Eastern Survives Vikings Upset Bid To Take Lead In SOC Title Race
- Staff
- Feb 8
- 4 min read
WILLOW WOOD — Aiden Werner's layup with 6 seconds left capped off a 59-57 comeback win for the Beaver Eastern Eagles over the Symmes Valley Vikings in a Southern Ohio Conference 2 clash on Friday night.
The Vikings led by as much as 12 points during the game and seemed to be in control. But Eastern was able to chip away at the lead with pressure in the backcourt and take advantage of Symmes Valley's youth to walk away with a big road win.
"I was expecting to see the growing up part from the younger guys tonight, but we're still not quite there yet," Symmes Valley coach Alvin Carpenter.
The winning score was set up when Tucker Leist took the ball from Werner and dribbled to the top of the key, and Werner was left all alone under the basket after he made a cut to the net.
The Vikings were able to call a timeout and set up a last-second shot with 2 seconds remaining. But Asher Maynard's heave was off the mark and the Eagles walked away with the win.
The win moves the Eagles record to 16-2 overall and 7-1 in the SOC. Eastern is now in the drivers' seat to clinch at least a share of the league with a win over either Oak Hill or Northwest next week.
The Vikings fall to 13-6 overall and 6-2 in league play. And while their title hopes aren't completely over, they will need to win their two remaining SOC games and hope some upsets can happen.
Early on things looked to be going Symmes Valley's way, as the Vikings forced 5 turnovers and were able jump out to a 12-point lead midway through the second quarter.
Tanner Corn led the Vikings in scoring during the second with 5 points and Will Jones had four, including a reverse layup off a feed from Ethan Smith along the baseline to cap off the scoring in the first half and give Symmes Valley a 37-27 lead at the break.
Jones earned a double-double with 19 points and 17 rebounds. Jones also led the team with 4 steals. Bronx Carpenter finished with 12 points and 5 rebounds. Ethan Smith was held to 7 points, but finished with a game-high 8 assists and 6 rebounds.
But the Eagles came out in the second half and turned the pressure up in the backcourt, applying trapping Symmes Valley's guards and causing 15 turnovers.
During the third, Jones scored 7 more points and Smith added 5 to help give the Vikings a 53-46 lead going into the final period.
But the pressure finally got to the Vikings and Eastern began to make their run.
"At one point, we broke their press three times in a row, and we either missed the shot or turned it over," said Carpenter. "And then it got in their head and it showed."
"(Eastern) hit a couple baskets and then we turned it over and went into all-panic mode," said Carpenter. "But listen, they're a good ball team. They proved it tonight."
The turning point came in the final 5 minutes of the third as Eastern got a 3-pointer from Declan Davis to cut the lead to four. Then Tucker Leist came up with a steal, drive and layup to make it 55-53.
The Eagles looked as though they would finally take the lead with 90 seconds remaining, but Will Jones was able to swat Tucker Leist's shot out of bounds.
But on the inbounds play, Davis came open in the middle of the lane and floated the ball up and over a Viking defender to give Eastern a 57-55 lead.
On the other end, Maynard caught a pass from Carpenter along the baseline, made a pump fake along the lowblock and laid it in to tie the game back up with 38 seconds left and set up the finish.
The Eagles were led offensively by Davis with 19 points. Tucker Leist scored 13 and registered team-highs with 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 steals. Boston Webb added 13 points and 6 boards.
Symmes Valley will be back on the hardwood Tuesday night when they host Western.
Eastern 14 13 19 13 = 59
Sym. Valley 18 19 16 4 = 57
EASTERN (16-2, 7-1): Tucker Leist 5 2 1-2 13, Boston Webb 4 1 4-6 13, Aiden Werner 3 0 2-3 8, Declan Davis 7 3 2-4 19, Cade Leist 2 0 0-0 4, Carson Peters 0 0 0-0 0, Wyatt Richardson 0 0 0-0 0, Issac Weaver 1 0 0-0 2, Dalton Southworth 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 22-59 8-13 59. 3-Point Goals: 7-26. Rebounds: O-10, D-17 = 27 (T. Leist 8, C. Leist 7, Webb 6). Assists: 12 (T. Leist 5, Werner 2, Richardson 2). Steals: 12 (T. Leist 4, Davis 4, C. Leist 2). Turnovers: 14. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None.
SYMMES VALLEY (13-6, 5-2): Gradee Holland 0 0 0-0 0, Logan Simpkins 3 0 0-0 6, Ethan Smith 2 0 3-6 7, Tanner Corn 3 1 0-0 7, Bronx Carpenter 4 2 2-2 12, Noah Hutchison 0 0 0-0 0, Will Jones 8 0 3-6 19, Asher Maynard 3 0 0-0 6. Totals: 23-50 8-14 57. 3-pt goals: 3-18. Rebounds: O-15, D-23 = 38 (Jones 17, Smith 6, Carpenter 5, Maynard 5). Assists: 15 (Smith 8, Carpenter 2, Maynard 2). Steals: 9 (Jones 4, Carpenter 3). Turnovers: 20. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None.
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