By JIM WALKER

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

WILLOW WOOD — As far as the Symmes Valley Vikings are concerned, open up the Keystone Pipeline. They ran out of gas.

The Vikings battled the Lucasville Valley Indians tough for two and a half quarters before running out of gas in a 62-38 loss on Friday.

The Vikings trailed just 34-28 after a 10-footer by Ethan Smith with 3:28 to go in the third quarter. But the shots wouldn’t fall and Jace Copley got the hot hand  in the fourth quarter as the Indians pulled away.

The Indians (1-1) took an 11-3 lead to start the game before Logan Simpkins hit a 3-pointer and Smith made a foul shot with 32 seconds left in the first quarter as they trailed just 11-6.

Smith hit a 17-footer and then Ethan Pinkerman came up with a steal and fed Smith for a layup that cut the deficit to 16-14.

Leading 19-16, the Indians got a little breathing room as Christian Copen sank 2 foul shots and Parker Lute scored inside and it was 23-16.

Copley had a layup to put the Indians up 25-20 but Tanner Corn’s layup closed the gap to 25-22.

But a layup by Braxton Dillow and a 3-pointer by Chase Davis with 1:08 left in the half gave the Indians a 30-22 lead at the break.

Copley converted a 3-point play to start the second half but Aydan Taylor hit a 15-footer and a baseline shot to get the Vikings within 33-26.

Copley sank a foul shot only to have Smith hit a short jumper and it was 34-28.

The Indians began to pull away as David hit a 3-pointer with 42 seconds left in the quarter and then Vice had a cutback at the buzzer to make it 43-21.

Copley and Davis hit 3-pointers to start the fourth quarter and it was 49-32.

Logan Simpson drilled a 3-pointer for the Vikings to stop the bleeding momentarily, but Copley scored 4 points, Davis hit a 3-pointer and Copley made a layup and it was 58-35 midway through the quarter.

The Vikings (2-1) were led by Smith with 13 points and Taylor scored 11.

The Indians had 3 players in double figures as Copley scored 17, Davis had 15 and Vice added 12.

Symmes Valley visits Portsmouth Notre Dame next Friday.

Lucasville    16 14 13 21 = 62

Sym. Valley 10 12 10 6 = 38

LUCASVILLE VALLEY (1-1): Chase Davis 0 5 0-0 15, Jalen Dunham 0 1 0-0 3, Christian Copen 2 0 2-2 6, Parker Lute 1 1 0-0 5, Blake Lundy 0 0 0-0 0, Jace Copley 5 1 4-5 17, Brenden Vice 6 0 0-1 12, Braxton Dillow 1 0 0-0 2, Jaylen Bender 0 1 0-0 3, Ayden Bender 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 15 9 6-8 62. Fouls: 10. Fouled out: None.

SYMMES VALLEY (2-1): Ethan Pinkerman 0 0 0-0 0, Jacob Cade 1 0 0-0 2, Logan Simpkins 0 2 0-0 6, Ethan Smith 5 1 0-0 13, Tanner Corn 1 0 0-0 2, Gradee Holland 0 0 0-0 0, Will Jones 1 0 2-4 4, Aydan Taylor 4 1 0-0 11, Ethan Schafer 0 0 0-0 0, Wilson 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 16-54 2-4 38. 3-pt goals: 4-22. Rebounds: 3-O, 18-D = 21 (Cade 6, Jones 6, Simpkins 4). Assists: 6 (Smith 4). Steals: 3 (Pinkerman 2). Blocks: 2 (Cade, Simpkins). Turnovers: 13. Fouls: 9. Fouled out: None.