By: Nate Calvin
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
sports@thevillagereporter.com
STRYKER (February 7, 2025) – With Jack Leppelmeier getting the focus of the Stryker defense, the Blackbirds needed someone else to provide the offense in the fourth quarter.
Josh Morris did just that scoring eight points in the final frame, including hitting a pair of clutch triples to help Pettisville pull away for a 40-26 win on senior night at Stryker.
Pettisville’s offense started fast hitting 6/10 from the floor in the first quarter led by eight points from Leppelmeier and a Morris triple to grab a 13-6 lead after one quarter.
Stryker started the second quarter in a zone defense which was effective in slowing down the Pettisville scoring as the Blackbirds would score just three points and make just one shot in the quarter.
On the flipside, the Panthers offense would begin to find a groove with Jacob Meyers and Braylen Wickerham both scoring in the lane to cut the deficit to 13-10.
Mason Wyse answered for the Birds by scoring their only points of the quarter by going 1/2 at the line and converting a layup to increase the lead to 16-10.
Stryker got the last points of the half after Myers drained a three ball from the left wing and Wickerham added a layup to cut the Pettisville lead to 16-15.
After being shutout in the second quarter, Leppelmeier didn’t waste any time going to work in the third as he spearheaded an 8-0 run.
He started it with a trey from the left wing, and then went coast-to-coast after grabbing a rebound for a hoop and some harm for a three-point play and Caden Bishop sprinkled in a couple free throws for a 23-15 lead.
The Panthers battled back by getting the last four points of the quarter on two free throws by William Donovan and Daniel Donovan added at a bucket for the Panthers only field goal of the third.
A Myers layup off a steal started the final frame and brought Stryker back within one possession at 24-21 before the Blackbirds would get field goals at critical times by Morris.
The 14-2 Pettisville run opened with Morris burying a triple from the top of the key and Leppelmeier found Bishop out a trap for an uncontested layup to make it 29-21.
Morris then buried a triple from the left corner followed by Leppelmeier finding Wyse and Morris for two more uncontested layups and Creighton Aeschliman went 2/2 at the charity stripe to end the run and give the Blackbirds a comfortable 38-23 advantage.
Leppelmeier finished the night just two assists shy of a triple-double with eight assists to go with his 14 points and 10 rebounds. Morris added 11 points on the night.
Pettisville was 6/8 from the field in the fourth and finished 15/29 in the game.
Meyers had 10 to lead Stryker (10-10, 3-3 BBC), who was 11/32 shooting, including 4/17 in the second half.
The win secured the No. 1 seed in the Division VII Bryan District for Pettisville (15-4, 5-1 BBC) and with a win in their league finale over Hilltop, they can clinch at least a share of the BBC title.
PETTISVILLE (40) – Hogrefe 0; Leppelmeier 14; Galvin 0; Morris 11; Hastings 0; Wyse 5; C. Bishop 6; Crawford 0; R. Bishop 0; Totals: 11-4-6 – 40
STRYKER (26) – W. Donovan 4; Myers 10; Lloyd 0; Damms 0; Capps 0; Batterson 0; Wickerham 4; D. Donovan 6; Rivas 0; Rupp 2; Dickinson 0; Totals: 9-2-2 – 26
PHS 13 3 8 16 – 40
SHS 6 9 4 7 – 26
Junior Varsity: Pettisville, 44-35
GAME STATISTICS
PETTISVILLE: FG – 15/29 (52%); FT – 6/11 (55%); Rebounds – 19 (2 offensive); Turnovers – 8; STRYKER: FG – 11/32 (34%); FT – 2/2 (100%); Rebounds – 11 (4 offensive); Turnovers – 8