Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

WILLOW WOOD — Sometimes you’ve just got to tip your hat.
Symmes Valley Vikings’ coach Donnie Saunders said his team’s only excuse for losing Tuesday was due to the Portsmouth Clay Panthers who posted an 83-55 Southern Ohio Conference win.
“We played a good team. They have three boys who can play. We played well for a while, we just couldn’t hold them down,” said Saunders.
Coldan Gilliland scored 25 points to lead four players in double figures for Clay (11-2, 5-2). Cameron King had 20 points while Nate Hinze scored 15 and Brody Riffe added 11.
Jarod Sheppard scored 21 points including five 3-pointers to lead the Vikings (4-7, 1-5).
One key stat was the Vikings 20 turnovers to just eight for Clay.
“I’m not disappointed in my guys. We gave it a good effort, we just had too many turnovers and we just played a good team,” said Saunders.
King scored nine points and Hinze had seven as Clay took an 18-15 first quarter lead. Sheppard pumped in 12 points for the Vikings while Payton Hayes hit a 3-pointer.
Gilliland and King scored seven points each in the second quarter as Clay opened up a 40-30 halftime lead. Sheppard hit a couple of 3-pointers, Laykin Gothard a triple and Hunter Adams got all four of his points for the Vikings.
Gilliland knocked down 10 points in the third quarter and Riffe added six more as Clay extended its lead to 57-39. Chayden Renfroe scored all seven of his points in the quarter for the Vikings.
Gilliland had six points before the backups took over in the fourth quarter. Hayes had six points for the Vikings.
Symmes Valley visits Green on Friday.
Ports. Clay    18    22    17    26    =    83
Sym. Valley    15    15    9    16    =    55
PORTSMOUTH CLAY (11-2, 5-2): Mason Newton 0 0 2-4 2, Brandon Williams 0 0 0-0 0, Caleb Cline 0 0 0-2 0, Hunter Mathis 0 1 0-0 3, Brody Riffe 2 1 4-5 11, Coldan Gilliland 6 2 7-8 25, Drew Hadsell 0 0 0-0 0, Jacob Wellman 0 0 0-0 0, Cameron King 7 2 0-1 20, Taylor Pack 0 0 0-0 0, Teddy McCall 1 1 0-0 5, Anthony Williams 0 0 2-4 2, Nate Hinze 6 1 0-0 15. Totals: 22 8 15-24 83. Fouls: 10. Fouled out: None.
SYMMES VALLEY (4-7, 1-5): Levi Cade 0 0 0-0 0, Chayden Renfroe 2 0 3-3 7, Keifer Wilson 1 0 0-0 2, Payton Hayes 1 1 4-4 9, Alec Carpenter 0 0 0-0 0, Laykin Gothard 2 1 0-0 7, Austin Mannon 1 0 0-0 2, Hunter Adams 2 0 1-4 5, Jarod Sheppard 3 5 0-0 21, Brock Carpenter 1 0 0-0 2. Totals: 13 7 8-11 55. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: None.