Published: November 19, 2008 11:36 am         

Leopards start season with win over Lovejoy

By JIM OTTS

Register Correspondent

The Gainesville Leopards used a pressing defense, timely free throws and a three-point shot down the stretch to subdue the Lovejoy Leopards 45-42 in the

2008 basketball season opener.

The Reds were in front most of the way, but let the lead slip away with 36 seconds remaining in the third quarter. Trailing 34-35, the Spotted Cats brought the ball into their forecourt and used up all but two seconds with possession passing.

The hosts were called for a travel, however and failed to get off a shot that might have regained the lead.

Two free throws in the opening moments of the fourth quarter by Lovejoy’s Zach Edstrum upped the visitor’s advantage to three, 34-37, before Gainesville’s Tony Wiese muscled his way under the boards for a rebound and put back that made it 36-37.

A few missed shots for both sides did not alter the score before a free throw by Lovejoy’s Tyler Provence made it 36-38.

The Leopards brought the ball into the front court and made several passes while searching for a good shot, but lost the ball on a traveling call.

Coach Eric Johns immediately called for full court pressure and the sudden defensive change caused Lovejoy’s Kaleb Culbertson travel with the ball.

Wiese calmly delivered two pressure free throws to knot the bout 38-38, the Leopards pressed the inbound pass and won the ball, DeShawn Franklin went

to the hoop with a layup and the Leopards were back on top.

Kielyn Lewis swished home a 3-point shot to increase the lead to 43-38 and added a couple of free throws later to make it 45-40 with 47 seconds remaining.

Lovejoy’s Nick Victor got the final basket with a layup and was fouled, but missed the free shot that would have cut the margin to two.

That forced the guest to shoot three-pointers and Victor missed two as the clock was winding down.

The guests called time out with three clicks left to set up the final play, Provence inbounded to Culbertson and his shot missed everything.

The Leopards started the contest quickly and rolled to an 11-2 advantage before Lovejoy got up to speed. The Reds were on top 17-7 after one.

The second quarter belonged to the visitors, however.

Edstrum, a 6-8 junior, dominated the boards in that stanza, giving the visitors second and third scoring chances. Lovejoy scored a dozen and limited the

Leopards to just three, leaving the hosts in the lead by a scant 20-19 margin at intermission.

“I thought we did a pretty good job for a first game.” Johns said. “We did not do a good job of boxing out and let them get back in the game, but the press did

the job.”

Edstrum was the game’s leading scorer with 18 points but he was the lone Lovejoy cager with double digits. Culbertson finished with six and Ryan Whitt with five.

Wiese paced the Leopards with 12, Franklin had 11 and Lewis finished with eight.