Less than a month ago Leipsic and Continental met in the Ayersville Holiday Tournament Semifinals and the Lady Vikings had their way, holding the Pirates to 5 points in the first half and taking a 39 point lead at times in the second half. The result was the same on Saturday (Viking win) but how they got there was a lot different as an improved Pirate team made it a game.
The Vikings opened up the game by scoring 10 for the first 13 points with only a Brooke Bradford 3 being the first Pirate points. The Pirates scored the last 9 points of the quarter to take a 12-10 lead after 1. The Pirate 9 was made possible by a Bradford basket, Amber Logan hitting a 2 and a 3, and Ashley Mansfield making a basket. A Viking basket was offset by a Mansfield basket making it 14- 12 Pirates. A Viking 3 was countered by baskets by Mansfield (3 pointer) and Addyson Armey for a Pirate 19-15 lead. The Vikings would then run off the next 13 points before the Pirates would close the half with another 2 by Mansfield. Leipsic 28, Continental 22 at half.
A 3 pointer by Alex Hoeffel would start the third quarter, reducing the Viking lead to 3. A Viking 5 point run was stopped by an A. Armey basket Vikings 33 Pirates 27. A Madi Sharp 2 followed a Viking 3 making it a 7 point game Vikings 36 Pirates 29. Another Viking 5 point run was stopped by a pair of Sharp free throws. Vikings 41, Pirates 31. A Viking basket was matched by a pair of Logan free throws – Vikings 43, Pirates 33. The Vikings would then score the last 10 points of the quarter to make it a twenty point game Vikings 53, Pirates 33 after three.
Jaylen Armey would hit the first basket of the fourth for the Pirates to make it an 18 point game but that would be as close as the Pirates would get. Leipsic 64, Continental 45 final.
Senior Ashley Mansfield led the Pirates with 11 points while Brooke Bradford had 8. Amber Logan put in 7, Jaylen Armey and Addyson Armey put in 5 each, Madi Sharp 4, Alex Hoeffel 3, and Kaitlyn Alvarado 2. Mansfield hit a pair of 3 pointers while Bradford, Logan, and Hoeffel made 1 each.
Continental is now 2-14 (1-4 PCL) while Leipsic is 10-5 (3-2 PCL). Continental will host Antwerp on Tuesday night.
–Mike Jones, Sportswriter
