RISE AND FIRE … Edgerton’s Mason Elden elevates for a baseline jumper in the first half versus Pettisville.
REBEKAH DELL / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
SCORING MACHINE … Jack Leppelmeier (above) dropped 25 points to lead all scorers as the Blackbirds rallied late to get by Edgerton.
By: John Fryman
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
john@thevillagereporter.com
EDGERTON (January 10, 2026) – Pettisville was fortunate enough just to get several crucial defensive stops in the closing seconds of a thrilling 45-42 non-league triumph over Edgerton in a battle between a pair of squads who could meet in the district tournament.
The Blackbirds (7-4) who had trailed by as many as nine points, 36-27, late in the third quarter found a way of not only erasing a manageable deficit but eventually escaped themselves from the jaws of defeat despite sinking 2 of 6 free throws over the final 25.7 seconds.
“We did what we needed to do,” said Pettisville head coach Brian Leppelmeier. “I thought we got some stops, made some stops and got to the free throw line where we didn’t cash in. It kept Edgerton in it there until the last possession.”
Edgerton led 39-36 going into the fourth quarter when Pettisville freshman Zander Hogrefe scored on an inside bucket to cut the deficit to one point, 39-38.
“We were able to get him (Hogrefe) on the backside, which was great because it was kind of a low possession grind it out game and those buckets were important,” said the Blackbirds coach.
The Bulldogs answered back with a layup by Brady Everetts off a nice assist from Kellen Sanchez on the baseline to make it 41-38 before Sanchez nailed one of two free throws with 5:30 left for a 42-38 cushion.
It was also the final points the Bulldogs would score for the remainder of the game as the Blackbirds began their own comeback.
“We went to the 1-3-1 to the zone just trying to create some turnovers, and I felt we did that,” said the Pettisville coach.
“We got them to take a few shots, maybe out of rhythm of their offense. I think we got a few better looks on the offensive end when we were early on.”
Jack Leppelmeier, who led all scorers with 25 points, 14 of those points coming in the first half, drained a deep three-pointer from the top of the key with 2:54 remaining pulling the Blackbirds within one point, 42-41.
“He’s able to stretch the floor, so we’re going to need him to knock down some of those shots,” commented the Pettisville mentor. Early on some of them (shots) weren’t falling for him and it’s tough when you’re on the road.”
The Blackbirds grabbed a 42-41 lead on a layup by Alex Galvin with Creighton Aeschliman providing the assist inside the paint at the 1:23 mark of the quarter.
With 25.7 seconds remaining, Leppelmeier was fouled by Edgerton’s Maddox Baker, and the 6-2 senior scoring whiz hit the front end of a two-shot free throw.
After his second missed attempt, the ball then rolled off an Edgerton player out of bounds giving the Blackbirds possession.
Baker then fouled Galvin with 22.5 seconds left. However, the 6-1 sophomore misfired on both of his free throw attempts, and Leppelmeier grabbed the rebound following the second missed attempt and was fouled by Brady Everetts with 15.9 seconds left.
Leppelmeier missed the first of two free throws, but the second attempt which was good was eventually waived off due to a lane violation on a Pettisville player with 13.4 seconds remaining, and the Blackbirds called a timeout.
With fouls to spare, Pettisville’s Sam Hastings fouled Baker with six seconds remaining, giving the Bulldogs a chance of perhaps pulling it off.
The Bulldogs were called for a traveling violation after an inbounds pass with 4.2 seconds left after Pettisville had called another timeout.
With 2.6 seconds left, Edgerton’s Mason Elden was whistled for a foul on Galvin following an inbounds pass to the 6-1 sophomore, thus putting Galvin on the free throw line and after missing on his first attempt, he would make the second one as it rolled slowly from the edge of the rim for a 45-42 lead.
“I thought we had opportunities all the way throughout the game, and we didn’t cash in,” said Edgerton head coach Duane Miller.
“We had open shots on the perimeter and shots at the basket we just didn’t cash in on. When we needed a timely rebound at the end there on those missed free throws that Pettisville gave us, we didn’t get that either.
“We just didn’t do enough down the stretch to get the win, and it’s something that’s been a problem for us all season. It’s something that we can clean up in practice.
“Obviously, I need to do a much better job on getting our guys to finish those plays and finish the game.”
The Bulldogs had called a timeout with 2.6 seconds remaining to set up perhaps the winning basket. Everetts would attempt a three-point shot which hit the back of the rim as time had expired, thus giving the Blackbirds a hard-fought victory.
“I thought we had some good opportunities to win the game,” said Miller. “We had some nice plays drawn up and the guys got good shots and good opportunities.
“On the last shot at the end, you couldn’t ask for a better shot with 2.6 seconds left, and it just didn’t bounce our way. Credit to Pettisville they battled the whole way, and they’re one heck of a team.”
The veteran Pettisville coach was pleased to come away with a tough road win.
“Edgerton is a well-coached team and coach (Duane) Miller had them ready to play,” said the Pettisville coach. “They could be in our district the way the tournament goes.
“It’s a big win for us especially on the road after coming out of the Christmas break where we took our lumps against Delphos St. Johns, Archbold and Fairview. It’s nice to get two road wins this week against Fayette and Edgerton.”
Besides the 25-point effort from Jack Leppelmeier, the Blackbirds also got 10 points from Galvin seven of his points coming in the fourth quarter.
Pettisville was 17 of 38 for 45 percent from the floor and 3 of 9 from the line. They grabbed 23 rebounds and committed just seven turnovers.
Sanchez led Edgerton (7-6) with 13 points. Everetts added nine points and Mason Elden finished with eight points.
The Bulldogs were 17 of 41 for 41 percent from the floor and 6 of 10 for 60 percent from the stripe. They had 16 rebounds and committed seven turnovers.
PETTISVILLE (45) – Leppelmeier 25; Z. Hogrefe 5; Aeschliman 0; Galvin 10; Hastings 5; Bishop 0; Totals 9-8-3 – 45
EDGERTON (42) – My. Baker 0; Weaver 6; P. Elden 0; M. Elden 8; M. Baker 6; Sanchez 13; Everetts 9; Totals 15-2-6 – 42
PHS 8 14 16 9 – 45
EHS 15 10 14 3 – 42