Pratt hits 1,000, VW downs Crestview

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

Entering Saturday’s home and regular season finale against No. 4 Crestview, Van Wert senior forward Aidan Pratt needed 19 points to reach 1,000 in his basketball career and entering the fourth quarter, it didn’t look like he was going to make it.

Pratt, who’s averaging 20.6 points per game for the Cougars this season, was held to just four points in the first half. He added five more points in the third quarter, then began powering toward the milestone in fourth quarter, which played a big part of Van Wert’s 66-47 win over the Knights.

With Van Wert (15-7) leading 48-37 entering the final period, Pratt scored two quick buckets, then later added three more plus a foul shot. He came with two points of the mark when he grabbed a missed free throw by Luke Wessell and put it in, then hit the milestone with 26 seconds left, when he hit a short jumper in the lane after a steal and assist by Wessell. Pratt, who was fouled on the shot, hit the free throw and finished the game with 20 points.

“It was a great feeling, especially with it being my last game at home in ‘The Den,’” Pratt said. “I was glad I got to spend the moment with my brothers who’ve we been fighting all season with and all the loyal fans. I think the win is also a good confidence booster for us going into the tournament.”

“He’s a great kid, he’s a great teammate and obviously everyone knows his accolades in football and basketball and it’s just been a great honor to coach him,” Van Wert head coach Ben Laudick said. “I’m glad we still get to be around each other hopefully for a while (in the tournament).”

As for the rest of the game, it was a tight one until midway through the third quarter.

Behind seven points by Nate Lichtle, Crestview (19-3) led 14-13 at the end of the first quarter and the Knights slapped a box-and-one on Pratt for the entire first half. An early second quarter jumper by Gavin Etzler gave the Knights their biggest lead of the game, 16-13, but a basket and foul shot by Garett Gunter tied the game the Cougars went on to enjoy a 30-25 halftime lead. AJ Proffitt added a pair of treys and Garett Gunter put in a basket and two foul shots, while Etzler scored six of his eight points in the quarter.

Pratt opened the third quarter with a pair of foul shots and a basket that gave the Cougars a 35-27 lead, but the Knights ran off eight unanswered points, including a steal and layup by Carson Hunter that tied the game. However, leading 38-37, Gunter scored seven consecutive points in the span of two minutes, giving Van Wert a 45-37 lead, then Kaden Shaffer beat the buzzer with a trey, giving the hosts a double digit lead entering the fourth. Gunter went on to finish with 16 points.

“Garett’s a three-year starter and we ask him to do a lot of different things and I’m real pleased he was able to shift the momentum and put us on his back,” Laudick said.

“We tied the game 35-35 and we had a couple of loose ball possessions that we should have fallen on and called time out or get a loose ball tie-up but we tried to kick it back out and they got another possession out of that,” Etzler said. “It came down to their guards’ toughness – I thought their guards did a great job of attacking the basket and we didn’t do a very good job of keeping them from getting to the basket.”

The coaches agreed Saturday’s game provided a tournament-style atmosphere.

“When we had to change the game from early in the season, I told Trent (athletic director Trent Temple) I want to finish against a really good opponent in a tournament atmosphere so our guys can experience that,” Laudick said. “I’m glad our guys handled it…we told them there would be highs and lows today. Crestview is a really good basketball team and they’ve won 19 games for a reason.”

“I think getting on their court was good for us,” Etzler said. “They’re a handful of points away from a 20-win season so we knew we were going to be in for a ballgame, but to get ready for a tournament game, these are the types of teams we’re going to have to play.”

Both teams have a bye in their respective sectional tournaments. Crestview will face Miller City or Leipsic in the Division IV sectional finals at 6 p.m. Friday at Van Wert, and the Cougars will play Elida or Upper Sandusky in the Division II sectional championship game at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Lima Sr.

Box score

Van Wert 13 17 18 18 – 66
Crestview 14 11 12 10 – 47

Van Wert: Nate Phillips 3-1-9; Kaden Shaffer 1-0-3; AJ Proffitt 2-0-6; Luke Wessell 0-5-5; Carson Smith 3-0-7; Garett Gunter 6-3-16; Aidan Pratt 9-2-20

Crestview: Gavin Etzler 3-2-8; Mitch Temple 1-1-3; Carson Hunter 3-2-8; Jaret Harting 4-0-8; Nate Lichtle 5-0-12; Wren Sheets 2-0-4; Connor Sheets 1-0-2; Nasir Easterling 1-0-2

JV: 39-34