LATHAM - When the going got tough, the Symmes Valley Vikings got going.

The Vikings battled to get a tough road win Saturday night as they edged the Western Pike Indians 65-63 in a Southern Ohio Conference game.

"We just got a little tougher and took it inside more. We played pretty good defense the second half and we were real careful with the ball," Vikings coach Alvin Carpenter said.

Jarrod Shafer had 18 points to lead four players in double figures for the Vikings. Chris Elswick scored 16, Michael White had 11 points and 11 rebounds, and Cory Burcham had 10 points and seven rebounds.

Jeremy McCloud had 23 points, Anthony Penwell 17 and Nick Flint 12 for Western.

The Vikings led 10-9 at the end of the first quarter despite eight points by Penwell.

Shafer scored nine and White eight in the second quarter as the Vikings outscored the Indians 25-22 and led 35-31 at the break. McCloud was 10 of 11 from the line in the quarter to keep the Indians close.

The Indians came back to take a 47-46 lead after three quarters.

Shafer hit a 3-pointer with 30 seconds left to put the Vikings head by one. Elswick, who scored nine points in the quarter, hit a foul shot for a two-point lead.

McCloud sank two foul shots with 12 seconds left to tie the game at 63, but Shafer converted two free throws with eight seconds left to give the Vikings the win.

Symmes Valley is now 4-5 overall and 3-1 in the SOC.

Sym. Valley10251119-65

Western Pike9221616-63

SYMMES VALLEY (4-5, 3-1):

Chris Elswick 5 1 3-9 16, Kyle Gilmore 2 0 3-4 7, Cory Burcham 3 0 4-5 10, Seth Colegrove 1 0 0-0 2, Jarrod Shafer 5 2 2-3 18, Michael White 5 0 1-2 11, Justin Holland 0 0 1-4 1, Matt Owens 0 0 0-0 0, Chase Higgins 0 0 0-0 0, John Wiseman 0 0 0-0 0, Ian Runyon 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 21-41

(3-16)

14-27

65. Fouls: 24. Fouled out: Colegrove. Rebounds: 38 (White 11, Burcham 7). Assists: 12 (Elswick 5, Gilmore 4). Steals: 11 (Gilmore 4, Holland 4). Turnovers: 12. Blocked shots: 3 (White 3).

WESTERN PIKE (NA)

Jeremy McCloud 3 0 21-23 27, Nick Flint 4 0 4-5 12, Michael White 2 0 1-2 5, Robby Ryan 1 0 0-0 2, Anthony Penwell 7 0 3-6 17, David Cox 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 17

(0)

29-36

63. Fouls: 20. Fouled out: Cox.