Leo 59, Fenwick 45, CCL game at Fenwick, January 13
As a description, “hard-earned” does not do justice to the Leo Lions’ 59-45 victory over Fenwick on Tuesday in a Catholic League crossover battle in Oak Park.
“Battle,” in fact, also comes up short.
The Friars (8-9) present as a team of football-playing weightroom devotees, and they clearly decided their best course was to muscle the leaner Lions. The officials were complicit in the plan, calling maybe half as many fouls as they might have with bodies colliding all over the floor.
Oddly enough, the bumper-cars style of play worked to Leo’s advantage. The Lions went to the foul line 33 times and converted 26 of their attempts, improving to 13-4 with a third straight victory,
Junior Jeremiah Echols (11 points) was money in the final period, converting seven of eight free throws and thwarting the Friars’ attempts to foul their way back into the game. Brian Kizer’s team-high 18 points featured a 6-for-8 showing at the line, and Karon Shavers (13 points) was also 6-for-8 on free throws.
Junior Jake Theiss, a football standout who’s a non-stop ball of muscular energy, led the Friars with 20 points.
After a miserable first period in which they shot 2-for-10 and were guilty of six turnovers, the Lions scrapped their way to an 18-17 halftime lead, then opened the third period with a 10-1 spurt to take control. They were a little careless with the ball against various Fenwick presses as the Friars got within four points in the final period, but salvation came at the foul line.
Leo won going away, a young team prevailing in a tough game in a tough environment on the road. Bodes well for the future.
The Lions are back in action on Friday, playing host to CCL rival Providence Catholic (7-13). In addition to Alumni Night festivities, Leo will salute its 2004 state champions.
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