Cougar girls win tourney game

The Van Wert varsity girls’  basketball team won its first Division II sectional tournament game, beating Defiance 43-31 at Hicksville. Here, senior Molly Gamble (34) moves the ball against a Defiance defender. Offensively, Van Wert was led by freshmen Alexis Dowdy (16 points) and Erin Morrow (11 points). The Lady Cougars will next play Bryan in the sectional championship game. (Jan Dunlap/Van Wert independent)