Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

WILLOW WOOD — Symmes Valley Vikings’ coach Donnie Saunders prefers the lane to the line.
After the Vikings fell in love with the 3-point line early and fell behind, Saunders got them to take the ball inside to get the offense going.
The result was a 64-43 win over the Rose Hill Royals on Tuesday.
“We took too many 3s early. We’ve got to learn to play inside out to get in the rhythm of the game,” said Saunders.
“We got behind but we came back and got our rhythm and played much better after that.”
The Vikings (3-1) were led by Payton Hayes with 19 points. Hayes got in rhythm and went on to hit four 3-point goals.
Jarod Sheppard had 11 points and 8 rebounds and Laykin Gothard scored 11 points. Brock Carpenter had 6 rebounds and Hayes also had 4 assists.
Nathan Hamilton scored 18 points for the Royals (3-6).
Marcus Boyd scored 5 of his 9 points and Hamilton also had 5 points as Rose Hill took a 5-0 lead to start the game and led 14-5 before the Vikings got within 15-13 at the end of the quarter behind 5 points each by Hayes and Sheppard.
Gothard had 4 points and Austin Mannon and Hayes each hit 3-pointers as the Vikings rallied to take a 29-22 halftime lead.
Hayes drained three trifectas and scored 11 points in the third quarter as the Vikings opened up a 54-35 lead.
Hunter Adams got 4 points in the fourth quarter as Symmes Valley outscored the Royals 10-8.
The Vikings hosts SOC favorite Beaver Eastern on Friday.
Rose Hill    15    7    13    8    =    43
Sym. Valley    13    16    25    10    =    64
ROSE HILL CHRISTIAN (3-6): Marcus Boyd 2 1 2-2 9, James Barber 1 0 0-0 2, Timothy Woods 0 0 0-0 0, Joseph Hale 3 1 0-0 9, J.D. Dillon 0 0 0-0 0, Ashton Pennington 0 0 0-0 0, Nathan Hamilton 6 0 6-8 18, Ethan Hamilton 0 10-0 3, Stephan Barker 0 0 0-0 0, Mason Frazier 0 0 0-0 0, Marc McDaniel 1 0 0-0 2. Totals: 13 2 8-10 43. Fouls: 4. Fouled out: None.
SYMMES VALLEY (3-1): Levi Cade 1 0 0-0 2, Chayden Renfroe 3 0 0-1 6, Payton Hayes 2 4 3-3 19, Laykin Gothard 5 0 1-1 11, Austin Mannon 1 1 0-0 5, Hunter Adams 3 0 0-0 6 Jarod Sheppard 4 1 0-0 11, Brock Carpenter 2 0 0-0 4. Totals: 27-47 4-5 64. 3-point goals: 6-14. Fouls: 8. Fouled out None. Rebounds: 23 (Sheppard 8, Carpenter 6). Assists: 11 (Hayes 4). Steals: 10 (Gothard 3).