Leipsic came out and scored the first 6 before Jacob Williams and Trevor Williamson each made a basket to tighten it up to 6-4. That would be the closest the Pirates would get in this Saturday home Putnam County opener. After the Williams and Williamson baskets the Pirates only managed a pair of made free throws in the first while the Vikings added 7 more for a 13-6 score after the first break. The second quarter showed more Pirates offensive struggles as the only points the Pirates mustered were 3 free throws from Wade Stauffer and one by Williamson. Meanwhile the Vikings hit the nets for another 13. Vikings 26, Pirates 10 at half. The Pirates outscored the Vikings 16-13 with Stauffer getting 9 of those points to make it Vikings 39, Pirates 26 after three. A Pirate 6 point run (a three from Williamson and 3 points from Stauffer) at the start of the fourth made it a 7 point game 39-32. But then it was all Vikings as they scored 15 of the last 22 points of the game. Vikings 54, Pirates 39.
Wade Stauffer lead the Pirates with 17 points (10-12 from the free throw line). Trevor Williamson had 10 (one 3 pointer) while Jacob Williams added 6. Caleb Olds had 4 (one 3 pointer) and Tyler Brecht and Dean Krendl had one point each.
The Pirates are now 2-8 (0-1 in the Putnam County League). Leipsic improves to 5-3 (2-1 in the PCL). The Pirates next play Friday at Miller City (6-3).
–Mike Jones, Sportswriter
