Lady Vikings make gutsy comeback to advance in tournament play

SYMMES VALLEY — A trio of double-digit scorers, key defensive stops and a gutsy second half effort helped the Symmes Valley Lady Vikings complete a 53-46 comeback win over the Glenwood Lady Tigers on Thursday night in the Ohio Division 7 Girls District Quarterfinals.

"First half was rough. None of our shots were falling, they were playing great defense but couldn't get anything to hit," said Symmes Valley coach Deon Tibbs. "At halftime I went in, I said you got to go back out with your heart. Go for the ball, want the ball more than that team wants the ball and you're going to come up with a win."

Symmes Valley had three scorers finish in double-digits. Both Brenna Tibbs and Aly Haydon led the way with double-doubles. Both scored 16 points, while Haydon had a team-high 11 rebounds and Tibbs had 10. Lydia Saunders finished with 15 points, 6 rebounds, 6 steals and a pair of assists.

Glenwood had no trouble scoring in the first half as they used their outside shooting to gain control of the lead in the first half.

Mya Truiitt proved that on Glenwood's first two possessions with back-to-back triples. Then later Adyson Potts hit twice from downtown to give the Lady Tigers a 15-12 lead after one quarter.

Both teams played even during the second frame and the Lady Tigers held a 24-21 lead at the break.

It wouldn't be until the third quarter when Symmes Valley's shot began to fall and finally make their comeback push.

But before the rally began, the Lady Vikings would have to do it without one of they key scorers.

Early in the third, Brenna Tibbs scored on a drive down the paint, but took a hard fall and had to exit the game for the remaining 5:37 of the third.

However, the loss of their senior guard didn't detour the Lady Vikings. As different players chipped in with big plays of their own to keep the game close.

Saunders came up with 3 steals during the period that led to transition scores and Haydon had a pair of put-backs to give the Lady Vikings their first lead of the game with 3:13 remaining in the third.

"They all stepped up and carried the weight when Brenna went out of the game. It was a tough fought game all the way through," said Tibbs.

Glenwood was able to rally back in the closing moments of the third and tie it up on a 3-pointer from Truitt.

The Lady Tigers continued to rally at the beginning of the fourth to take a 41-38 lead with 6:48 remaining in the game.

But a 9-0 run by the Lady Vikings would put them up for good.

The run got started when Navaeah Holbrook came up with a steal for a layup and followed up by a 3-pointer from Tibbs.

Haydon capped off the run with another basket down low to put Symmes Valley ahead 49-41 with 2:56 remaining.

The Lady Tigers were paced by Truitt with 18 points and 6 rebounds and Copley had 10 points.

New Boston 15  9   12   10  =  46

Symmes Valley 12   9   15   17  =  53

NEW BOSTON (9-14): Arenda Gosselin 1 0 4-5 6, Justina Williams 1 0 1-2 3, Kaelyn Tabor 0 0 0-0 0, Mya Truitt 1 4 4-6 18, Adyson Potts 1 2 0-0 8, Layleh Copley 2 2 0-0 10, Rilyn Holbrook 0 0 1-2 1. Totals: 6 8 10-15 46. Rebounds: (O-13, D-31) 44 (Holbrook 14, Williams 8). Assists: 4 (Gosselin 3, Holbrook). Steals: 6 (Gosselin 2). Blocks: 1 (Gosselin). Turnovers: 22. Fouls 20. Fouled out: Layleh Copley (4th, 1:17).

SYMMES VALLEY (11-11): Lydia Saunders 6 0 3-14 15, Alyssa Anthony 1 0 0-0 2, Aly Haydon 8 0 0-0 16, Brenna Tibbs 5 1 3-12 16, Evan Sells 1 0 0-0 2, Nevaeh Holbrook 1 0 0-2 2. Totals: 22 1 6-28 53. Rebounds: (O-15, D-29) 44 (Haydon 11, Tibbs 10). Assists: 3 (Saunders 2, Sells). Steals: 15 (Saunders 6, Tibbs 4). Blocks: 4 (Haydon 4). Turnovers: 11. Fouls: 12. Fouled out: Alyssa Anthony (3rd, 1:07).