Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

PORTSMOUTH — The Tin Man would love to have the heart of the Symmes Valley Vikings.
Trailing for three quarters, the Vikings rallied for a 59-55 Southern Ohio Conference win over the Portsmouth Notre Dame Titans on Friday.
“Notre Dame is a much-improved team,” said Vikings’ coach Chad Coffman. “Their coaching staff has done a great job with those players. We really had to dig deep and work to come back.
“I thought we showed a great deal of heart and toughness to be able to come back and then to be able to finish the game on the road with a big league win.”
Layken Gothard scored 21 points, grabbed six rebounds and had 10 steals to lead the Vikings (7-7, 4-6).
Brock Carpenter had 12 points, 16 rebounds and four blocked shots in the win. Nick Klaiber added eight points and four assists while Hunter Adams and Austin Mannon scored eight points each.
Ben Mader scored 16 points to lead Notre Dame. Caleb Nichols had 13 points and Miles Shipp added 11 for the Titans.
Notre Dame came out fast and jumped in front 11-0 to start the game and led 16-9 at the end of the first quarter. Mader had seven points as he and Nichols each hit 3-pointers.
Gothard hit a pair of 3-pointers and scored seven points for the Vikings.
Symmes Valley cut the deficit to 28-24 at the half as Carpenter scored six points, Gothard four and Klaiber hit a 3-pointer. Nichols had two 3-pointers for the Titans.
The Vikings got within 41-38 after three quarters as Gothard scored six points and Mannon hit a 3-pointer and scored five points. Shipp scored five points to help keep Notre Dame in front.
But then came the fourth quarter and the Vikings took advantage as the Titans began to foul.
Symmes Valley was 15-of-20 from the foul line in the fourth quarter in scoring 21 points.
Hunter Adams was 6-of-7, Carpenter 4-of-8, Mannon 3-of-3 and Klaiber 2-of-2.
Mader scored five points including a 3-pointer and Cole Harrell also hit a triple for the Titans. Nichols scored four points with two coming from the foul line.
“We’ve really faced some adversity the last few weeks with the combination of sickness, weather and injuries,” said Coffman. “The work ethic of our young men and their toughness really makes them a fun group to be around and coach.”
The Vikings played at South Gallia on Saturday and visit Sciotoville East next Friday.
Sym. Valley    9    15    14    21    =    59
Notre Dame    16    12    13    14    =    55
SYMMES VALLEY (7-7, 4-6): Derik Brace 1 0 0-0 2, Alexc Carpenter 0 0 0-0 0, Nick Klaiber 1 1 3-4 8, Layken Gothard 6 2 3-5 21, Austin Mannon 1 1 3-4 8, Hunter Adams 1 0 6-7 8, Brock Carpenter 4 0 4-8 12. Totals: 14 4 19-27 59. Fouls: 11. Fouled out: None.
PORTSMOUTH NOTRE DAME (NA): Cole Harrell 0 2 0-0 6, Ben Mader 4 2 2-2 16, Miles Shipp 5 0 1-2 11, Jackson Clark 1 1 0-2 5, Ehtan Kammer 0 0 0-0 0, Caleb Nichols 1 3 2-2 13, Tyler Speas 2 0 0-0 4. Totals: 13 8 5-8 55. Fouls: 22. Fouled out: Shipp, Nichols.