Coldwater defense stymies Cougars

DAVE MOSIER/independent sports

COLDWATER — The Van Wert Cougar boys started out great, but couldn’t solve Coldwater’s defensive adjustments, losing 54-41 to the Cavaliers in a non-conference game played Saturday in Coldwater.

With the loss, the Cougars are now 6-9 overall, while Coldwater is 6-6 on the season.

Van Wert led by 10 points, 19-9, at the end of the first quarter and looked ready to make it two wins in a row. The Cavaliers weren’t having any of that, though, as they switched to a 1-2-2 trapping defensive alignment that gave the Cougars fits the remainder of the game.

Essentially, Coldwater’s defense stymied the Van Wert inside game, with the Cougars making just 6 of 19 from two-point range (31.6 percent). Coldwater made 12 of 26 two-point attempts (46.2 percent). Both teams shot well from the behind the arc, with Van Wert 8 of 17 (47.1 percent) and the Cavs knocking down 9 of 17 (52.9 percent).

The Cougars made 5 of 7 free throw attempts (71.4 percent), while Coldwater was 3 of 5 from the line (60 percent).

The Cavs dominated the boards, bringing down 25 rebounds to just 12 for Van Wert, while the Cougars had two fewer turnovers, 11-13, than Coldwater.

Van Wert was led offensively by Nick Keber’s 18 points, while Connor Holliday added 11 points for the Cougars. Coldwater had three players – and almost four – in double figures, led by Derek Thobe and Neal Muhlenkamp, who each had 14 points in the game. Andy Brunet scored 12 points for the Cavs, while Dylan Thobe added 9 points.

The Van Wert junior varsity team had a better night, winning 40-34 over the Cavalier JVs. Dylan Lautzenheiser had 11 points for the Cougars, while Nick Gutierrez added 9 points. Coldwater’s Adam Wolters led all scorers with 18 points. Van Wert’s JVs are now 9-6 on the year.

The Cougars will return home on Friday to play Celina in a Western Buckeye League match-up, and then travel to Lima on Saturday with the Lima Senior Spartans.