Hoops preview: Knights, Lancers, Cougars

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent sports editor

The Crestview Knights will play just once this weekend, while Lincolnview and Van Wert will play both nights. Below are brief previews of the games.

Crestview vs. Delphos St. John’s

Undefeated Delphos St. John’s (6-0) will take on the Knights at Ray Etzler Gymnasium on Friday night.

The Blue Jays have won one game by two points, another by three and a third by five points. As a team, Delphos St. John’s averages 51.5 points per game while giving up just 40.7 points per game. 

Brady Parrish leads the team in scoring with 13.8 points per game, with Aiden Rode putting in 10.5 points per outing. Isaac Fairchild (9.3 ppg) and Brady Grothaus (9.2 ppg) are also leading scorers.

The Knights (2-5) are averaging 46.7 points per game and allowing 50.4 points per outing. Individual numbers were not available.

Friday night’s game will air live on 99.7 WKSD.

Crestview and Delphos St. John’s met twice last year, with the Knights posting a 61-49 win during the regular season, and a 53-34 victory in the Division IV district semifinals. 

Lincolnview at Kalida, vs. Ottoville

After winning twice last weekend, the Lancers (4-1) will hit the court twice more this weekend with a short trip to Kalida on Friday and a home game against Ottoville the following night.

The Lancers are averaging 52.8 points per game while giving up 50.4 points per contest. Creed Jessee leads Lincolnview with a 13.4, followed by Clayton Leeth (7.8 ppg), Jake Bowersock and Landon Price (7.6 ppg) and Aaron Cavinder 7.4 points per game. 

Kalida (2-5) averages 44.6 points per game and allows 44.7 points per game. The Wildcats have played two overtime games, losing both. Luke Erhart is the leading scorer, averaging 13.8 points per game, followed by Gabe Hovest (11.1 ppg) and Evan Roebke (7.9 ppg).

The Lancers won last year’s matchup 54-51 in overtime.

Ottoville enters the weekend 5-3 and will play at Van Wert on Friday. The Big Green currently average 49.8 points per game and give up 45.1 points per game. Individual stats were not available. 

Saturday’s Ottoville at Van Wert game will start earlier than usual, with a 4:30 p.m. junior varsity tipoff. 

The Big Green won last year’s game 67-49.

Van Wert vs. Ottoville, vs. Columbus Grove

After splitting last week’s games, Van Wert will place twice at home this weekend, against Ottoville on Friday and Columbus Grove on Saturday.

As noted above, Ottoville (5-3) averages 49.8 points per game, while allowing 45.1 points per contest.

Van Wert (2-4) is scoring an average of 56.5 points per game while giving up 57 points per game. Updated individual statistics were not available.

Ottoville won last year’s game 65-62.

Undefeated Columbus Grove (6-0) is averaging 64.1 points per game while giving up just 39.5 points per game. Blake Reynolds averages 16.7 points per game while Tayt Birnesser is averaging 14 points per outing. Gabe Clement puts in an average of 10.3 points per game, followed by Evan Hopkins (8.8 ppg) and Alex Schneider (7.8 ppg)

Reynolds leads the team in rebounding with an average of 9.8 per game. 

Van Wert won last year’s matchup 54-50.

Friday and Saturday’s games will air live on WERT 1220AM/104.3FM. Saturday’s game will feature a 4 p.m. junior varsity tipoff.