Leopards Play Grinch, Steal Game from Alliance in 4th, 58-43
Louisville 58, Alliance 43
The Louisville Leopards superb fourth quarter defense turned a close game into a 58-43 rout of the Alliance Aviators Tuesday night. Mitch Sluss had two key steals for scores in the final period, while Toby Minster led all scorers with 18 points as the Leopards improved to 2-2.
Just like against Carrollton and at Northwest, the Leopards got off to a quick 8-2 start. But, just like those others games, the Leopards lead quickly evaporated thanks to 2 three-pointers from Alliance’s Sam Cundiff and another triple from Vernon Martin. The first quarter ended with the teams tied at 13-13.
Just before Cundiff hit the three-pointer to tie the game before time expired, Louisville’s Mike Kelly got a huge swat on Aviator’s guard Kordelle Phillips. But, the block party was just getting started. Alliance center Jalen Mays returned the favor with two mammoth blocks of his own, while Parrish Martin scored 8 of his 10 total points in the second quarter to give Alliance their first lead of the contest. A technical foul by Louisville coach Tom Siegfried allowed the Aviators to tie the game at 28-28, before Martin delivered a jumper in the lane with just seconds remaining. Alliance led 30-28 at the break.
A lethargic third quarter by both squads gave way to little offensive output. Louisville held Alliance to just 4 points, while Louisville continued to struggle against the high-flying Aviators who recorded three blocks, 2 from Vernon Martin and another from May. The Leps managed to to hold onto a slim 35-34 lead heading into the fourth.
In the final quarter, the teams battled to a 38-38 tie before the door the Leopards were knocking at came crashing down. Louisville opened up a 14-0 run by playing sensational defense and getting hot on offense. Mitch Sluss stole the ball straight out of Aviator dribbles twice and took both to the house. Michael Schooley also stole a pass, Toby Minster had a tyrannical block underneath, and Mike Kelly, Owen Gramoy, & Adam Lundberg all hit shots from downtown to seal the deal for the Leps, who are now 2-1 in the NBC.
SCORING
LEOPARDS: Minster (18), Buccasso (10), M. Sluss (9), Kelly (8), Schooley (5), Gramoy (3), Lundberg (3), J. Sluss (2)
AVIATORS: V. Martin (12), Mays (11), P. Martin (10), Cundiff (6), Handy (4)
NEXT GAME: The Leopards travel to New Philadelphia on Thursday, December 23. JV starts at 6:00, Varsity Begins Approximately 7:30.
VIDEO:
JV REPORT:
Louisville 68, Alliance 47
The Louisville Leopards boys junior varsity squad defeated Alliance 68-47 to remain undefeated at 4-0 on the season. The Leopards road a 27-14 into halftime, but Alliance opened up the second half on a 10-0 run. Louisville answered by doubling up the Aviators the rest of the quarter in taking a 48-34 lead into the fourth. Trevor Meredith scored 9 of his game-high 14 points in the third quarter to help rip open the lead, before the Leopards cruised in the fourth quarter to a 68-47 victory. Ronnie Carter and Cody Cheezan also added ten a piece for Louisville.
