Girls hoops: Van Wert defeats Lincolnview

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent sports editor

Van Wert outscored county rival Lincolnview 28-17 in the second half, and the Lady Cougars posted a 50-35 win over the Lady Lancers in the YWCA Human Trafficking Awareness game at Van Wert High School on Saturday.

Behind five points by Sofia Houg and four by Jamison Clouse, Van Wert led 12-5 after the first quarter. Lincolnview’s points came off a triple by Annie Mendenhall and a pair of free throws by Jordan Decker.

Mendenhall drained two more treys in the second quarter and Brianna Ebel hit one to help Lincolnview (0-12) trim the deficit to four, 22-18 at halftime. All of Lincolnview’s first half baskets came from beyond the three point arc.

Van Wert outscored Lincolnview 17-8 in the third quarter, with the Lady Cougars getting four points each from Clouse, Houg and Jaylyn Rickard and five from Caylee Phillips, to help boost the lead to 39-26.

The Lady Cougars won the fourth quarter scoring battle 11-9.

“It was an entire team win,” Van Wert head coach Hannah Phlipot said. “We executed our defensive rotations very well. We have been playing very team oriented basketball the past few games and today was no different.”

Houg led Van Wert with 13 points, while Clouse finished 12 points and a team high six rebounds. Rickard and Phillips each added seven points, as the Lady Cougars finished 20 of 42 from the floor and 7 of 9 from the foul line.

All of Lincolnview’s scoring came from three players. Mendenhall had a game high 15 points and six rebounds, while Ebel and Decker each finished with 10. The Lady Lancers finished 10 of 25 from the floor, but had 29 turnovers, compared to 17 for Van Wert.

“We just need to handle the pressure,” Lincolnview head coach Kyle Williams said. “29 turnovers is too many to compete in games. We shot 40 percent but had 25 opportunities at the rim.”

“We need to slow down the game and get good looks,” Williams added.
Lincolnview will play at Antwerp on Tuesday, while Van Wert will host Paulding the same night.

Scoring summary

Van Wert 12 10 17 11 – 50
Lincolnview 5 13 8 9 – 35

Van Wert: Carlee Young 2-0-5; Kyra Welch 2-2-6; Jamison Clouse 5-2-12; Jaylyn Rickard 3-1-7; Caylee Phillips 3-0-7; Sofia Houg 5-2-13

Lincolnview: Brianna Ebel 4-0-10; Jordan Decker 2-6-10; Annie Mendenhall 4-3-15

JV: Van Wert 34-31