Cougars lose to league-leading Defiance

DAVE MOSIER/independent sports

The Van Wert Cougars hung with the best team in the Western Buckeye League this season for most of the game, but fell 57-47 in a league game played Friday at the Cougar’s Den.

Tenacious defense that kept Van Wert from getting into an offensive rhythm, coupled with a balanced, opportunistic offense were the keys to the win for the Bulldogs.

Defiance remains unbeaten at 15-0 overall and 6-0 in the WBL, while the Cougars are now 10-4 overall and 4-2 in league play.

Van Wert led by a point, 13-12, at the end of a quarter, but the Bulldogs rallied in the second stanza, outpointing the Cougars 17-10 to take a 6-point lead, 29-23, at the half. Defiance added another basket to its lead, going up by 8 after outscoring the Cougs 12-10 in the third period and then made its free throws down the stretch to secure the 10-point victory.

Jacob Myers was held to 15 points, five points under his scoring average, but still the highest scorer in the game. Joey Hurless scored 10 points, while AJ Smith had 9 points for the Cougars. Defiance had five players in or close to double figures, led by Anthony Kidston’s 14 points. Josh Scott had 10 points, Doug Herrett scored 9 points and Jacob Moore and Shay Murray each added 8 points for the Bulldogs.

A big indicator of the sticky man-to-man defensive pressure Defiance was able to focus on the Cougars was Van Wert’s two-point shooting percentage. Normally a team that shoots at least 50 percent from two-point range — and usually nearer to 60 percent — the Cougars hit just 12 of 33 two-point attempts (36.4 percent) against the Bulldogs. Defiance was 18 of 33 from two-point range (54.5 percent).

The Bulldogs also had the edge in free throws, although it was much closer. Defiance was 15 of 18 from the line (83.3 percent), while the Cougars hit 12 of 16 free-throw attempts (75 percent).

The Bulldogs also had the edge in rebounds, 28-25, while also committing four fewer turnovers, 11-7, than Van Wert.

The Defiance junior varsity team also did what no other JV team has done all year: beat the Cougars. The Bulldogs overcame a big early Van Wert lead to prevail, 42-39. Connor Holliday led the Cougar JVs with 10 points, while 6-4 sophomore Emilio Pearson led Defiance with 15 points.

The Cougars will play tonight at Bluffton in a non-conference game. Tip-off time is 7:30 p.m.