The Van Wert County Courthouse

Thursday, Mar. 28, 2024

Hoops preview: Knights, Lancers, Cougars

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent sports editor

In addition to key games, the upcoming weekend brings with it sectional and district tournament draws around northwest Ohio and the state. Seeding results and opening round matchups will be announced on Sunday afternoon.

Before that, several interesting matchups are on the schedule. Brief previews are listed below.

Crestview at Lincolnview, vs. Wayne Trace

After wins over Lima Central Catholic and Hicksville, Crestview (9-9, 2-3 NWC) has won five straight games heading into this weekend’s games against Lincolnview and Wayne Trace.

The Knights currently average 46.6 points per game and allows 49.8 points per contest. Kalen Etzler is the team leader in points (16.8) and rebounds (10.3) per game, while Carson Kreischer averages 10.8 points per game. Kaden Short is the team’s third leading scorer at 6.2 points per game, and JJ Ward and Gavin Etzler each average 5.1 points per outing.

Crestview won last season’s game 67-43.

More information about Lincolnview can be found below.

Wayne Trace is currently 13-5 (4-1 GMC) and will play at Ayersville on Friday. The Raiders are averaging 55.4 points per game and giving up 46.5 points per game. Nathan Gerber is Wayne Trace’s leading scorer, averaging 16.7 points plus 5.9 rebounds per game, while Jace Vining also averages double digits, 10.6 points per game. Alex Reinhart averages 8.2 points and a team leading 7.1 points per outing, while Reid Miller averages 7.4 points per game.

Last year, Crestview won 53-40.

Lincolnview vs. Crestview, vs. St. Henry

Lincolnview (9-8, 4-1 NWC) put together impressive wins over Delphos Jefferson and Delphos St. John’s last weekend and now the Lancers will host one of the area’s hottest teams on Friday, then will see a new non-conference opponent on Saturday.

Entering the weekend, Lincolnview is averaging 52.2 points per game while giving up 54.9 points per outing. Creed Jessee leads the Lancers with a 13.6 point per game scoring average and 4.5 rebound average, while Collin Overholt averages 9.1 points and a team high 4.9 assists per game. Jake Bowersock averages 8.2 points and 4.4 rebounds per game, followed by Aaron Cavinder (6.6 ppg) and Clayton Leeth (6.2 ppg).

Information about Crestview is listed above.

Coldwater (8-9, 3-3 MAC) will host Division III No. 2 Versailles on Friday night. Entering the weekend, the Cavaliers average 52 points and allow 55 points per game. Ethan Post averages 9.3 points per game, followed by Noah Miller (8.8 ppg), Myles Blasingame (7.5 ppg) and Tyler Schwieterman (7.2 ppg). Miller is the team leader in rebounds, averaging 7.4 per game.

Lincolnview and Coldwater did not play last season.

Van Wert vs. Elida, vs. St. Henry

A 61-34 loss to Delphos St. John’s on Tuesday dropped Van Wert to 4-13 on the season, and the Cougars have two more games this weekend, both at home against Elida and St. Henry.

Van Wert (1-5 WBL) is averaging 48.6 points per game and allowing 59.7 points per game. Owen Treece remains the area’s leading scorer at 22.6 points per game, while Jake Hilleary averages 6.8 points and a team high 5.8 rebounds per game. Keaton Brown averages 5.9 points per game, followed by Clayton Proffitt (5.5 ppg).

Elida (6-11, 2-4 WBL) got off to a 5-3 start, but has dropped eight of nine since then. The Bulldogs are averaging 52 points per game and giving up 58.6 points per outing. Quan Moore leads the Bulldogs at 17.4 points per game, followed by Dylan Buetner (10.6 ppg). Devon Barnett averages 7.9 points and a team leading 6.9 rebounds per game and Riley Creps puts in 6.5 points per game.

Van Wert won last season’s game 57-48.

St. Henry enters the weekend 10-8 (3-3 MAC) and will host Fort Recovery on Friday. The Redskins average 52.7 points and allow 48.4 points per game. Riley Link leads the team with 12.8 points per game, followed by Ben Evers, who averages 8.1 points per contest. Matt Bertke averages 6.8 points per game and Jackson Heath is the team leader in rebounds, averaging 5.8 per game.

St. Henry won last year’s game 51-26.

Both games will air live on WERT 1220AM/104.3FM.

POSTED: 02/06/20 at 5:27 am. FILED UNDER: Sports