Leo 82, Providence-St. Mel 30,
CCL crossover at Leo January 28
Leo hadn’t played a home game in three weeks, but the Lions Den seemed as cozy as ever to them Tuesday night as a Catholic League crossover game with Providence-St. Mel got started.
The Lions made 60 percent of their first-quarter shots, forced eight PSM turnovers and rolled up a 22-12 lead that only grew as the night wore on.
Coach Jimalle Ridley called off the press and emptied his bench, but the subs took advantage of their playing time and kept the points coming until Ridley ordered them to stop shooting. The final was 82-30, with a running clock in effect for the fourth quarter.
Leo (13-8) matched last season’s victory total with its 13th win and improved to 7-2 since January 1. The Lions are on the road to Aurora for another CCL crossover clash with Aurora Central Catholic on Wednesday, making up a game that was postponed due to cold weather last week.
Ethan Jackson scored 13 of his 16 points in the first half and Dontae Bell collected 13 of his 16 in the second in what passed for balance against an outmanned opponent. Brandon Gandy (13) and Brian Kizer (11) gave the Lions four double-figures scorers. Ridley used all 11 players in uniform and nine of them scored.
PSM’s K.J. Miller decided he was in range when the Knights’ bus arrived at Leo; the senior guard scored 15 of his team’s 30 points, nine on three deep three-pointers that might have brought rain had they been launched outdoors.
Stephen Barze, who has missed most of the season with a knee injury, is expected back for Wednesday’s game – he can give the Lions an inside presence they’ve been lacking. They might not need the tough senior forward against Aurora Central Catholic (4-19, 0-4 Catholic League White), but Barze will be handy to have when DePaul Prep and 6-foot-7 bruiser Rashaun Porter visit Leo on Friday.
Speak Your Mind