Leo used a closing 12-2 run to outlast Bishop Dwenger and claim the 3A Sectional 22 crown on Saturday night. The Lions used big performances from guard Blake Davison and forward DJ Allen to claim their second consecutive sectional championship.

 

The Lions jumped on Dwenger at the beginning as the frontline of DJ Allen and Zack Troyer asserted themselves in the paint. The duo combined for eight points and eight rebounds in the opening period as Leo grabbed a six-point advantage.

 

That lead would flip in the second as Dwenger senior Brenden Lytle caught fire. The 6' guard notched 11 of Dwenger's 17 points in the second, hitting three three-pointers as the Saints would score the first ten points of the quarter on their way to taking a three-point lead into the break. Blake Davison was the bright spot for the Lions in the first half, as he scored 12 points on a variety of midrange shots and spinning moves in the paint.

 

As the second half began, Leo recommitted to hitting the offensive glass, and the strategy paid off. The duo of DJ Allen and Zack Troyer grabbed ten offensive rebounds together in the game, and many came in the third period. Allen scored seven points in the third, and his basket on a lob from Blake Davison tied the score at 34 just before the buzzer.

 

Eric Steger hit Leo's first, and only, three-pointer of the night on the opening possession of the fourth to give Leo a three-point lead. Dwenger would tie the game on a Xavier Allen three as the senior guard came off the bench to score all eight of his points in the final nine minutes.

 

A pair of Davison free throws would regain the lead for Leo, and a DJ Allen post bucket would put them up four at 47-43. A pair of CJ Pieper free throws with just over a minute and a half was all the offense Dwenger could muster in the final three minutes, and Davison and Allen closed the game from the line.

 

Leo moves to 21-4 and will face Mississinewa in the second game at New Castle on Saturday. Bishop Dwenger concludes their season with a 12-10 record.

 

 

Dwenger    6  17  11  11  -  45

Leo       12   8  14  21  -  55

 

Dwenger: Brenden Lytle 18 points (6/14 FGs, 5/11 3Ps, 1/2 FTs), 3 rebs, 2 asts; Rocco Ciocca 8 points; Xavier Allen 8 points (2/3 FGs, 1/2 3Ps, 3/3 FTs); CJ Pieper 4 points (1/3 FGs, 2/4 FTs), 2 rebs, 3 asts; Owen Shively 4 points (2/3 FGs); Sam Campbell 2 points (1/2 FGs); Xavier Nolan 1 point (1/2 FTs), 2 rebs, 2 asts

 

Leo: Blake Davison 23 points (7/16 FGs, 9/12 FTs), 4 asts, 2 stls; DJ Allen 18 points (7/13 FGs, 4/6 FTs), 12 rebs; Zack Troyer 7 points (2/4 FGs, 3/5 FTs), 9 rebs, 2 stls; Xavier Middleton 4 points (2/4 FGs), 2 asts; Eric Steger 3 points (1/2 3Ps)