MILLER CITY – Though the three pointers helped the Vikings take an early second half lead on Saturday night it was the performance at the free throw line in the fourth quarter that helped Leipsic secure a 65-53 Putnam County League opener at host Miller City’s J. Harry Leopold Gynmasium.
Leading 25-21 to begin the third quarter the visiting Vikings quickly extended their advantage to 32-21 in the opening minute and a half of the period behind a pair of three point goals from Jaden Siefker. Siefker, a 6’0 senior connected on three from beyond the arc in the period on his way to a team high 23 points.
“It was really special to see Jaden go on his run tonight. Last night he was in foul trouble and only had two points and was frustrated. To come back for this game with confidence was great. For him to have this game as a senior at a place where his dad Randy is a basketball legend was an incredible show to watch” said Leipsic fifth year head coach Chris Kuhlman.
Miller City sharpshooter and leading scorer Austin Ruhe would not be outdone by Siefker as he tossed in a game high 28 markers of his own that saw his first basket tie the contest in the opening seconds and pull the Wildcats to within four on a pair of occasions in the second stanza where he accounted for ten points that included a pair of makes from deep.
“If you look at the box score and see Ruhe had 28 you would think we struggled to guard him, but he hit tough shot after tough shot. Trey and Quin Schroeder won’t get credit in the boxscore but the work they put in on Ruhe was great tonight.”
Early in the contest the Vikings were led by junior Mason Brandt and Dillan Niese who accounted for ten points and an 4-0 run with the game was tied at 4-4 on a Jon Burgei basket with 5:49 remaning in the opening stanza.
In addition to Ruhe’s big night Miller City was paced in the second half by Ross Niese who despite playing most of the last two quarters in foul trouble pulled the Cats once again to within a basket at 44-41 and forced a Leipsic timeout on a make from three early in the fourth.
Entering play Saturday night Leipsic as a team was shooting just 59% from the free throw line as a team but found themselves with 14 opportunities in the final eight minutes of play. Led by the duo of Mason Brandt and Jaden Siefker, the Vikings connected on 11 of their charity tosses and upped their lead to 56-50 with 1:11 remaining on a pair of makes by Siefker.
On the evening the Vikings were successful on 16 of 21 free throws while Miller City hit on 7 of their 10 opportunties.
“Our seniors really stepped up and finished the game composed by rebounding and making free throws. Any time you go to Miller City and get a win in this rivalry it’s not a good win, it’s a great win” opined Kuhlman on the rivalry and the 115th meeting between the two programs.
Miller City (1-4, 0-1) will be back in action at home next Friday night when they host Tinora in a non-league tilt while Leipsic takes their 5-0 start to Pandora where they will battle the Rockets in search of a 2-0 start in the PCL.
Scoring:
Leipsic (65):
Mason Brandt 16
Trey Schroeder 8
Jaden Siefker 23
Dillan Niese 10
Lorenzo Walther 1
Tyler Sickmiller 7
FT: 16/21
3PT: 7 (J. Siefker 5, Sickmiller 2)
TO: 15
Miller City (53):
Ross Niese 17
Devin Pester 2
Austin Ruhe 28
Jon Burgei 6
FT: 7/10
3PT: 6 (Ruhe 4, R. Niese 2)
TO: 14
JV: 40-25 Leipsic