LEIPSIC – Friday night the Leipsic Vikings accomplished a feat no team in the previous 100+ years of basketball at Leipsic had ever done when they picked up a Northwest Conference victory by beating visiting Lincolnview 57-52.
A back and forth first quarter came to an end with the Vikings on top of the scoreboard as the buzzer rang out just after sophomore Estevan Carillo pushed in a running layup for his only score of the evening to give Leipsic a 14-12 lead.
Three point goals in the second period kept the Lancers within striking distance and ultimately into the lead from senior guard Garrett Richardson who knocked down a pair for six of his 12 points in the game.
Leipsic’s Mason Brandt, a University of Findlay signee raced past the Lincolnview defense in the second quarter to take over the scoring mantle from teammate Paul Maag who notched seven in the opening stanza by scoring on a layup and a pair of jumpers to make it 23-22 Leipsic with 3:23 before the half.
Senior big man Daegan Hatfield sent the visitors back into the lead with 1:30 to go as he snagged a missed shot and stuck the ball through the hoop to go ahead 26-25 before the second of Richardson’s three’s ran the score to 29-25. Leipsic cut into the lead to make it a two point game just before the half but were unable to connect on a last second try to tie the game.
Brandt’s first basket of his second half 16 point run tied the game at 30-30 with 6:40 before a basket by Hatfield gave the Lancers the lead back 32-30.
Similarly to how the two schools traded baskets and leads in the first half they did the same again through the third quarter until a three ball with :31 from the hands of senior Cole Binkley sent the Lancers into the final stoppage on top 40-38.
Baskets from behind the arc by Brandt and Maag tied the game at 44-44 with 4:44 but a triple from Avery Slusher tilted the score back in the visitors favor 47-44 just moments later.
Free throws by Fabian Pena, his only points of the night tied the contest with 3:02 to go at 49-49 before the purple and gold turned to Brandt to finish the victory as he connected on three of four free throws to secure the 57-52 win as time expired.
Lincolnview (1-1, 0-1) was led in scoring by Garrett Richardson’s 12 and featured 11 each from Hatfield and Binkley. The Lancers are back in action on Saturday night in non-league play as they host Wayne Trace.
“Any time you beat a team like Lincolnview and Coach Hammons it is a great night. They are so well prepared and play with everything they have at all times. It was nice to get our NWC season started on the right side of the win column” said Leipsic coach Chris Kuhlman.
Kuhlman continued “Our role players really gave us a lift tonight. Mason had an off game and everyone else did there job and it was enough. Pauly scoring 20 was a big lift. Blake really picked up the defensive intensity and got a bunch of deflections on top of his 4 steals. Estevan came off the and gave us some energy and offensive rebounding while Fabian and Tito (Trent Siefker) supplied toughness and leadership. I’m really proud of them because they rarely get the credit they deserve and when they had opportunities they all did what we asked them to do. We will have to bring the same effort and hopefully shoot the ball better to beat a Miller City team tomorrow that is playing some good basketball.”
Leipsic improves to 2-1 on the season and wins their first ever Northwest Conference game led by 25 from Mason Brandt and 20 from Paul Maag. Saturday evening the Vikings will open the Putnam County League portion of their 2021-22 schedule when they host Miller City in a game broadcast live on WZOQ Radio starting at approximately 7:30 p.m.
Scoring:
Leipsic (57):
Mason Brandt 25
Blake Liffick 4
Quin Schroeder 1
Trent Siefker 3
Paul Maag 20
Fabian Pena 2
Estevan Carillo 2
FG: 21/50
3PT: 5/21 (Maag 3, Brandt 2)
FT: 10/18
TO: 11
Lincolnview (52):
Avery Slusher 3
Garrett Richardson 12
Carson Fox 5
Landon Price 6
Daegan Hatfield 11
Cole Binkley 11
Ethan Crow 4
FG: 20/55
3PT: 9/22 (Binkley 3, Richardson 2, Price 2, Fox, Slusher)
FT: 3/6
TO: 8
JV: Leipsic 36-18