Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

CROWN CITY — This game passed coach Alvin Carpenter’s eye test.
The Symmes Valley Lady Vikings weren’t sharp in their season opener on Tuesday at South Gallia, but they came away with a 54-45 win that looked just fine to their coach.
“It wasn’t pretty, but we won and I’ll take it. You have to be happy any time you win,” said Lady Vikings’ coach Alvin Carpenter.
Rachael Hayes scored a game-high 23 points including 10-of-12 at the foul line to lead the Lady Vikings. Hayes also had four steals.
Emily Johnson had eight points and six rebounds, Maddy Malone grabbed eight rebounds and Hailee Littlejohn six more as the Lady Vikings had 34 rebounds.
Kylie Deer had four assists while Taylor Sells had three assists and five steals.
Jessie Rutt scored 18 points and Kylie Stapleton 11 for South Gallia.
South Gallia made only one of 18 shots in the first quarter as Symmes Valley took a 15-3 lead.
The Lady Rebels went on a 7-0 run to begin the second quarter to trail 15-10, but Symmes Valley then outscored the Rebels 12-7 to end the quarter and led 27-17 at the half.
Sells had eight points and Johnson scored six in the third quarter and the lead held steady at 40-30.
Hayes had eight points including 6-of-8 from the foul line over the final two minutes. Jenna Malone was 2-2 at the line as the Lady Vikings converted 10-of-12 foul shots in the quarter.
The Lady Vikings visit New Boston on Thursday in a Southern Ohio Conference game.
Sym. Valley 15 12 13 14 = 54
South Gallia 3 14 13 15 = 45
SYMMES VALLEY (1-0): Jenna Malone 2 0 2-6 6, Payton Hunter 0 0 1-2 1, Kylie Deer 1 0 0-6 2, Taylor Sells 3 2 0-0 6, Rachael Hayes 5 1 10-12 23, Hailee Littlejohn 1 0 0-0 2, Emily Johnson 4 0 0-0 8, Kaylee Cade 0 0 0-0 0, Ellie Johnson 0 0 0-0 0, Spring Johnson 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 16-53 13-26 54. 3-pt goals: 3-22. Rebounds: 34 (Malone 8, Em. Johnson 6, Littlejohn 6). Assists: 8 (Deer 4, Sells 3). Steals: 14 (Sells 5, Hayes 4). Turnovers: 17. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: None.
SOUTH GALLIA (0-2): Alyssa Cremeens 1 0 0-0 2, Amaya Howell 2 0 3-6 7, Kylie Stapleton 1 2 3-4 11, Jessie Rutt 4 1 7-15 18, Makayla Waugh 1 0 0-2 2, Christine Griffith 2 0 1-2 5. Totals: 14-74 14-29 45. 3-pt. goals: 3-17. Rebounds: 42. Fouls: 15. Fouled out: None.