Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

NEW BOSTON — And the band played on.

The Symmes Valley Vikings took a tip from the band and played on despite falling behind early and being hit with a barrage of 3-pointers.

The Vikings withstood 13 3-pointers by New Boston and rallied to beat the Tigers 64-61 on Friday in a Southern Ohio Conference game.

New Boston took an 8-0 lead to start the game and erased a 5-point deficit in the third quarter only to watch the Vikings battle back each time.

“We just kept level play and kept coming back and we did,” said Vikings’ coach Donnie Saunders. “We didn’t play bad, they just shot well. We were behind a lot, but we didn’t fold.”

The Vikings (5-10, 3-7) made their own share of 3-point goals thanks mainly to Payton Hayes who hit six 3-pointers as he scored 20 points.

Shawn Belville added 17 points and Collin Webb 13 in the win.

Kade Conley made five 3-pointers as he scored 27 points. Kyle McQuithy also hit five triples as he scored 18 points.

Conley scored 12 points and McQuithy hit two 3-pointers as the Tigers took a 22-14 first quarter lead. Hayes made three trifectas for the Vikings.

Belville scored four points as the Vikings cut the deficit to 30-25 at the half.

Conley and McQuithy combined for 14 points as the Vikings went up 50-44 at the end on the third quarter. Hayes hit three more 3-pointers and Webb had five points in the quarter.

Belville took over and scored 11 points in the fourth quarter to fuel the comeback. Webb add six points as the Vikings outscored the Tigers 21-11.

“Both of our teams have improved. I don’t care by how much, I’m just happy to get out of there with a win,” said Saunders.

After playing Rock Hill on Saturday, the Vikings host Green on Monday and Western on Tuesday.

Sym. Valley 14 11 18 21 = 64

New Boston 22 8 20 11 = 61

SYMMES VALLEY (5-10, 3-7): Levi Cade 0 0 0-0 0, Chayden Renfroe 0 0 0-0 0, Collin Webb 3 1 4-4 13, Shawn Belville 8 0 1-1 17, Payton Hayes 0 6 2-2 20, Derrek Smith 1 0 1-2 3, Forrest Humphrey 0 0 0-0 0, Jarod Sheppard 4 0 0-2 8, Lakin Gothard 0 1 0-0 3. Totals: 16 8 8-11 64. Turnovers: 13. Fouls: 11. Fouled out: None.

NEW BOSTON (NA): R.J. Hayes 0 3 0-0 9, Drake Truitt 1 0 1-4 3, Kade Conley 5 5 2-4 27, Edward McGahan 0 0 0-0 0, Tyler Caldwell 0 0 2-3 2, Kyle McQuithy 1 5 1-1 18, Ethan Porter 1 0 0-0 2. Totals: 8 13 6-12 61. Turnovers: 13. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None.