Sports
Vinton County Lady Vikings Stay Perfect, Boys Win Two
By: Katharine Morey
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This week brought only wins for Vinton County, protecting the Lady Viking’s perfect 5-0 record and giving the boys their first two wins of the season.
The Lady Viking’s began the week by welcoming Athens and capturing a 44-26 win. The Vikings dominated throughout the night and showcased a strong offensive and defensive edge over the Bulldogs, focusing on putting points on the board and constantly rebounding.
The combination of scoring and rebounding allowed sisters Cassie and Morgan Bentley to lead the team in scoring and ended with double-doubles.
The trend continued Thursday night against Wellston with the combined strong efforts of offensive and defensive components, resulting in 60-26 win for the Lady Vikings. Josie Ousley scored nearly a third of these points herself, racking up 17 points throughout the game.
Morgan Bentley set the girls on the right track early in the game, scoring 12 points in the first quarter, adding to her total of 14 points with an impressive 14 rebounds. Erin Jones proved to be another key player by adding another 12 points to the scoreboard.
“We paid our dues, the girls worked hard over the summer…they’re working hard and getting stronger…What makes the Vikings a good ball team is the combination of scoring and rebounding and that makes sense,” Coach Rod Bentley said.
The boys are also putting in the work and looking for another successful season. They began the week by traveling to River Valley on Tuesday to claim a 69-63 victory over the Raiders. During this game, Senior Naylan Yates returned to the court after sitting out a few games due to an injury. His presence on the court gave the team a boost and led to their first victory of the season.
On Friday, the Vikings welcomed the Golden Rocket’s and walked away with a 69-51 win over Wellston. Jake Speakman and Naylan Yates led the night in scoring. A strong offense led to easy buckets, while an improved inside play and tight defense factored into Vinton County’s success.
“Things started rough but we’re hoping we start to get some kids healthy…as we get them healthy, we’re hoping that we start to come together and peak at the right time so this is certainly a good start…We still have a lot of basketball to play,” Coach Combs said.
The Vikings will play the Meigs Marauders on Tuesday and the Lady Vikings will travel to Nelsonville to take on the Buckeyes on Monday.