Friday night Leipsic High Boys team lost to Pandora-Gilboa in a Blanchard Valley Conference game and the Vikings were not going to let that happen again on Saturday as they hosted Continental in a Putnam County League Boys game. It was the Pirates who started the game out like winners as they put in the first 4 points of the game thanks to baskets by Taron Butler and Gavin Huff. A 7 point run by the Vikings was stopped when Pirate Reed Warnement hit a field goal to make it 7-6 Vikings. A pair of baskets by the Vikings made it a 5 point game and the Pirates reduced it to 3 when Mitchell Coleman made a basket. Vikings 11, Pirates 8. The Vikings would score the last 9 points of the quarter including a 3 at the buzzer. Vikings 20, Pirates 8 after 1.
A closer second quarter would still go the Vikings way as it was the Pirates Huff who opened up the second quarter scoring with a basket to make it 20-10 Vikings. A 5 point run by the Vikings was stopped when Coleman converted a 3 point play. Vikings 25, Pirates 13. The two teams traded baskets as Huff hit for the Pirates to make it 27-15. The Vikings would close the half hitting the last 3 points. Vikings 30, Pirates 15 at half.
The Vikings would score the first 6 points of the second half to open up a 21 point lead 36-15. A Pirate basket by Coleman put the Pirates on the board in the second half and made it 36-17. The Vikings would score 4 more points before Butler would score a 2 for the Pirates 40-19 Vikings. The two teams would trade baskets before the end of the quarter with Bryce Recker hitting for the Pirates. Vikings 42, Pirates 21 after 3.
The Pirates would hold the Vikings to 4 points in the fourth quarter while putting in 10 for the 46-31 Viking final.
Mitchell Coleman led the Pirates with 9 points while Gavin Huff and Taron Butler both had 6. Bryce Recker had 5 points, Zach Moran 3, and Reed Warnement 2. Moran hit the only 3 for the Pirates. It was a fast game as Continental was 2-3 from the foul line while Leipsic was 4-8 from the line.
Continental falls to 1-10 (0-1 PCL) and will host Miller City (5-5) in a PCL game. Leipsic improves to 4-5. Leipsic took the Junior Varsity game.
–Mike Jones, Sportswriter
