WILLOW WOOD – Can you say "Contender.

Sunday, December 10, 2000

WILLOW WOOD – Can you say "Contender."

It may only be one game deep into the Southern Ohio Conference race, but the Symmes Valley Vikings served notice Friday they were a legitimate contended as they knocked off the Beaver Eastern Eagles 51-44.

Things didn’t start well for the Vikings who trailed 25-18 at the half. But a strong second half propelled the Vikings to their third win against no losses.

"I think it took us a half to realize we could play with a good team and compete with them," Vikings coach Alvin Carpenter said.

Eastern, considered one of the contenders for the title, jumped in front 18-8 the first quarter as Jared Hattle and Matt Hines scored six points each.

The Eagles missed just two field goal attempts the first quarter.

Symmes Valley came back and outscored Eastern 10-7 the second quarter, then kept the pace going the second half.

Justin Myers scored seven points in the third quarter and the Vikings limited the Eagles to six points as Symmes Valley took a 32-31 lead.

Hines had six points the fourth quarter, but Brandon Runyon and Myers combined for 10 points as the Vikings pulled away to the win.

"Runyon came off the bench and helped us. (Travis) Wilson had another steady game, and Brad (Carpenter) played well," coach Carpenter said. "We settled down and played pretty good defense the last three quarters."

Myers finished with 22 points, 13 rebounds, and six blocked shots. Wilson had 10 points and nine rebounds, and Brad Carpenter had five assists and a pair of steals.

Hines had 16 points and Robbie Day 10 to lead Eastern, 1-1 overall and 0-1 in the SOC.

Eastern 18 7 6 13 – 44

Sym. Valley 8 10 14 19 – 51

EASTERN (1-1, 0-1): Adam Mathews 0 1 0-5 3, Robbie Day 5 0 0-0 10, Jared Hattle 0 3 0-0 9, Cody Hubbard 2 0 2-2 6, Matt Hines 7 0 2-4 16. Totals: 14 4 4-6 44. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: None.

SYMMES VALLEY (3-0, 1-0): Brad Carpenter 0 0 5-6 5, Adam Corn 3 1 0-0 9, Justin Myers 7 0 8-9 22, Travis Wilson 4 0 2-6 10, Brandon Runyon 2 0 2-4 6, Chris Lafon 0 0 0-0 0, David Owens 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 16 1 17-25 51. Fouls: 15. Fouled out: None. Rebounds: 32 (Myers 13, Wilson 9). Assists: 14 (Carpenter 5, Lafon 3). Steals: 9 (Carpenter 2, Lafon 2). Turnovers: 15. Blocked shots: Myers 6.