Cougar boys upend Bryan Golden Bears

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

BRYAN — Van Wert rebounded, literally, from a tough loss at Elida Friday with a 67-56 victory over the Bryan Golden Bears in a non-conference game at Bryan on Saturday.

Both teams had three players in double figures on the night, with Matt Bidlack leading the Cougars with 19 points, while Connor Holliday scored 16 points and Michael Smelser added 12 counters. Sean Culler led Bryan with 19 points, while Kyle Rupp had 15 points and Austin Martin scored 11 for the Golden Bears.

Van Wert led by a basket, 17-15, at the end of a quarter and was up by seven points, 36-29, at the half. The Golden Bears cut two points off the lead in the third quarter by outscoring Van Wert 17-15 in the period, but the Cougars played tough down the stretch for the victory.

Both teams shot well from the field. Van Wert was 21 of 43 from the field (48.8 percent), including 8 of 19 from three-point range (42.1 percent). The Golden Bears were 23 of 50 from the field (46 percent), including making 7 of 20 from behind the arc (35 percent).

The Cougars won the game from the free throw line, though, hitting 17 of 26 attempts (65.4 percent), while Bryan had only eight attempts from the line, and hit six of those (75 percent).

Van Wert outrebounded the Bears 31-21 and also had fewer turnovers (6-8).

The Cougar junior varsity team also won, 59-46, over Bryan’s JVs. Colin Smith led Van Wert with 17 points, while Gavin Gardner scored 11 points, Josh Braun had 10 points and Ryan McCracken added 9 points for the Cougars. Bryan was led by Brandon Dean’s 15 points, while Bailey Martin had 10 points and Corbin Gardner 9 for the Golden Bears.

Van Wert travels to Kalida tonight for a non-conference game and then heads for Bath on Friday for another Western Buckeye League match-up.