Leafs struggle to find first NIB 12 win

In NIB 12 Conference action Jan. 10, the Geneseo Maple Leafs and LaSalle-Peru Cavaliers battled it out, but the Leafs were unable to overcome an early deficit as LP came away with the 57-45 victory.

The Cavaliers grabbed the early 9-5 lead in the first quarter and after a 16-10 second quarter in favor of LaSalle-Peru the Cavaliers led by 10 at the half, 25-15.

Geneseo attempted to make a come back in the second half, but fell short. The Leafs outscored LP by four in the third quarter, 14-10 to make it a 35-29 ball game in favor of LP.

LaSalle-Peru sealed the victory in the fourth quarter as the Cavaliers scored 22 points to Geneseo’s 16.

Austin Frank was the leading scorer for the Leaf squad with a team-high 14 points. Frank hit five shots from the field and went 4-for-6 from the free-throw line.

Jordan Starkey chipped in nine points with a three pointer and three free throws, while Landon Hoon and Drew DeCap added eight apiece, both drained two shots from the beyond the arc, while Hoon also scored on a field goal and DeCap hit two free throws.

Alec Cheek rounded out the effort for the Leafs with six points on two field goals and a free throw.

The Leafs (2-12 overall and 0-4 in the NIB 12) will be on the road next against IVC at 7 p.m. Jan. 17.