By Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

ATHENS — Just think of what might have been.

For two and one-half quarters, the Symmes Valley Vikings were flirting with one of the major upsets of the postseason tournament.

Trailing by just 5 points with 3:31 left in the third quarter, the Vikings suddenly went cold. It was at the moment that Eli Roberts took over the game and the South Webster Jeeps pulled away and beat the Vikings 62-47 in the Division 4 district semifinals on Thursday at the Ohio University Convocation Center.

South Webster led 9-4 when Ethan Smith hit a 3-pointer and Will Jones got a putback basket to tie the game at 9-all.

Roberts scored 4 points but Smith got 4 points of his own and the game was tied at the end of the first quarter, 13-13.

Neither team could score over the first 3 minutes of the second quarter, but the Jeeps were able to take a 21-13 lead.

Tanner Corn then drained a pair of 3-pointers and the Vikings trailed just 21-20. A basket by Tyler Sommer gave the Jeeps a 23-20 lead at the half.

The Vikings forced South Webster into 7 first half turnovers while they had just one.

South Webster came out to start the second half and took a 27-20 lead.

Smith scored but Roberts hit a 3-pointer and it was 30-22. Smith converted a 3-point play and the Vikings were down just 35-28 with 3 minutes left in the quarter.

After Roberts hit a 3-pointer and Jones answered with 2 free throws, Roberts sank 2 for shots and knocked down a trifecta for a 40-20 lead.

Jones had 2 more putback baskets but Roberts made yet another 3-pointer and the Jeeps led 43-34 to end the quarter.

Dylan Shupert’s layup and a free throw by Owen Mault started the fourth quarter and the lead was 46-34. Jacob Cade’s foul shot had the Vikings down 46-35 with 7 minutes to play.

But the Jeeps began to pull away and a layup by Jack Timothy off a pass from Roberts opened up a 52-39 lead.

Smith scored to make it 52-41 and the teams traded points until Roberts sank a free throw and hit a turnaround jumper and it was 57-43 with 2; 13 to play.

Smith turned in a stellar performance with 23 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals and an assist. Jones had a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds plus 6 steals.

Roberts was dominant with 31 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals for the Jeeps.

South Webster will play Portsmouth Notre Dame/Trimble at 6:15 p.m. on Friday, March 8, in the district finals at the Convocation Center.

Sym. Valley    13 7 14 13 = 47

So. Webster 13 10 20 19 = 62

SYMMES VALLEY (13-11): Ethan Pinkerman 0 0 0-0 0, Jacob Cade 1 0 1-2 3, Logan Simpkins 0 0 0-0 0, Ethan Smith 8 1 4-7 23, Tanner Corn 0 1 0-0 6, Zayne Wilson 0 0 0-0 0, Gradee Holland 1 0 0-0 2, Will Jones 3 0 5-8 11, Aydan Taylor 0 0 0-0 0, Levi Owens 0 0 0-0 0, Ethan Shafer 1 0 0-0 2, Andy Strow 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 17-55 10-17 47. 3-pt goals: 3-17. Rebounds: O-13 D-19 = 32 (Jones 10, Cade 6, Smith 6, Corn 5). Assists: 2 (Corn, Jones). Steals: 10 (Jones 6, Smith 3). Blocks: 1 (Cade). Turnovers: 8. Fouls: 12. Fouled out: None.

SOUTH WEBSTER (21-3): Eli Roberts 7 4 5-6 31, Christian White 1 0 0-0 2, Dylan Shupert 3 1 0-1 9, Owen Mault 3 0 1-2 7, Hunter Barnard 2 0 0-0 4, Brock Campbell 0 0 0-0 0, Jack Timothy 2 0 0-0 4, Tyler Sommer 1 1 0-0 5, Brain McClintic 0 0 0-0 0, Jacob McGraw 0 0 0-0 0, Beau Stephens 0 0 0-0 0, Brigham Burton 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 25-58 6-9 62. 3-pt goals: 6-18. Rebounds: O-12 D-27 = 39 (Roberts 12, Sommer 7, Shupert 6, Mault 5). Assisi: 9 (Roberts 3, White 3, Timothy 2). Steals: 4 (Roberts 2).  Turnovers: 13. Fouls: 15. Fouled out: None.