By: Nate Calvin
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
PETTISVILLE (February 9, 2024) – Pettisville guard Jack Leppelmeier took over in the second half by scoring 16 of his game-high 24 points to lead the Blackbirds to a 44-35 win over Stryker in a critical BBC tilt.
The win keeps Pettisville (11-7, 5-1 BBC) in a tie for first place in the league with Montpelier with one league game remaining.
The Panthers started strong by jumping out to a 7-2 lead after a scoop and score by William Donovan and Daniel Donovan drained a triple from the right wing to break an early 2-2 tie.
The Donovans would score Stryker’s last five points as they each hit a driving layup and William Donovan added a free throw as Stryker led 12-6 after one quarter.
Pettisville would surge ahead thanks to a 7-0 run to open the second quarter as Joey Ripke had two buckets, Leppelmeier scored off an offensive rebound to tie the game, and Ripke went 1/2 at line for a 13-12 Pettisville lead at the 3:30 mark of the second quarter.
The teams exchanged the lead twice before Jacob Cadwell ended the half with a trifecta to give Stryker a 17-15 lead at halftime.
It was the Jack Leppelmeier show in the third quarter as he would score three buckets and contribute an assist on another during an 8-2 Pettisville run to put them ahead 23-19.
Jacob Meyers responded for Stryker with a triple from the right corner to make it 23-22, but Leppelmeier scored on two more drives to hoop to give him 10 points in the quarter and Pettisville a 27-26 advantage going to the final frame.
Leppelmeier scored the Blackbirds first four points of the fourth to increase the lead to five but a William Donovan three-pointer from the left side cut the lead to 31-29.
Pettisville answered the Donovan trey with one of their own as Mason Wyse connected from the corner for his only points of the night as the lead would swell to 37-29 with 2:17 to go.
Stryker stayed close with Daniel Donovan hitting a leaner in the lane to draw back within six.
Pettisville would close out the game 3/4 from the free throw line in the last minute and Johnny Fenton broke free inside for a layup after beating the Stryker press to help put the game away.
Pettisville would end up 10/12 at the line in the fourth and 13/18 on the night compared to 3/6 for Stryker.
Ripke had 11 to join Leppelmeier in double figures for Pettisville. William Donovan had 12 and Daniel tallied 10 markers for Stryker (9-10, 4-2 BBC).
STRYKER (35) – M. Donovan 0; Myers 5; LaBo 3; Cadwell 5; D. Donovan 10; Froelich 0; W. Donovan 12; Totals: 10-4-3 – 35
PETTISVILLE (44) – Leppelmeier 24; Ripke 11; Aeschliman 0; K. Wyse 1; M. Wyse 3; Fenton 5; Totals: 15-1-13 – 44
STRYKER 12 5 9 9 – 35
PETTISVILLE 6 9 12 17 – 44
GAME STATISTICS
STRYKER: FG – 14/38 (36%); FT – 3/6 (50%); Rebounds – 11 (3 offensive); Turnovers – 6; PETTISVILLE: FG – 15/29 (51%); FT – 13/18 (72%); Rebounds – 20 (5 offensive); Turnovers – 8
JUNIOR VARSITY: Pettisville 48, Stryker 13