Cougars get victory over winless Paulding

Van Wert independent sports

PAULDING — A Van Wert girls’ basketball team that is healthy is much tougher than one missing several key players, as has been the case most of the season so far. Certainly, the Paulding Lady Panthers will testify to that, as the Cougars pounded them 79-40 in a non-conference game played Tuesday at Paulding.

Van Wert had four players in double figures, led by Emma Kohn’s 18 points. Erin Morrow, added 14 points, while Ally Jackson and Alexis Dowdy each scored 10 points for the Lady Cougars.

Faith Vogel was Paulding’s top scorer with 13 points, while Samantha Meggison added 9 points for the Lady Panthers.

Van Wert got off to a fast start, building a 14-point lead after outscoring the Panthers 19-5 in the first quarter. The Lady Cougars were up by 18, 39-21, at the half, and stretched that to 36 points, 62-26, at the three-quarter mark.

With the win, Van Wert is now 4-10 on the year, while the Lady Panthers are 0-12.

The Cougars had 12 fewer turnovers (13-25) than Paulding, but the Panthers had the edge, 21-20, in rebounding.

The Van Wert junior varsity team also won, 34-28.

The next game for the Cougars is Thursday, when they host the Elida Lady Bulldogs in a Western Buckeye League tilt in the Cougars’ Den.