Cougars down St. Marys in WBL contest

DAVE MOSIER/independent sports

St. Marys got out to a fast start, but the Van Wert Cougars put the finish on the game, winning in a runaway, 68-43, in Friday’s Western Buckeye League contest played in the Cougar’s Den.

The Roughriders scored 17 points in the first quarter to take a one-point lead, 17-16, over Van Wert to start Friday’s game. Then the Cougars got both their offense and defense working and that was all she wrote.

Van Wert outscored the ‘Riders by 10, 21-11, in the second quarter to take a nine-point halftime lead, 37-28. In the second half, St. Marys couldn’t even get into double figures in a quarter, offensively, as the Cougars put the game out of reach with a balanced offense and ever stickier defense.

Van Wert was led by junior AJ Smith’s 18 points, while Joe Moonshower (12) and Jacob Myers (11) also were in double figures for the Cougars and Reggie Phillips added 9 points.

For St. Marys, D.J. Manning had 12 points, while Dustin Fisher added 10 for the Roughriders.

Van Wert also returned to its normal offensive form after last week’s humiliation by St. Henry, hitting 5 of 12 three-point attempts (41.6 percent) and an impressive 23 of 33 of its two-pointers (69.7 percent) for a total field goal percentage of 62.2 percent). The ‘Riders made 7 of 18 three-pointers (38.9 percent), but were only 7 of 23 from two-point range (30.4 percent) for a combined field goal percentage of 34.1 percent.

Both teams shot well from the free-throw line. The Cougars were 9 of 11 at the line (81.9 percent), while St. Marys made 8 of 11 free-throw attempts (72.7 percent).

Rebounds and turnovers were pretty much even, with Van Wert getting the edge, 22-21, in rebounds and also having fewer turnovers, 10-12, than the Roughriders.

With the win, the Cougars are now 13-5 overall and 6-2 in league play. St. Marys is 5-13 and 1-7 in the WBL.

Van Wert’s junior varsity team also won Friday, 47-30, over the ‘Riders. Joey Moreland led the Cougar JVs with 12 points, while Chris Miller added 10 points for Van Wert.

The Cougars will next play Monday against Northwest Conference foe Delphos Jefferson and then end the regular season next Friday against WBL opponent Ottawa-Glandorf.