(Guthrie Center) The 3-point shooting of Jedd Weinkoetz, Brock Littler’s defense, and a big bucket from Ben Marsh helped secure a quality win for the ACGC boys at home on Friday night. The Chargers erased an 8-point 4th quarter deficit to defeat Pleasantville 59-57
Weinkoetz entered the game having hit just 26.2% from beyond the arc on the season, but went 4-4 in the game’s first four minutes. He ended the night 6/8 from the outside with a game high 20 points. His lone 3-pointer of the 2nd half started a stretch that saw ACGC score the game’s final ten points.
Littler drew the assignment on Pleasantville leading scorer Mason Scheve. Scheve boasts an average of 26.2 points per game and was coming off of a 43 point effort on Tuesday. He was held to 12 points against ACGC, including just two in the 2nd half. Pleasantville wasn’t able to get a shot off in the final seconds as a result of a deflection by Littler on a baseline inbounds pass.
Marsh capped off the late 10-0 run with his driving basket from the left corner in the final half minute. The junior drove inside and missed the first shot, but followed it up with the contest’s deciding basket. He scored 15 on the night.
ACGC had led by as many as 14 in the first half. They hit ten three’s before the break and briefly enjoyed a 32-18 advantage. Pleasantville called a timeout midway through the 2nd quarter and responded with an 8-0 run to get within six. At halftime ACGC led 42-37.
After scoring 21 points in each of the first two quarters the Charger offense hit a dry spell in the 3rd. They were outscored 15-5 in the frame as Pleasantville went from down five to up five with a 52-47 advantage. Dayson Leerhoff led the Trojans with 18 points, including three interior buckets in the 3rd. ACGC struggled to defend the 6’3″ sophomore on the in the paint, but Leerhoff picked up two quick fouls. One of the fouls was a charge drawn by Miles Kading which forced Leerhoff to the bench for the rest of the 3rd and much of the 4th.
Role players Andrew Pender and Taylor Mount stepped up with 3-pointers to keep Pleasantville in control early in the 4th. The Trojans led 57-49 midway through the final frame until back-to-back 3’s from Weinkoetz and Littler sprung the Chargers back to life. Miles Kading tied the game at 57 with a floater in the lane and Marsh’s putback gave them their first lead since it was 45-44 early in the 2nd half.
In addition to 20 from Weinkoetz and 15 for Marsh, Miles Kading scored 10 points. ACGC improves to 16-4 overall and 12-3 in the West Central Activities Conference. Leerhoff had a team high 18 for Pleasantville. Taylor Mount and Mason Scheve each scored 12. The Trojans go to 11-8 on the season and 8-6 in the conference.
