Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

PEDRO — There were some good things and some bad things. But the best thing was the win.

The Symmes Valley Vikings overcame an 8-for-26 foul shooting effort thanks to 23 points by Tyler Rowe as they beat the Rock Hill Redmen 57-49 Tuesday in the season opener for both teams.

“We had some plays we could have made, but it’s the first game so overall I was satisfied,” said Vikings’ coach Donnie Saunders. “We have to hit some free throws and do a better job playing defense and not foul.”

Dylan Malone added 14 points for the Vikings.

Austin Collins and Joey Stidham scored 22 points each to lead the short-handed Redmen who were missing three players.

Collins had 10 rebounds and four steals. Alex Nance grabbed 8 rebounds and Stidham had 3 steals.

“We took care of the basketball a little better. I was pleased with how we played under the circumstances,” said Redmen coach Dave Hopper.

“We got in early foul trouble and we kind of had to manage them a little bit. We missed a lot of layups around the rim. We just need to knock down some shots.”

The Vikings jumped out to a 19-7 first quarter lead. Collins scored 13 points in the second quarter as Rock Hill got within 29-25 at the half.

The Vikings went ahead 41-32 at the end of the third quarter and Rowe scored 11 points in the fourth quarter to erase any Rock Hill comeback hopes.

Stidham and Collins combined for all 17 Rock Hill points in the fourth quarter.

Symmes Valley 19 10 12 16 = 57

Rock Hill 7 18 7 17 = 49

SYMMES VALLEY (1-0): Dylan Malone 4 2 0-1 14, Seth Jarrell 1 0 0-3 2, Kurt Adams 0 1 2-2 5, Jonathon Kouns 3 0 1-4 7, Jacob Klaiber 2 0 2-2 6, Tyler Rowe 10 0 3-11 23, Ryan Gibson 0 0 0-3 0. Totals: 20 3 8-26 57. Fouls: 19. Fouled out: None.

ROCK HILL (0-1): Aaron Dalton 0 1 0-0 3, Alex Nance 0 0 0-1 0, Joey Stidham 9 0 4-7 22, Austin Collins 4 3 5-10 22, Brady Knipp 1 0 0-0 2, Tristan Matney 0 0 0-0 0, Austin Barcus 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 14 4 9-18 49. Fouls: 21. Fouled out: Stidham. Turnovers: 10.