By Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

WILLOW WOOD — A chance to move closer to second place was on the line, so the Notre Dame Titans went to the line to stop the Symmes Valley Vikings.

The Titans converted 23-of-34 free throws as they beat the Vikings 56-40 in a Southern Ohio Conference game on Tuesday.

Notre Dame is 9-5 overall and improved to 6-2 in the SOC. The Vikings slip to 6-7 and 4-5 in the league.

Notre Dame led just 9-8 after the first quarter as Cody Metzler hit a 3-pointer and scored 5 points.

Josh Saunders hit a 3-pointer for the Vikings.

The lead was 19-16 at the half as Metzler went 4-of-4 at the foul line and Dominic Sparks had 4 points including 2-of-2 at the line.

Saunders had another 3-pointer and Braden Corn sank 2 foul shots to keep the Vikings close.

Aaryn Bradford drained a pair of 3-pointers, Metzler got 6 points as he went 4-of-6 at the foul line and Sparks had 4 more points for the Titans who took a 37-27 lead in the third quarter.

Ethan Smith had 4 points and Saunders buried his third trey in the quarter for the Vikings.

Notre Dame went 11-of-19 from the foul line in the fourth quarter as the Vikings were forced to foul.

Metzler scored 5 points and went 3-of-5 at the line, Carter Campbell was 4-of-6 at the line as he scored 6 points and Landon Barbarits had 4 points as he went 2-of-4 at the line.

Smith hit a 3-pointer and scored 6 points while Saunders made his fourth trifecta for the Vikings.

Saunders scored 12 points with his four 3-pointers to go with 5 rebounds. Smith had 11 points  along with 3 assists and 3 steals. Corn had 9 points and 7 rebounds.

Metzler scored 20 points, Sparks 11 and Campbell 10 for the Titans.

Notre Dame 9 10 18 19 = 56

Sym. Valley 8 8 11 13 = 40

PORTSMOUTH NOTRE DAME (9-5, 6-2): Ladon Barbarits 2 0 2-5 6, Aaryn Bradford 0 2 1-2 7, Eugene Collins 0 0 0-0 0, Cody Metzler 3 1 11-15 20, Braeden Patmore 0 0 0-0 0, Carter Campbell 2 0 6-8 10, Bryce McGraw 0 0 0-0 0, Myles Phillips 1 0 0-0 2, Dominic Sparks 4 0 3-4 11. Totals: 15-49 23-34 56. 3-pt goals: 3-14. Rebounds: 10-O, 26-D = 36. Assists: 9. Steals: 2. Blocks: 4. Turnovers: 13. Fouls: 20. Fouled out: None.

SYMMES VALLEY (6-7, 4-5): Branden Corn 2 0 5-5 9, Jacob Cade 0 0 1-3 1, Logan Simpkins 0 0 0-0 0, Ethan Smith 4 1 0-5 11, Aleck Beckett 2 0 2-4 6, Levi Ross 0 0 0-3 0, Josh Saunders 0 4 0-3 12, Levi Owens 0 0 0-0 0, Will Jones 0 0 0-0 0, Aydon Taylor 0 0 1-2 1, Aiden Hieronimus 0 0 0-2 0. Totals: 13-58 9-27 40. 3-pt goals: 5-24. Rebounds: 8-O, 21-D-21 = 29 (Corn 7, Saunders 5). Assists: 7 (Smith 3, Ross 2). Steals: 8 (Smith 3, Corn 2). Blocks: 3 (Jones 2, Smith 1). Turnovers: 12. Fouls: 24. Fouled out: Saunders.