Weekly hoops preview: Knights, Lancers

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent sports editor

The new year brings with it double weekends for Crestview and Lincolnview, while the Van Wert Cougars are off until January 10. Below are brief previews of Friday and Saturday’s games involving the Knights and the Lancers.

Crestview at Kalida, at Tinora

After Friday’s 58-37 home loss to Delphos St. John’s last Friday, the Knights (2-6) will try to regroup as they hit the road twice this weekend, traveling to Kalida on Friday and Tinora on Saturday.

Crestview enters the weekend averaging 45.5 points per game while allowing 51.4 points per outing. Kalen Etzler averages 17 points and 10.4 rebounds per game, while Carson Kreischer adds 10.7 points and 4.7 rebounds per outing. JJ Ward averages 6.7 points and 4.4 rebounds, Gavin Etlzer adds 5.3 points and Brody Brecht chips in with 3.3 points per game.

Kalida (4-5) defeated Lincolnview 67-38 last Friday and beat New Bremen 58-30 on Monday. After a slow start, the Wildcats are averaging 48.6 points a game and allowing 42.3 points per contest. In the four wins, Kalida has allowed just 34.2 points per game. Individual stats were not available.

Crestview topped Kalida 52-38 last season.

Tinora (5-4) will face Wayne Trace on Thursday, then will host the Knights on Saturday.

The Rams average 40.8 points per game and allow 38.2 points per game. Marcus Grube is the team’s leading scorer, averages 12.4 points per game, while Evan Willitzer puts in 11.3 points and pulls down 6.0 rebounds per game per game, followed by Nolan Schafer’s 9.6 points per contest.

Tinora and Crestview did not face each other last season.

Lincolnview vs. Upper Scioto Valley, at Fort Recovery

The Lancers (4-3) dropped both of last weekend’s games, falling 67-38 to Kalida on Saturday and 51-47 against Ottoville the following night. They’ll try to get back on the winning track on Friday against Upper Scioto Valley before traveling to Fort Recovery on Saturday.

Lincolnview currently averages 49.9 points per game and gives up 52.9 points per contest. On the offensive end, Creed Jessee continues to lead the way with 11.9 points per game, while Jake Bowersock has increased his scoring average to 8.0 points to go along with a team high 4.7 rebounds per game. Aaron Cavinder (7.3 ppg), Landon Price (7.0 ppg), Collin Overholt (6.1 ppg) and Clayton Leeth (5.9 ppg) are key contributors as well.

Upper Scioto Valley (6-4) beat two Northwest Conference teams last weekend – Allen East (54-32) and Ada (56-49). The Rams average 55.8 points per game and give up 53.5 points per contest. Individual statistics were not made available.

Upper Scioto Valley edged the Lancers 54-53 last season.

Fort Recovery is off to a 6-1 start and the Indians will travel to Minster on Friday, then will host the Lancers the following night.

Fort Recovery enters the weekend averaging 54.9 points per game while allowing 51.9 points. Grant Knapke and Brian Bihn each average 10.7 points per contest, and Bihn is shooting 81 percent from the floor (30-37) and is the team’s leading rebounder, averaging four per game.

The Indians beat the Lancers 60-59 last year.

Van Wert

The Cougars will return to action on Friday, January 10, against St. Marys Memorial, followed by a game against Marion Local the next night. Both games will be played at Van Wert High School.