Knights blow by AE, Lancers win league

Van Wert independent sports

Lincolnview and Crestview had virtually polar opposite experiences in their Northwest Conference match-ups on Friday.

The Crestview Knights breezed through their game with Allen East, downing the Mustangs by 33 points, 84-51, in a Northwest Conference contest Friday at Ray Etzler Gymnasium, while

The Knights were led by Connor Lautzenheiser’s game-high 28 points, while Cody Mefferd added 14 points and Javin Etzler added 13 points for Crestview. Allen East had two players in double figures, led by Spencer Miller’s 18 points. Kain Foster added 10 points for the Mustangs.

Crestview got out to a 6-point lead in the first quarter, 20-14, and doubled the score on the Mustangs in the second quarter (24-12) to lead by 18 points, 44-26, at the half. The Knights’ lead was 25 points, 64-39, at the end of the third quarter.

Lincolnview, on the other hand, dealt with injuries and foul trouble that kept three of their starters on the bench for at least a quarter as the Lancers’ NWC game with Ada went down to the wire, with Lincolnview winning 49-47 to earn an outright league championship.

The Bulldogs had a chance to tie the game in the final seconds, but a field goal attempt was off the mark, and Chandler Adams, who sat out part of the game with foul trouble, brought down the rebound for the win.

Ada led 12-10 at the end of the first quarter, but the Lancers outscored Ada 13-11 to tie the game at 23-all at the half. Lincolnview led at the end of three quarters, 36-32, but the final quarter went back and forth, with the outcome in double until the end.

Ada’s Blake Willeke led all scorers with 20 points, while Owen Conley added 12 points, and Jackson Secor scored 11 for the Bulldogs. Lincolnview was led by Hayden Ludwig’s 18 points, while Adams added 10 points, and Derek Youtsey scored 8 points for the Lancers.

Trevor Neate had an injured foot and didn’t play in the game.