By JIM WALKER

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

OAK HILL — In the new Southern Ohio Conference, the Symmes Valley Vikings played their inaugural game and found themselves atop the league.

The SOC is in three divisions this year in basketball and the Vikings beat the Oak Hill Oaks 52-44 on Friday and was 1-0 in the league and 4-4 overall.

Ethan Smith had 14 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists to lead the Vikings. Will Jones had 13 points, 7 rebounds and 2 steals, Jacob Cade 11 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists while Aydan Taylor added 10 points.

Mason Davis scored 12 points and Garrett McKinniss had 11 to pace the Oaks (3-8, 0-2).

Smith scored 6 points, Jones had 4 and Taylor hit a 3-pointer as the Vikings took a 16-7 first quarter lead.

Will Morgan got 4 points for the Oaks.

The Vikings were 5-of-6 from the foul line in the second quarter with Smith and Cade each 2-of-2 and Logan Simpkins 1-of-2. Cade had 4 points in the quarter and the lead was 27-22 at the half.

Davis hit a pair of 3-pointers, Andy Meldick scored 4 points and McKinniss also hit a 3-pointer for Oak Hill.

Taylor hit another 3-pointer and scored 5 points as 4 different players scored for the Vikings who stretched the lead to 38-30.

McKinnis hit a trey and scored 5 points and Davis added another 3-pointer for the Oaks.

Jones scored 5 points and Smith had 4 points to help the Vikings overcome a 4-of-12 free throw shooting in the fourth quarter.

McKinniss, Meldick and Davis all hit 3-pointers while Joseph Anteby had 5 points as each team scored 14 points in the quarter.

Sym. Valley    16 11 11 14 = 52

Oak Hill   7 15 8 14 = 44

SYMMES VALLEY (4-4, 1-0): Ethan Pinkerman 0 0 0-2 0, Jacob Cade 4 0 3-4 11, Logan Simpkins 0 0 2-6 2, Ethan Smith 6 0 2-2 14, Tanner Corn 1 0 0-0 2, Will Jones 5 0 3-6 13, Aydan Taylor 1 2 2-4 10, Levi Owens 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 19-47 12-25 52. 3-pt goals: 2-7. Rebounds: O-8 D-18 = 26 (Jones 7, Smith 7, Cade 6). Assists: 8 (Cade 3, Smith 3). Steals: 8 (Simpkins 3, Pinkerman 2, Jones 2). Blocks: 3 (Cade, Simpkins, Jones). Turnovers: 12. Fouls: 7. Fouled out: None.

OAK HILL (3-8, 0-2): Garrett McKinniss 1 3 0-0 11, Andy Meldick 3 1 0-0 9, Will Morgan 2 0 0-0 4, Mason Davis 0 4 0-0 12, Walker Fowble 0 0 0-0 0, Ethan O’Connor 0 0 0-0 0, Caleb Chambers 0 0 0-0 0, Joseph Anteby 3 0 2-4 8. Totals: 9 8 2-4 44. Fouls: 20. Fouled out: None.