Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

PORTSMOUTH — The Symmes Valley Lady Vikings got the pace they wanted and in turn they got the results they wanted.
The Lady Vikings got into a low-scoring, defensive game as they beat the Portsmouth Clay Lady Panthers 40-31 in a Southern Ohio Conference game on Monday.
“Our defense was really good. Payton and Kylee did a great job on Munion. Taylor and Jenna did a nice job on Warnock. Jenna played a great all-around game,” said Lady Vikings’ coach Shannon Pierce said.
The Lady Vikings (3-4, 2-3) had a balanced offense as Hailee Littlejohn scored 8 points, Payton Hunter and Taylor Sells 7 each and Rachael Hayes and Kylee Thompson had 6 points apiece.
Jenna Malone had 7 rebounds and 9 assists.
Clay (1-7, 1-4) was paced by Jaelyn Warnock with 17 points. Shaley Munion scored 8.
The Lady Panthers led 9-5 after the first quarter and held a 12-5 lead with 7:22 left in the second quarter when the Lady Vikings ran off 16 unanswered points to take a 21-12 lead.
Warnock finally hit a 3-pointer with 5:27 left in the third quarter and it was 21-15. Sells hit a 3-pointer Thompson and Littlejohn had 4 points each.
Hunter had 7 points in the fourth quarter including 5-of-6 at the line, Malone had 5 points and Sells scored 4 points.
Symmes Valley hosts Green on Thursday.
Sym. Valley 5 14 5 16 = 40
Ports. Clay 9 3 5 14 = 31
SYMMES VALLEY (3-4, 2-3): Jenna Malone 2 0 1-3 5, Payton Hunter 1 0 5-6 7, Meredith Humphreys 0 0 0-0 0, Taylor Sells 2 1 0-0 7, Rachael Hayes 2 0 2-4 6, Kaylee Cade 0 0 0-0 0, Lauren Wells 0 0 0-0 0, Kylee Thompson 3 0 0-0 6, Hailee Littlejohn 4 0 0-0 8, Spring Ross 0 0 1-2 1. Totals: 15-65 9-15 40. 3-pt goals: 1-18. Rebounds: 7-O, 25-D = 32 (Malone 7, Sells 6, Littlejohn 6). Assists: 14 (Malone 9). Steals: 15 (Malone 5). Blocks: 11 (Malone 4). Turnovers: 19. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None.
PORTSMOUTH CLAY (1-7, 1-4): Jaelyn Warnock 2 2 7-10 17, Shaley Munion 3 0 2-4 8, Sophia Gatti 0 1 0-0 3, Kelsey Fowler 0 0 0-2 0, Mekenzie Loper 0 0 0-0 0, Tabbie Whitt 1 0 0-0 2, Kat Cochran 0 0 0-0 0, Megan Bazler 0 0 1-4 1. Totals: 10-55 8-18 40. 3-pt goals: 3-16. Rebounds: 9-O, D-27 = 36 (Warnock 15, Munion 15, Kelsey Fowler 6. Assists: 9 (Munion 5, Warnock 4). Steals: 13 (Warnock 4, Munion 4). Turnovers: 20. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None.