Celina boys escape with win over VWHS

DAVE MOSIER/independent sports

The Van Wert Cougars had the state-ranked Celina Bulldogs on the ropes heading into the final stanza of play on Friday, but the Bulldogs rallied to escape with a 44-40 win in Western Buckeye League boys’ basketball action on Friday in the Cougars’ Den.

The Cougars had a two-point lead, 9-7, at the end of the first quarter, and extended that a point to lead 19-16 at the half. It was 33-26 at the three-quarter mark, but a couple of treys by Eric Moeder – his only points of the game – in the final quarter helped fuel Celina’s comeback.

With the win, the Bulldogs move to 14-2 on the year and 6-0 in the WBL, while Van Wert is now 6-10 overall and 2-4 in league play.

The Cougars had two players in double figures, led by Colin Smith’s 14 points. Connor Holliday added 11 points for Van Wert. Celina had three players in double figures, led by Logan Delong’s 14 points. Caleb and Ryan Hoyng each had 10 points for the Bulldogs.

Van Wert also had trouble hitting free throws down the stretch, going 5 for 8 in the fourth quarter, while making 2 for 3 in the first three periods. The Cougars were 16 of 42 from the field (38.1 percent), including 1 of 9 from three-point range (11.1 percent).

The Bulldogs were 18 of 46 from the field (39.1 percent), including going 4 of 17 from behind the arc (23.5 percent). Celina made 4 of 5 free throws (80 percent).

The Bulldogs also had the edge in rebounding, with 26 boards to 20 for Van Wert. The Cougars, though, had fewer turnovers, 8-10, than Celina.

The Van Wert junior varsity team won in dramatic fashion, 42-39, when Korbin Taylor hit a buzzer-beater three-point shot with the game tied at 39-all. Taylor was the Cougar JVs’ top scorer, with 10 points, while Celina’s Matt Bihn led all scorers 13 points, and Ryan Harter added 12 points for the Bulldog JVs.

The Cougars will play tonight at Lima Senior High School in a non-conference match-up, and then stay on the road the next weekend with away games at Defiance on Friday and St. Henry on Saturday.