It took most of the game but Mitchell Coleman left the game as the 17th Pirate scoring 1000 points in their career. A hard fought first half by both teams saw host Leipsic take control in the third quarter. The Putnam County League game had the Vikings open the game up with the first 8 points on a pair of free throw and a trio of baskets. Continental would get on the board when Bryce Recker hit a basket. Vikings 8-2. A Viking 3 made it a 9 point game. Gavin Huff would make a basket to cut the lead to 7, 11-4. Four points by the Vikings on a three point play and a free throw pushed the Viking lead to 11. The Pirates would end their first quarter scoring with a Recker basket and the Vikings end the quarter with a basket. Vikings 17-6 after 1.
The second quarter belonged to the Pirates as they outscored the Vikings 11-4. Coleman got on the board first for the Pirates with a basket and Alex Sharrits followed up with a 3 to cut the Viking lead to 6 17-11. A pair of basket by the Vikings pushed the lead back up to 10 21-11 but that was the only points for the Vikings in the second. The Pirates would get a pair of 3s from Rhenn Armey to close out the half Vikings 21-17.
It was all Vikings in the third as they put in the first 11 points of the quarter to take an 15 point lead 32-17. Coleman would get a basket for the Pirates putting him at 996 but that would be all the third quarter scoring for the Pirates as the Vikings added 6 more to their total 37-19 Vikings.
Huff opened up the high scoring fourth quarter with a basket which was followed by a Viking basket. Vikings 41-21. A basket by Huff and pair of free throws by Sharrits made it Vikings 41-25. A Viking 6 point run was stopped when Coleman made a basket to put him at 998 and the game score 47-27. A Viking 8 point run was ended when Armey would hit a pair of 3 to make it 55-33 Vikings. A pair of Viking free throws ended their scoring at 57. In the closing seconds of the quarter Coleman put his name on the 1000 point list with a close basket to make the final score Vikings 57, Pirates 35.
Rhenn Armey led the Pirates with 12 points while Mitchell Coleman put in 8. Gavin Huff scored 6, Alex Sharritis 5, Bryce Recker 4. The Pirates made five 3 pointers with Armey making 4 and Sharrits 1. The Vikings made two 3 point shots. Continental was 2-2 from the line while the Vikings were 13-18.
Continental falls to 3-6 (0-1 PCL) and will travel to Ayersville on Tuesday for a game that was moved on the schedule. Leipsic is now 8-1 (2-0 PCL).
–Mike Jones, Sportswriter
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