VW, Knights win non-conference games

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

KALIDA The Van Wert Cougar boys made it three in a row with a 55-39 non-conference victory over the Kalida Wildcats on Tuesday.

The Cougars had one of its more balanced offensive efforts of the season, with four players nearly in double figures, led by Josh Braun’s 14 points. Jacoby Kelly added 11 points, while Ryan McCracken and Gavin Cross both scored 9 points for Van Wert. Kalida only had four players score in the game, versus seven for the Cougars, with two players doing nearly all the offensive damage. Wildcat Grant Unverferth led all scorers with 21 points, including two treys and a 5-for-5 night at the free throw line, while Trent Maag added 11 points for Kalida.

The first quarter was a crucial one for the Cougars, offensively, as they blew by Kalida to establish a 13-point lead, 18-5, at the end by the end of the period. The game was mostly even from then as Van Wert led by 11 points, 28-17, at the half, and was up by 10 at the three-quarter mark.

The Cougars shot extremely well from the field, making half their three-point attempts (7 of 14), and 14 of 27 from two-point range. Van Wert was 21 of 41 overall from the field (51.2 percent). The Cougars were less successful from the free throw line, knocking down only 6 of 11 charity tosses for the game (54.5 percent). Kalida was 12 of 33 from the field (36.4 percent), including 4 of 8 three-point attempts (50 percent). The Wildcats made 11 of 17 free throw attempts (64.7 percent).

Van Wert had a slight edge in rebounding, 23-22, and had one more turnover, 11-10, than the Wildcats.

The Cougars are now 4-9 overall, while Kalida falls to 8-6 on the season.

The Van Wert junior varsity team also won, 47-41, with Drew Bagley leading the JVs’ offensive effort with 17 points. Collin Lambert was Kalida’s top scorer with 12 points.

The Cougars will host Elida on Friday in a Western Buckeye League contest, and then go up against Coldwater in a non-conference match-up on Saturday.

The Crestview Knights had to come from behind to beat the Shawnee Indians 59-55 on Tuesday.

Shawnee led by three points, 11-8, at the end of a low-scoring first quarter, and maintained that lead, 22-19, at the half. Crestview tied the score at 30-all with an 11-8 run in the third quarter and then gutted it out in the final stanza to get the win.

The Knights had three players in double figures, led by Javin Etzler’s 17 points. Connor Lautzenheiser added 15 points, while Wade Sheets scored 10 for Crestview.

Shawnee’s Jaden O’Neal was the game’s scorer with 21 points, but was also the only Indian in double figures.

Crestview was 19 of 41 from the field in the game (46 percent), including just 4 of 15 from three-point range (26 percent). The Knights made 17 of 23 free throw attempts (73 percent).

Shawnee was 23 of 57 from the field (40 percent), but made 6 of 18 three-point attempts (33.3 percent). The Indians made only 3 of 12 free throw attempts (25 percent).

Crestview had the edge in rebounding, 29-26, but had 10 turnovers to only 4 for the Indians.