Van Wert’s season ends vs. Wapakoneta

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent sports editor

PAULDING — Outside shooting struggles haunted No. 7 seed Van Wert in a 40-36 Division II sectional semifinal loss to ninth seeded Wapakoneta at Paulding High School on Wednesday.

The loss ended Van Wert’s season at 8-15, while Wapakoneta improved to 8-15 and will play No. 3 seed Defiance for the sectional championship on Friday.

The Cougars were just 2-18 from beyond the three point arc and 14-43 (32 percent) overall from the field, while Wapakoneta finished the night 16-37 (43 percent) shooting.

“Defensively I thought we were really sound and played exactly as we needed to,” Van Wert head coach Ben Laudick said. “However, when you don’t shoot it well it is hard to win.”

Van Wert did go 6-6 from the foul line, while the Redskins converted 7-9 free throws in the game and Wapakoneta won the rebounding battle 24-19, while turning the ball over just five times, compared to 10 turnovers by the Cougars.

Wapakoneta, who lost to Van Wert 68-46 on December 20, led 9-8 after the first quarter and 22-19 at halftime, with Noah Ambos scoring seven of his 13 points in the second quarter. In his final game, Jake Hilleary put in seven of his game high 17 points, including a triple and a pair of free throws.

Garrett Siefring took over in the third quarter, scoring 10 of Wapakoneta’s 12 points to help extend the lead to 34-27. Siefring finished with a team high 15 points.

The Cougars held the Redskins to just seven points in the fourth quarter, but only scored nine themselves, including four by Hilleary.

The game was the final one for eight Van Wert seniors – Hilleary, Clayton Proffitt, Keaton Brown Tanner Barnhart, Kolby Barnhart, Parker Conrad, Colin Place and Spencer Adams.

“I am very appreciative of our eight seniors this season and all the hard work they put into the Van Wert basketball program,” Laudick said.

Scoring summary

Van Wert HS 8 11 8 9 – 36
Wapakoneta 9 13 12 7 – 40

Van Wert: Clayton Proffitt 1-0-3; Owen Treece 3-0-6; Keaton Brown 3-0-6; Nate Jackson 1-0-2; Jake Hilleary 5-6-17; Tanner Barnhart 1-0-2

Wapakoneta: Noah Ambos 3-6-13; Reed Merricle 2-0-4; Braeden Goulet 1-0-2; Trey Ware 3-0-6; Garrett Siefring 7-1-15