Leopards Claw Out OT Victory Against Panthers
Louisville 52, Perry 46, OT
The Louisville Leopards powered their way to a 52-46 overtime victory over the Perry Panthers in the first game of the Mayor’s Classic at Massillon Washington High School Monday Evening. With the victory, Louisville is now 5-0 on the season.
Drew Noble led the Leopards with a game-high 29 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Jake Pukys also 
made 3 of 5 three-point attempts and finished with 15 points. The two combined to score 11 of the Leopards 13 points in the overtime period as well.
The Panthers led 15-12 after one and 21-20 at halftime. Louisville pulled ahead to take a 32-28 advantage at the end of the third, but Perry rallied and scored the final 5 points in regulation to knot the contest at 39-39.
The Panthers Conner Huth rattled home a three-pointer with 44 seconds remaining. Then after a steal by Wyatt Vega, Perry’s Travis Massie rolled to the rack to tie the game wit 13 seconds left. The Leopards turned the ball over in their final possession sending them to their second overtime in three games. Huth ended the night a team-high 16 points, Massie finished with 14, and Vega added 8.
Louisville started the extra period on a 7-0 run to take command back. Pukys hit a three-pointer in the right corner, Joe Crank made a pair of free throws, and Noble scored on a put back. The Leopards hit 6 of 8 shots from the charity stride the rest of the way to ice the win.
Crank also finished with 3 assists and Brody Hahn had 4 steals for the Blue and White. The win by Louisville is their first against Perry since a 57-48 home victory on January 7, 1983. The Panthers won the previous 12 meetings in between.
UP NEXT: The Leopards will next play the Cleveland Lincoln West Wolverines on Tuesday, December 23 at 6:00 PM in Massillon at the Mayor’s Classic. Freshman and JV will host Massillon at LHS at 12:00 and 1:30 on Tuesday as well.
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