The Tinora Rams welcomed in another quality opponent for a Saturday non-conference contest. A great crowd saw the Rams host the area’s leading scorer, senior Jack Leppelmeier, and the Pettisville Blackbirds.

The high-scoring game most expected coming in turned into a defensive struggle to start as the teams battled to a 6-6 tie through the initial quarter. Tinora’s Josh Lieb notched two three-pointers in the opening quarter for six of his 20 overall points.

The Rams defense tightened the bolts down on Leppelmeier, who came in with a 23.5 PPG average, as Josh Lieb and the Rams defense limited him to just six points in the first two quarters, as Tinora took an 18-14 lead to the half. Grant Lymanstall added four of his 13 points in the second stanza.

Lieb’s nine points led the Rams at the half, while Pettisville was led by Leppelmeier and Aeschliman with six each.

Tinora increased its lead to 23-14 as the Rams scored the first five points of the third quarter, prompting a Pettisville timeout on a Lieb deep three-pointer. Leppelmeier would start to get heated up as he would dump in seven of his game-high 23 points as the Blackbirds cut the deficit down to 30-26 to end the third quarter on a deep three at the buzzer by the Blackbirds Osterlay.

For the second straight Saturday, the game would come down to the final quarter. Jack Leppelmeier’s three-point play cut the Tinora lead to 30-29 with just over six minutes to play. The Rams’ Grant Lymanstall would answer with his first of two clutch three-pointers. This one, from the right corner, increased the Rams lead to 33-29 with 5:55 remaining.

As the fouls would mount up for both teams, Tinora’s Josh Lieb would collect his fourth foul with 4:15 remaining. Leppelmeier would cut the Rams lead to 34-31 on two free throws after the Lieb foul.

Leading 34-31 with 3:15 remaining, Lieb would convert a three-point play to increase the Tinora lead to 36-31.

After a Lepplemeier bucket cut the Rams’ lead to 37-33, Tinora’s Grant Lymanstall responded with his second huge three-pointer of the quarter and a 40-33 lead with 2:00 remaining.

Tinora Jared Neff and Josh Lieb each hit two clutch free throws in the final 35 seconds as the Rams would hold on for a 46-42 win over Pettisville.

Pettisville 6-8-12-16 = 42
Tinora 6-12-12-16 = 46

Pettisville scoring: Lepplemeier 23, Aeschliman 9, Osterlay 8, Hoylman 2
Tinora scoring: Ferrell 4, Schaufele 2, Neff 3, Hancock 4, Lieb 20, Lymanstall 13

JV-Tinora 46-30

Pettisville falls to 10-9. The Blackbirds will host Holgate on Friday.

Tinora improves to 9-11. The Rams will head to Paulding on Friday as the GMC season comes to an end.

The Higbea Embroidery Player of the Game went to Josh Lieb. Another great job, Josh.

Watch the JV and Varsity back below: