Lancers, Knights both advance to districts

Van Wert independent sports

Lincolnview and Crestview boys’ basketball teams are headed for district after convincing Division IV sectional finals wins on Friday.

The Lancers (22-1) easily defeated Pandora-Gilboa 54-25 at the Van Wert sectional tournament, while Crestview blasted Fort Jennings 80-48 at Ottawa-Glandorf to win Division IV sectional titles.

The Lancers got out quickly in their game against P-G, outscoring the Rockets 13-6 in the first quarter for a seven-point lead. After doubling the score on Pandora-Gilboa in the second quarter, Lincolnview led by 13 points, 25-12, at the half.

The Lancers outscored Pandora-Gilboa 29-13 in the second half for the 29-point victory.

Lincolnview had three players in double figures, led by Chandler Adams’ 14 points. Caden Ringwald added 12 points, while Derek Youtsey added 10 points for the Lancers. The Rockets were led by Drew Johnson, the game’s top scorer with 17 points.

Lincolnview will now play Miller City in a Division IV district semifinal game at Elida. The game will begin at 6:15 p.m.

Crestview (18-5) led by five points, 18-13, at the end of the first quarter, but the Knights then went on a 20-9 run in the second stanza to go up by 16 points, 38-22, at the half. It was 55-36 at the three-quarter mark, while Lincolnview ended the game on a 25-12 run for the easy win.

Crestview seniors Connor Lautzenheiser and Cody Mefferd led the Knights offensively, scoring 56 points between them. Lautzenheiser had a game-high 35 points, while Mefferd added 21 points for Crestview.

Luke Trentman and Brandon Wehri each scored 14 points to lead the Musketeers on Friday.

The Knights will now play Leipsic, which defeated Columbus Grove 57-37 at O-G. The game will start at 8 p.m.