0 6, Cassie Wolfe 0 0 1-2 1. Totals: 14 1 11-22 42. Fouls: 8. Fouled out: None.