Leopard Patience Breaks the Branch 49-39
Louisville 49, West Branch 39
After a heart-breaking loss earlier this week, the Leopards kept their fire burning and consumed the West Branch Warriors 49-39 at Louisville High School Friday Night. A patient Leopards offense and a staunch Leopards defense completely disrupted the Warriors all night long. Cody Cheezan and Ronnie Carter led the Leopards with 10 points each, while Trevor Meredith also added 7.
The West Branch Warriors and Louisville Leopards came out of the gate looking like mirror images of each other. Both offenses were patient and both defenses were stingy. Points came at a premium, but eventually the Warriors pulled out to a 9-7 lead with 1:43 left in the first quarter.
West Branch would not score again from the field until 1:13 remained in the first half. The Leopards put together a 14-1 run over that eight and half minute span with flawless execution on offense and by taking away second chance opportunities from the Warriors on defense. Louisville out-rebounded West Branch 16-7 and shot 42% from the floor in the first half.
Trevor Hostetler nailed two free throws to start the run. Not long after, Alex Schooley found Meredith who adjusted before scoring on a lay-in. Then just before time expired in the first quarter, Schooley hit a jumper just right of the right elbow to give Louisville a 13-9 and all the momentum.
In the second quarter the Leopards continued to build on their lead and played keep away. They patiently executed a four corner offense and when given a lane they made the Warriors pay. Cheezan added his third field goal of the half, Joey Duckworth dropped in four points, and Mike Kelly capped off a five point quarter with a three-ball just before the break. Louisville flew into the locker room up 24-12.
Out of the locker room, the Leopards continued to do what they did in the first half. Whenever the Warriors would score, the Leopards would have an answer on the other end. Carter also came on strong for the Leopards as he scored all 10 of his points in the second half.
On the other side, West Branch got 12 points from Scott Muckleroy and Beau Taylor canned three 3-pointers. The Warriors also started to pick it up defensively in the fourth causing a few Leopard turnovers. As a result, they cut what was at one point a 13-point Louisville lead to 43-38 with 2:28 to go in the game.
But the Leopards clamped down and only allowed the Warriors one more point the rest of the way. On offense, Louisville got a huge fast break basket on a Jake O’brien to Meredith connection and hit enough free throws down the stretch to win their fourth straight game at home. The Leopards finish 4-3 at home in NBC play and are 6-11, 5-8 overall for the season.
STATISTICS
WARRIORS: Muckleroy 6 0-1 12, Taylor 3 0-2 9, DeShields 2 1-5 5, Latham 2 1-4 5, ReKolt 1 0-0 3, Lohnes 1 0-0 2, Shelton 1 0-0 2. TOTALS 16 3-14 39.
TEAM FG: 16-47 34%
TEAM 3PT: 4-17 24%
TEAM FT: 3-14 21%
LEOPARDS: Carter 5 0-0 10, Cheezan 5 0-0 10, Meredith 2 3-6 7, Kelly 2 1-2 6, Duckworth 2 0-0 4, O’brien 2 0-0 4, Hostetler 0 3-4 3, Schooley 1 1-2 3, Lairson 1 0-3 2. TOTALS 20 8-17 49.
TEAM FG: 20-40 50%
TEAM 3PT: 1-6 17% | Kelly (1)
TEAM FT: 8-17 47%
Team 1-2-3-4-Total
West Branch 9-3-16-11–39
Louisville 13-11-13-12–49
Rebounds: Louisville 32-21
Fouls: West Branch 16-11
Records: Louisville 6-11, 5-8; West Branch 9-7, 6-7
NEXT UP: The Leopards will travel to Ravenna to play a makeup game with the Ravens on Tuesday, February 14. JV will tip at 6:00 and Varsity will follow at approximately 7:30.
PICTURES
HEARTS DANCE COURT PICTURES
JV REPORT
Louisville 49, West Branch 42
The Leopards erased a 16-8 Warriors advantage at the end of one by outscoring West Branch 20-7 in the second quarter. Alex Hollifield scored 14 of his game-high 15 points in the second period to lead the Leopards. Louisville maintained their lead after that before pulling ahead for the 49-42 victory. Blake Hoover also scored 12 for Louisville and Bryce Mathie added 9. Zack Mucklo led West Branch with 15 points. The win is Louisville’s fourth straight at home as they finish 5-2 in the NBC for the season at LHS. The JV squad is now 10-7 overall and 8-5 in the conference.
JV PICTURES
JV STATISTICS
WARRIORS: Mucklo 7 1-2 15, Du Greenawalt 3 2-2 9, Austin 3 1-2 7, Kitzmiller 2 0-0 4, DeShields 1 0-0 2, Ross 1 0-0 2, Ware 1 0-0 2, Dy 0 1-2 1. TOTALS 18 5-8 42.
3PT: 4 | Mucklo (3), Du Greenawalt (1)
TEAM FT: 5-8 63%
LEOPARDS: Hollifield 5 4-5 15, Hoover 3 6-9 12, Mathie 4 0-0 9, AJ Minster 2 1-2 5, Carter 1 1-2 3, Andy Minster 1 0-0 3, Duckworth 1 0-0 2. TOTALS 17 12-18 49.
3PT: 3 | Hollifield (1), Mathie (1), Andy Minster (1)
TEAM FT: 12-18 67%
Team 1-2-3-4–Total
West Branch 16-7-8-11–42
Louisville 8-20-10-11–49
Fouls: West Branch 16-10
