Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

WILLOW WOOD — Anyone who knows Alvin Carpenter is aware the Symmes Valley Lady Vikings’ coach would gladly accept a dozen doughnuts as a gift.
But Carpenter likes other things in dozens including victories and the Lady Vikings rallied to beat the Green Lady Bobcats 38-32 on Monday to give them 12 wins for the fourth straight season.
“It wasn’t pretty, but it’s a win and we needed one,” said Carpenter whose team is 12-9 overall and 6-7 in the Southern Ohio Conference.
Carpenter said the Lady Vikings put together a strong team effort to get the win as the balanced scoring proved.
Rachael Hayes had nine points while Jenna Malone and Emily Johnson scored eight each. Johnson had 12 rebounds, Taylor Sells 10, Malone nine and Kylie Deer seven.
Deer also had five assists, Deer four blocks and Malone five seals.
“Johnson played her best game of the year. Hailee Littlejohn and Spring Ross also helped and did an exceptional job on (Kame) Sweeney,” said Carpenter.
“Deer kept everyone calm and under control. Sells and Malone did a really good job on the boards.”
Green was led by Kasey Kimber with 16 points including 9-of-12 from the foul line. Kaylee Christian added six points.
The Lady Vikings led 13-8 after the first quarter as Sells and Hayes had four points each. Kimbler scored four of Green’s points.
The Lady Bobcats got four points from Charlie Blevins and cut the deficit to 17-16 at the half.
Green rallied to take a 27-25 lead in the third quarter as Kimbler hit a trifectea and scored seven points. Malone had a trey and Hayes three foul shots for the Lady Vikings.
But in the fourth quarter, the defense held Green to only five points — Kimbler was 5-of-6 at the line — and Hunter got four points as five different players scored for Symmes Valley.
On Thursday, Symmes Valley hosts Eastern and Green entertains Portsmouth Notre Dame.
Green 8 8 11 5 = 32
Sym. Valley 13 4 8 13 = 38
GREEN (NA): Ava Jenkins 0 0 0-0 0, Kasey Kimbler 2 1 9-12 16, Megan Johnson 0 0 0-2 0, Kaylee Christian 2 0 2-3 6, Kimberly Brown 1 0 0-0 2, Kame Sweeney 2 0 0-0 4, Charli Blevins 1 0 2-2 4, Logan Jones 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 8 1 13-19 32. Fouls: 15. Fouled out: None.
SYMMES VALLEY (12-9, 6-7): Jenna Malone 1 2 0-0 8, Payton Hunter 2 0 0-1 4, Kylie Deer 1 0 1-3 3, Taylor Sells 2 0 0-2 4, Rachael Hayes 3 0 3-4 9, Ellie Johnson 0 0 0-0 0, Kelsi Gothard 0 0 0-0 0, Hailee Littlejohn 0 0 0-0 0, Emily Johnson 4 0 0-6 8, Spring Ross 1 0 0-0 2. Totals: 16-63 4-18 38. 3-pt goals: 2-8. Rebounds: 25-O, 26-D = 51 (Johnson 12, Sells 10, Malone 9, Deer 7). Assists: 11 (Deer 5, Malone 3, Hayes 3). Steals: 10 (Malone 5, Deer 2). Blocks: 8 (Sells 4, Malone 2, Hunter 2). Turnovers: 21. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: Malone.