VW rallies for last-second win over Bryan

DAVE MOSIER/independent sports

LIMA — Unlike the first time Van Wert played Bryan this season, when the Cougars won 58-35, Tuesday’s Division II sectional final game against the Golden Bears was a real struggle. Van Wert, which trailed by 11 points, 44-33, heading into the final quarter, pulled it out at the end when Davis Munroe tipped in a Colin Smith miss with 3 seconds remaining for a 55-54 victory.

The Cougars trailed by a point, 11-10, at the end of the second quarter, while Bryan was up by 9 at the half, 30-21. It was Van Wert’s 22-point fourth-quarter offensive effort that finally tipped the scales in its favor.

Although Munroe made the winning basket, sophomore Jacoby Kelley, who was unstoppable in the second half, deserves a lot of the credit for the win, as he led the Cougars’ fourth-quarter offensive resurrection that fueled the Van Wert comeback.

Van Wert was ice cold in the first half, hitting just 1 of 11 three-point attempts and 5 of 12 two-pointers in the half. That changed in the second half as the Cougars started making baskets, while the Van Wert defense finally got a stranglehold on the Golden Bear offense.

In addition to Kelly, Van Wert had two other players in double figures, including Josh Braun, with 11 points, and Smith, with 10 points, including 8 of 12 from the free-throw line.

Bryan was led by Dylan Lehmann’s 15 points, while Deylen Miley added 11 points for the Golden Bears.

For the game, the Cougars were 20 of 48 from the field (41.7 percent), including a miserable 2 of 19 from three-point range (10.5 percent). Van Wert made 13 of 17 free throw attempts (76.5 percent).

Bryan made 18 of 38 from the field (47.4 percent), while going 4 of 10 from behind the arc (40 percent). The Golden Bears were 14 of 24 from the line (58.3 percent).

Bryan had the edge in rebounding, bringing down 26 caroms to 23 for the Cougars. Van Wert had fewer turnovers, 9 to 12.

The Cougars will now play Ottawa-Glandorf this Friday at Lima Senior in the Division II sectional finals. Game time is approximately 8 p.m.