Etzler scores 35, Knights win home finale

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent sports editor

CONVOY — Kalen Etzler poured in 35 points and pulled down 12 rebounds to lead Crestview to a 66-52 win over Spencerville in the regular season finale for both teams on Friday.

The victory improved Crestview’s record to 11-11 (4-4 NWC), while Spencerville dropped to 7-15 (3-5 NWC).

“I’m really proud of the way our guys battled tonight,” Crestview head coach Doug Etzler said. “We knew coming in it would be a physical game and I thought we did a good job of being tough at both ends of the floor tonight.”

“Kalen really scored it well tonight but I thought he did a really good job of taking shots within our offense and he also passed it well and got other guys involved,” the coach added. “On offense we did a good job of moving the basketball and spacing the floor.”

Five of Etzler’s points came in the opening quarter and game was tied 13-13 at the end of the period, then the 6-8 junior scored 12 of Crestview’s 14 second quarter points, including a pair of treys and the Knights held the Bearcats to just six points on the way to a 27-19 halftime lead.

“Defensively we were really keying on Josh Henline and Dalton Prichard and we did a great job of making their touches tough,” Etzler said. “I thought our guys communicated well and did a really good job of helping each other defensively.”

Etzler and Carson Kreischer, who finished with 15 points, each scored seven points in the third quarter and JJ Ward added six to boost Crestview’s lead to 47-33 at the end of the period. Jackson Goecke scored eight points in the quarter for Spencerville and went on to finish with 14.

Each team scored 19 points in the fourth quarter, with Etzler accounting for 11. Tyler Koenig scored seven of his 14 points in the final period and Prichard added 10 points, all in the second half.

Spencerville was 20-51 from the floor, including 2-19 from three point range and 10-12 from the foul line. Crestview shot 25-54 from the floor and was 6-21 from beyond the arc. The Knights converted 9-15 free throws and won the rebounding battle 30-25.

“Big win for us on senior night and I’m really proud of the effort and leadership our seniors (Kaden Short, Michael Joseph and Isaiah LaTurner) have provided us this year,” Etzler said. “I’m glad we could get a win on their last home game.”

Crestview will face Leipsic in the Division IV sectional semifinals at 6:15 p.m. Wednesday at Bluffton University.

Scoring summary

Crestview 13 14 20 19 – 66
Spencerville 13 6 14 19 – 52

Crestview: Kalen Etzler 13-5-35; Gavin Etzler 1-2-5; Michael Joseph 1-0-2; Carson Kreischer 7-1-15; JJ Ward 2-2-7; Isaiah LaTurner 1-0-2

Spencerville: Josh Henline 0-2-2; Jackson Goecke 7-0-14; Keegan Goecke 2-0-4; Tyler Koenig 5-2-14; Dalton Prichard 3-4-10; Eli Harter 3-2-8

JV: Crestview 65-55 (OT)