Cougar and Lancer girls win; VW boys fall

Van Wert independent sports

Van Wert and Lincolnview posted victories in their respective girls sectional semifinal basketball games on Tuesday, while the Van Wert Cougars dropped a regular season game to Lima Central Catholic.

Van Wert 48 Shawnee 39

SPENCERVILLE — Freshman Sofi Houg scored 16 points to lead Van Wert to a 48-39 Division II sectional semifinal win over Shawnee at Spencerville High School on Tuesday.

The Lady Cougars enjoyed a 16-10 lead after one quarter, with eight of those points coming from Jaylyn Rickard, while Houg and Kyra Welch each hit a trey in the opening period.

Van Wert was able to extend the lead to 28-19 at halftime, with Welch and Houg each scoring four points in the second quarter, then Houg scored seven of Van Wert’s nine third quarter points, giving the Lady Cougars a 37-27 lead entering the final period.

Rickard finished with nine points while Welch added eight and Jamison Clouse chipped in with seven.

Hailee Conrad led Shawnee (9-14) with 13 points, and Aaliyah Fowler and Trinity Gearing each had eight.

Van Wert (7-16) will face No. 2 seed Bath (19-2) in the Division II sectional finals at 1 p.m. Saturday at Spencerville.

Lincolnview 61 Hilltop 34

PAULDING — No. 11 Lincolnview got off to a quick start and cruised to a 61-34 Division IV sectional semifinal win over No. 13 seed Hilltop at Paulding High School on Tuesday.

The Lady Lancers jumped out to a 12-2 lead, with Lana Carey accounting for six of those points on two treys. By the end of the first quarter, the Lady Lancers led 20-7, then 29-16 at halftime.

Any hopes of a Hilltop rally were squashed in the third quarter, where Lincolnview enjoyed a 23-12 scoring advantage to lead 52-28. Carey scored seven of her 18 points in the period, while Brianna Ebel and Annie Mendenhall each scored five.

In addition to Carey’s 18 points, Ebel had 13 points and Jordan Decker had 10 points and seven rebounds. In addition, Mendenhall had nine points and seven rebounds for the Lady Lancers, who won their third straight game.

Kodi Brenner led Hilltop with 16 points, with 14 of those coming in the second half.

The Lady Lancers had a 30-20 rebounding advantage and forced 21 Hilltop turnovers.

Lincolnview (5-18) will play No. 2 seed Ottoville for the sectional title at 6:15 p.m. Saturday at Paulding.

Lima Central Catholic 72 Van Wert 44

LIMA — Lima Central Catholic led 22-5 after one quarter and never looked back on the way to a 72-44 win over Van Wert on Tuesday.

The loss snapped a three game winning streak and dropped the Cougars to 7-14.

Biggz Johnson scored 12 of his game high 31 points in the first quarter and Rodney Bennett added eight of his 10 points. The Thunderbirds led 33-17 at halftime and 52-32 after three quarters, with Johnson adding 10 more in the third period.

Rossy Moore scored 11, including seven in the second quarter for Lima Central Catholic (13-8), while Van Wert was led by Owen Treece, who scored 18. Jake Hilleary added nine for the Cougars.

Van Wert will finish the regular season at Celina on Friday.