From the opening tip it seemed evident that not much footage from Friday night’s Leo-St. Francis de Sales game in the Lions Den would make either squad’s highlight reel.
The teams combined to shoot 16-for-56 (29 percent) in a dreadful first half, with 19 total turnovers. Such misfeasance might have been expected of the Pioneers, who were 0-7 coming in and, lacking a true point guard to run things, had no real flow to their offense.
The Lions, though, were a spiffy 7-1, largely on the strength of their guard play. Perhaps because hiccup-quick starter Asa Harris missed the game with minor injuries sustained in a midweek traffic accident, it took two quarters for the Leo guards to assert themselves.
When they did, the Lions hammered out a 64-48 victory, improving to 8-1 overall and 2-0 in the Catholic League White Division.
With Brian Kizer scoring 10 of his game-high 23 points in the third period, Leo stretched a four-point halftime advantage out to 10 (44-34). In the fourth, the smallest man on the floor had some big moments – freshman Andre Tucker, receiving some of Harris’ minutes, dropped two corner-pocket three-pointers and converted two weave-through-traffic layups on his way to 12 points.
Tucker, a quick and clever left-hander who might fit in your pocket, also dished off four assists and was not at all bothered by the smash-and-grab tactics the Pioneers employed when playing pressure defense.
Kevin Leonard and Khalil Leonard scored 12 points apiece for de Sales.
The Lions stretched their lead to 21 points before settling for the 16-point final margin. There are no games for them until December 29, when they faced Lanphier (2-5), from Springfield, in the first round of the three-day Pekin Holiday Tournament, which annually draws some of the top teams from around the state.
Merry Christmas everybody!
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