Leopards Get Revenge in Lions Den 59-50
FULL VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
Louisville 59, Minerva 50
Alex Schooley scored 7 of his team-high 17 points in the fourth quarter to help the Leopards pull ahead and defeat their arch-rivals 59-50 Friday Night at Minerva High School. Mike Kelly and Bill Lairson also each added 9 points as the Leopards beat the Lions for the fifth straight time.
After falling behind 40-35 late in the third quarter, the Leopards’ defense held the Lions’ offense scoreless from the field for a span of 6:33.
During that time the Leps offense also caught fire as they outscored Minerva 17-3 and amassed a 52-43 advantage. Schooley hit a three and added a lay-in while being fouled, Lairson drove hard to the hole for an additional basket, and Kelly was also fouled while charging the lane and dropping the ball through the net.
What little chance the Lions had of a comeback was sealed away as the Leps hit 9 of 14 free throws in the fourth quarter. Later, Kelly broke free on a full-court inbound pass from Jake O’brien. While his layup bounced off the rim, Jeremy McQuilkin laid it back home in mid-air demonstrating and capping off what was truly a well-earned team victory.
“Lets Play Football” is what the Minerva students in the “The Cage” yelled at the conclusion of the Leopards nine-point victory. Although they waited 10 years to cheer it, they could have vocalized it a little earlier in the contest. With many from the gridiron game in late September playing for both squads things got a little frisky right from the start.
The two teams combined to shoot just 27% in the first half, but don’t let the number deceive you. Most of the missed shots were the consequence of a foul by the defending team. Overall for the game the two teams combine for 39 fouls, 47 free throw attempts, and 8 players had three or more fouls.
When the game loosened up a bit midway through the second quarter, the Leopards put together a 6-0 run. Twice Jon Crank set up Schooley who drove to the rack nicely for the pair of buckets giving Louisville a 26-25 lead. That lead would also be the halftime score as the menacing Louisville defense shutout Minerva for the final 4:24 of the half.
The third quarter flowed much faster as the lead changed hands 9 times to open the period. Eli Maurer, who scored a game-high 24 points for the Lions, opened up the scoring with a triple. On the ensuing possession, Lairson answered right back with a downtown make of his own. Minerva pulled ahead to a 40-35 lead with 40 seconds to play in the quarter. However, Cody Cheezan hit a jumper and Schooley drew a foul on a half-court shot attempt to cut the lead to a single point heading into the final frame.
The Leopards hit their free throws in the final quarter and their defense did the rest. It was a well-fought, well-deserved first NBC victory for the boys in Carolina blue.
STATISTICS
LEOPARDS: Schooley 5 6-11 17, Kelly 2 4-6 9, Lairson 4 0-0 9, Cheezan 2 3-4 7, Meredith 2 2-4 6, O’brien 1 2-2 5, Crank 1 0-0 3, McQuilkin 1 1-3 3. TOTALS 18 18-30 59.
TEAM FG: 18-53 34%
TEAM 3PT: 5-21 24% | Crank (1), Kelly (1), Lairson (1), O’brien (1), Schooley (1)
TEAM FT: 18-30 60%
LIONS: Maurer 6 10-10 24, Eberling 4 1-5 9, Locke 3 0-0 7, Anderson 1 1-2 4, Klimko 2 0-0 4, Locke 1 0-0 2. TOTALS 17 12-17 50.
TEAM FG: 17-58 29%
TEAM 3PT: 4-15 27% | Maurer (2), Anderson (1), Locke (1)
TEAM FT: 12-17 71%
Team 1-2-3-4-Total
Louisville 14-12-13-20–59
Minerva 15-10-15-10–50
Rebounds: Louisville 34-28
Fouls: Minerva 22-17
Records: Louisville 2-6, 1-3; Minerva 3-3, 2-2
NEXT UP: The Leps will travel to Ravenna to take on the Ravens on Tuesday, January 3. JV tips off at 6:00 PM, while Varsity will follow at approximately 7:30 PM. According to our records, the last time that Louisville and Ravenna one another was in Game 4 of the 1955-56 season when the Leopards won 89-56.
PICTURES
JV REPORT
Louisville 57, Minerva 36
Alex Hollifield led all scorers with 13 points and Joey Duckworth added 10 as the Leopards JV squad defeated Minerva 57-36 in the preliminary contest. The JV squad put together a 20-9 third quarter before rolling to their fourth victory of the season. Chase Cappelli led Minerva with 11 points, while Andy Minster also had 7 for the Leps.
JV PICTURES
JV STATISTICS
LEOPARDS: Hollifield 3 7-9 13, Duckworth 4 2-2 10, Andy Minster 3 0-0 7, Carter 2 2-2 6, Mathie 1 3-4 6, Greybeal 2 0-1 4, Hahn 2 0-0 4, AJ Minster 2 0-0 4, Bast 0 2-2 2, Brown 0 1-2 1, Parks 0 0-1 0. TOTALS 19 17-23 57.
3PT (1): Mathie (1), Andy Minster (1)
TEAM FT: 17-23 74%
LIONS: Cappelli 3 5-7 11, Knight 3 2-5 9, Parrish 2 2-2 6, Rogers 2 0-2 5, Clapper 1 0-0 2, Stryffeler 1 0-0 2, Martin 0 1-2 1. TOTALS 12 10-18 36.
3PT (2): Knight (1), Rogers (1)
TEAM FT: 10-18 56%
Team 1-2-3-4–Total
Louisville 8-13-20-16–57
Minerva 7-10-9-10–36
Fouls: Minerva 18-16