Cougar boys lose away game to LCC

DAVE MOSIER/independent sports

LIMA — The Lima Central Catholic Thunderbirds, coached by Lincolnview grad Frank Kill, got out to an early start against the Van Wert Cougars and never let up, beating the Cougars 61-40 in a non-conference boys’ basketball game played Friday at LCC.

With the loss, Van Wert is now even at 3-3 overall, while the T-Birds are 6-0 on the season.

LCC used a balanced offense to dominate the Cougars, with three players in double figures, led by Xavier Simpson’s 15 points. Martyce Kimbrough added 13 points for the T-Birds, while Tre Cobbs scored 11 points for LCC.

Matt Bidlack led Van Wert with 13 points, and was the only Cougar in double figures on the night.

LCC got out to a nine-point lead, 17-8, in the first quarter and stretched that to 13 points, 33-20, at the half. The T-Birds also outscored Van Wert in the final two quarters by a total of eight points, 28-20, to win 61-40.

LCC did not make a three-pointer in the game, although the Lima team attempted eight treys, while the Cougars were 4 of 15 in three-point attempts (26.7 percent), the T-Birds shot well from two-point range, hitting 21 of 34 (61.8 percent) of their two-point shots. Van Wert made 10 of 32 two-point attempts (31.3 percent). LCC was 19 of 31 at the free-throw line (61.3 percent), while the Cougars made just 8 of 22 shots from the line (36.4 percent).

Rebounding honors also went to the T-Birds, who crashed the boards for 29 rebounds, while Van Wert had 20 rebounds on the night. The Cougars also had more turnovers, 13-11, on the night.

It was a different story in the junior varsity, as the Van Wert JVs eked out a 63-60 victory over the T-Birds. Both teams had three players in double figures. Leading the Cougars was Josh Braun, who had 17 points, while Colin Smith and Ryan McCracken each had 13 points for Van Wert.

The game’s top scorer was LCC’s Thomas Williams, who had 20 points for the T-Birds. Teammate Ryan Rhodes added 14 points for LCC, while Garrett Thomas scored 10 points.

Van Wert is back in action tonight at Fort Wayne (Ind.) Carroll, with the JV game starting at 6:15 p.m.