VW boys get win over Golden Bears

DAVE MOSIER/independent sports

The Van Wert boys’ varsity basketball team had a much easier time of it on Saturday, as the Cougars defeated Bryan 57-38 in a non-conference game played in the Cougars’ Den.

Van Wert took a 10-point lead, 16-6, in the first quarter and was never seriously threatened after that. It was a 17-point lead, 30-13, at the half, while the Cougars were up by 27 points, 47-20, before the Golden Bears went on an 18-10 in the final stanza against the Van Wert reserves to make it a little closer.

The Cougars had 10 players on the scoreboard, led by Jacoby Kelly’s 13 points. Connor Holliday added 11 points for Van Wert.

Bryan was led by Dylan Lehmann’s 11 points – the only Golden Bear in double figures.

For once, the Cougars also had a good shooting night, making 21 of 47 from the field (44.7 percent), including a less-than-stellar 3 of 14 from three-point range (21.4 percent). Van Wert was a perfect 12-for-12 at the free-throw line.

Bryan made 13 of 44 field goal attempts (29.5 percent) and was 4 of 14 from three-point range (28.6 percent). The Golden Bears were 8 of 14 at the line (57.1 percent).

The Cougars (4-8) had the edge in rebounding, 25-24, and also had four fewer turnovers, 10-14, than Bryan (3-9).

The Van Wert junior varsity team also won, 48-41, to go to 6-6 on the year. Davis Munroe had 13 points for Cougar JVs, while Bryan was led by Peyton Lamberson, who also scored 13 in the game.