Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

WILLOW WOOD — The Symmes Valley Vikings kept their engine running. Unfortunately, they just ran out of gas.
The Vikings erased a first half deficit and took the lead only to watch the New Boston Tigers rebound for a 65-56 Southern Ohio Conference win on Friday.
“The boys played very hard tonight. It took a great deal of energy to come back and take the lead in the third quarter,” said Vikings’ coach Chad Coffman.
“I’m very proud of our effort and we will continue to work on improving our execution through hard work in practice.”
Layken Gothard had 18 points, eight rebounds and two steals for the Vikings (1-2, 0-2). Brock Carpenter finished with 12 points and seven rebounds, Jack Leith came off the bench and got eight points and eight rebounds while Nick Klaiber added eight points.
Kade Conley had a game-high 25 points for New Boston (2-1, 2-0) and Tyler Caldwell scored 20.
Caldwell and Conley combined for 17 points in the first quarter as New Boston took a 19-14 lead. Gothard had six points for the Vikings.
Conley had seven more points in the second quarter as the Tigers kept the lead at 34-29. Carpenter had five points while Nick Klaiber, Leith and Gothard scored four each.
Austin Mannon and Gothard each hit 3-pointers as the Vikings took a lead in the third quarter, but Caldwell scored nine points in the third quarter as New Boston rallied to lead 49-41.
Conley scored six points in the fourth quarter to offset five points by Gothard and four by Carpenter as New Boston held on for the win.
Symmes Valley visits Western on Tuesday.
In the reserve game, the Vikings (3-0) won 54-25 as Drew Sherer had 15 points and Leith 10. Truit scored 19 for the Tigers.
New Boston    19    15    15    16    =    65
Sym. Valley    14    15    12    13    =    56
NEW BOSTON (2-1, 2-0): Malaki Potts 1 0 0-2 2, E. Phipps 0 1 2-2 5, Tyler Caldwell 5 2 4-4 20, A. Meade 6 0 1-5 13, Kade Conley 7 2 4-7 25, C.J. Craft 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 19 5 11-20 65. Fouls: 15. Fouled out: None.
SYMMES VALLEY (1-2, 0-2): Derik Brace 0 0 0-0 0, Jack Leith 3 0 1-4 7, Alec Carpenter 0 1 0-0 3, Nick Klaiber 2 1 1-2 8, Layken Gothard 5 2 2-3 18, Austin Mannon 0 1 0-0 3, Hunter Adams 1 1 0-0 5, Brock Carpenter 4 1 1-2 12. Totals: 15 7 5-11 56. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: None.