Leake outlasts Canton in three overtimes
Southern Sports & Travel, By Darron Thomas
Just two weeks ago most of the Leake Academy boy’s basketball team was playing for a Class AA state championship, last night the Rebels overcame a 10 point third quarter deficit to take a 63-58 triple overtime win on the road over Canton.
Wesley Webb and Ryan Sessums teamed up for 46 points as the Rebels improved their record to 3-5 but most importantly upped their District 3-AA mark to 2-0. In posting a 2-0 district record the Rebels have needed four overtime periods as a Tuesday night encounter with Lamar resulted in a 73-66 overtime win.
Canton looked sharp in getting out to an early 6-2 lead following a Calvin Brown 17 foot jumper three minutes into the contest but Leake began showing signs that the rust was giving way as they knotted the game at 9-9 with a Ryan Sessums offensive rebound and put back at the 3:08 mark. (Above) Canton's Manning James (#24) hits over Wesley Webb (#10) of Leake
Canton would inch their way back to a six point advantage at 15-9 with baskets from Brown and Manning James and took a 15-11 lead into the second quarter.
Canton opened the second quarter on fire as Nathan Simpson canned a 10 footer from the baseline. Taylor Pierce converted on a fast break basket and Chris Reed nailed a turn-around jumper in the lane to give the Panthers their biggest lead at 21-11 and forcing Leake to burn a timeout to regroup just one minute into the quarter.
Leake inched their way back and at the 1:45 mark trimmed the deficit to 23-19 on a Joshua Peoples turn-around jumper from 10 feet. Aaron Shepard’s basket from the elbow with under ten seconds remaining in the half pulled the Rebels to within two points at 27-25 but Canton finished the half with a half court heave from Taylor Pierce at the buzzer to give the Panthers a 30-25 halftime cushion.
Canton matched their biggest lead of the game after a Manning James 3-pointer from the corner and a James floater in the lane pushed the lead to 37-27 with 5:15 remaining in the third quarter but Leake hung around with baskets from Wesley Webb and Joshua Peoples as the Rebels ended the quarter down 39-31. (Above) Canton's Nathan Simpson (#5) just gets a shot off over Joshua Peoples (#43) of Leake
Leake pulled to within four points at 43-39 halfway through the fourth quarter as Grant Wilson served up Ryan Sessums with an assist and Sessums canned two free throws with just over two minutes left in regulation to cut the lead to 43-41.
A Canton turnover with 55 seconds remaining set the stage for Leake junior Wesley Webb who nailed a 15 foot jumper with 35 seconds remaining to tie the game at 43-43. Canton’s last second attempt at a game winner would fall short.
Leake senior Joshua Peoples canned a 3-pointer from the wing nine seconds into the overtime period as the Rebels took their first lead since 7-6 at the 3:55 mark of the first quarter. The Rebels increased their lead to 48-43 on a Ryan Sessums offensive rebound and put back at the 3:16 mark but Canton fired back with a 3-pointer from Manning James and a Calvin Brown floater in the lane to knot things up at 48-48 with 2:33 remaining.
With the game tied at 50-50 Canton chewed up clock to set up a last second attempt but could not convert as the game headed into its’ second overtime.
Each team could only muster a basket each in the second overtime as the tempo was controlled by Canton’s slow down to offset the loss of Chris Reed who had fouled out in the first overtime period. Taylor Pierce of Canton hit a 12 foot jumper and Leake’s Austin Shepard converted in the paint to provide the lone baskets of the period. (Above) Wesley Webb (#10) of Leake scores the Rebel's go ahead basket in the third overtime period
Canton canned four unanswered free throws and with 1:35 remaining in the third overtime period enjoyed a 58-54 lead but the Panthers would not score again as Leake junior Wesley Webb drilled a 3-pointer from the top of the key, converted on a steal and hit four free throws to closed out the game with a 9-0 run to take home a 63-58 district win.
Webb led all scorers with a game high 26 points, Ryan Sessums added 20, Joshua Peoples had 11, Aaron Shepard 4 and Austin Shepard 2.
Canton was led by Manning James with 19 points, Calvin Brown had 12, Taylor Pierce 11 and Chris Reed and Nathan Simpson 8 each.
Leake will be in action this evening as they host Mt Salus before traveling to Hebron tomorrow.
Canton (6-3 & 0-1) will host Lamar tomorrow.