Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

WILLOW WOOD — Soooo close.

The Eastern Eagles got a boost when Portsmouth Clay beat Sciotoville East to put them alone in first place of the Southern Ohio Conference race.

But the Eagles almost didn’t get that break until they escape a major upset bid by the Symmes Valley Vikings on Tuesday.

The Vikings pushed the Eagles to overtime before falling 53-48.

“We had our chances. We challenged them on defense and we played pretty good defense tonight,” said Vikings’ coach Donnie Saunders. “We did a better job defensively, but we still had trouble fouling.”

The foul line proved to be the difference for the Eagles who were 15-of-25 while the Vikings only made 4-of-7.

Shawn Belville scored 16 points and Jarod Sheppard had 12 points to lead the Vikings (4-10, 2-7).

Ethan Leist scored 17 points to lead three Eagles in double figures. Clay Martin had 14 points and Evan Leist scored 10.

Ethan Leist and Martin each made two 3-pointers in the first quarter as Eastern went up 17-15. Belville had six points and Derrek Smith scored five for the Vikings.

Sheppard and Ethan Leist matched each other with five points in the second quarter and the Vikings cut the deficit to 28-27 at the half.

Ethan Leist scored five points in the third quarter as Eastern went up 38-36. Sheppard hit a big trifecta for the Vikings.

Belville scored four points as the Vikings battled back to tie the game at 46 and force the overtime.

Evan Leist had four points including two free throws while the Vikings could only manage two foul shots by Belville in the overtime.

“You never want to lose, but we can build on this,” said Saunders.

The Vikings visit New Boston on Friday in a league game and host Rock Hill on Saturday.

Eastern 17 11 10 8 7 = 53

Sym. Valley 15 12 9 10 2 = 48

BEAVER EASTERN (NA): Evan Leist 3 0 4-7 10, Tyler Hale 4 0 1-3 9, Quentin Alley 0 0 0-0 0, Ethan Montgomery 0 0 0-0 0, Ben Hesson 1 0 1-2 3, Ethan Leist 3 2 5-7 17, Clay Martin 2 2 4-6 14. Totals: 13 4 15-25 53. Fouls: 12. Fouled out: None.

SYMMES VALLEY (4-10, 2-7): Levi Cade 0 0 0-0 0, Chayden Renfroe 1 0 0-0 2, Collin Webb 0 1 0-0 3, Shawn Belville 7 0 2-3 16, Payton Hayes 0 2 0-0 6, Derrek Smith 1 1 0-0 5, Hunter Adams 0 0 2-4 2, Forrest Humphrey 1 0 0-0 2. Jarod Sheppard 3 2 0-0 12. Totals: 13 6 4-7 48. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: Smith.