Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

PORTSMOUTH — The Symmes Valley Vikings dug themselves into a hole and they couldn’t climb out.

The Vikings fell behind by 12 points at halftime and lost 54-40 to the Portsmouth Notre Dame Titans on Friday in a Southern Ohio Conference I game.

“We got behind early and it stayed that way,” said Vikings’ coach Donnie Saunders.

“(Notre Dame) played good defense. I’ll give them credit for that, but we had plays you have to make to win a game like this.”

Tyler Rowe scored 16 points and Austin Baldwin had 13 points to lead the Vikings (11-10, 7-6).

Notre Dame (18-3) was led by J.P. Kayser with a game-high 22 points. Dakota Smith added 10 points.

Kayser scored 6 points as the Titans took a 19-15 lead in the first quarter. Rowe, Baldwin and Alec Herrell combined for all of the Vikings’ points.

Jacob Milani drained a pair of 3-pointers in the second quarter to match Symmes Valley’s output as the Titans pulled away to a 33-21 halftime lead.

Rowe scored 7 points in the third quarter but Notre Dame was able to extend its lead to 46-32.

Kayser scored 6 more points in the fourth quarter as each team managed just 8 points.

The Vikings hosts New Boston on Saturday night. They play Waterford at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 27, at Meigs High School in the Division IV sectional tournament. Tickets are available at the high school.

Sym. Valley 15 6 11 8 = 40

Notre Dame 19 14 13 8 = 54

SYMMES VALLEY (11-10,7-6): Alec Herrell 2 0 0-0 4, Jonathan Kouns 1 0 0-0 2, D.J. Miller 0 1 0-0 3, Austin Baldwin 3 2 1-2 13, Clayton Toney 1 0 0-0 2, Dylan Malone 0 0 0-2 0, Tyler Rowe 7 0 2-3 16. Totals: 14 3 3-7 40. Fouls: 12. Fouled out: None.

PORTSMOUTH NOTRE DAME (18-3): Kevin Lewis 3 0 2-2 8, Dakota Smith 4 0 2-5 10, Jack Kayser 0 0 0-0 0, Will Haney 0 0 0-0 0, J.P. Kayser 10 0 2-2 22, Jacob Milani 0 2 0-0 6, Michael Mader 2 0 0-0 4, Daniel Ogg 1 0 2-2 4. Totals: 20 2 8-11 54. Fouls: 10. Fouled out: None.