Leyton downs defending MAC champion

BRIDGEPORT - In working to defend its MAC Tournament title, Creek Valley's boys scored the first five points against challenger Leyton, breaking out with its running offense from the first tip.

Leyton, however, tipped the scales quickly, cutting the fast break off and commencing to push the Storm back out of the paint for most of their shots.

At the same time Leyton used a combination of outside shooting to spread Creek Valley out, then attacked from underneath the basket.

Leyton's Skylar Schumacher hit from both outside and inside, leading the Warriors with 20 points. Drew Brenner added 14, and Kenny Ernest 13 more.

"We played well defensively," Leyton Coach Gary Oltmann said. "We played straight man most of the time."

That defense generated turnovers that Leyton was able to take advantage of, but at the same time, Oltmann said "We had too many turnovers too."

Oltmann said Leyton's success in the championship was patience on offense, "Which we don't always show. Sometimes we're not patient enough."

After a first round win over Minitare to open the tournament, Leyton blasted past Bayard 59-33 on the way to the final. Creek Valley defeated Garden County 60-44 in its semi-final.

Garden County downed Bayard 62-45 in the third place match up.