Staff Report

WILLOW WOOD — A key 8-minute span of the first half proved to be the difference in helping the Symmes Valley Lady Vikings pick up a key 55-47 victory over the Northwest Lady Mohawks in a Southern Ohio Conference 2 game on Monday night.

Symmes Valley took control of the game at the 3:00 mark of the first period all the way through the first 5 minutes of the second period, using a 20-3 run to take control of the game and allowing them to thwart a late charge by Northwest.

Brenna Tibbs broke out with a game-high 23 points to lead the Lady Vikings offensively. Kaitlyn Maynard finished with 13 points and 10 boards for a double-double, and Lydia Saunders scored 12, and game-highs with 4 steals and 5 assists.

Tibbs led the Lady Vikings offense in the early going, sinking a 3-pointer to begin the game and later sinking 5 of 6 free throws to give Symmes Valley a 12-9 lead after one period.

Northwest would take their only lead of the game following a free throw from Claire Newman to go up 6-4.

But from that point on, the Lady Vikings took over on their 8-minute run and never looked back.

During the run, Saunders came up with 3 steals on the defensive end that turned into 5 points off transition and Tibbs added a bank shot trifecta from the top of the key to give the Lady Vikings a 24-9 lead.

Northwest finally scored its first points of the second quarter on a put-back by Runyon at the 2:44 mark.

The Lady Mohawks were able to cut into the lead, closing to within 9 after a runner from the top of the lane by Newman.

Kaitlin Maynard came up with a steal and layup off a Northwest inbound as time expired to give the Lady Vikings a 28-17 lead at the break.

Northwest (7-11, 3-4) began to make a comeback in the third, getting five 3-pointers from Kaylee Johnson and another from Abigail Throckmorton.

But hearty contributions from Tibbs with 7 points, 6 points from Saunders, and Kaitlin Maynard with 2 buckets inside kept the Symmes Valley (7-10, 5-1) lead at 48-39 going into the final period.

The Lady Mohawks continued to chip away in the fourth, getting a 3-pointer from Newman and a free throw from Runyon to cut the Lady Vikings lead to just 50-47 with 3:37 remaining.

But Saunders and Tibbs were a combined 3-4 from the foul line and Tibbs scored a layup on a runout to thwart the comeback.

Johnson finished with 15 to lead the Lady Mohawks. Newman had 11 and Runyon finished with 8 points and a game-high 18 rebounds.

Symmes Valley will host Eastern Pike on Thursday in conference play.

Sym. Valley 12 16 20 7 = 55

Northwest 9 8 22 8 = 47

SYMMES VALLEY (7-10, 5-1): Lydia Saunders 2 0 8-13 17, Kayley Maynard 2 0 0-0 4, Aly Haydon 1 0 1-2 3, Brenna Tibbs 7 3 6-8 23, Kaitlin Maynard 6 0 1-4 13, Lindsay Freeman 0 0 0-0 0, Navaeh Holbrook 0 0 0-0 0, Alyssa Anthony 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 18 3 16-27 55. Rebounds: 13-O, 21-D = 34 (Kai. Maynard 10, Kay. Maynard 9, Haydon 3). Assists: 9 (Saunders 5, Kai. Maynard 3). Steals: 14 (Saunders 4, Kay. Maynard 3). Blocks: 4 (Haydon 3, Kai. Maynard). Turnovers: 17. Fouls: 12. Fouled out: None.

NORTHWEST (7-11. 3-4): Abigail Throckmorton 3 2 0-1 8, Karleigh South 1 0 0-0 2, Mollyann Runyon 4 0 0-6 8, Kaylee Johnson 5 5 0-0 15, Claire Newman 4 1 2-5 11, Sadie Smith 1 0 0-0 2, Jayden Moore 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 18 8 2-12 47. Rebounds: 15-O, 24-D = 39 (Runyon 18, South 7, Throckmorton 4, Moore 4). Assists: 7 (Newman 3). Steals: 6 (Runyon 2). Blocks: 6 (Throckmorton 2, South 2, Runyon 2). Turnovers: 21. Fouls: 20. Fouled out: K. South (4th 2:23).