Cougars rebound with win over Bluffton

DAVE MOSIER/independent sports

BLUFFTON – The Van Wert Cougars rebounded from a tough home loss Friday to Western Buckeye League leader Defiance, earning a 59-44 non-conference away victory over the Northwest Conference’s Bluffton Pirates on Saturday.

The Cougars led by only a basket, 11-9, after a quarter of play, but a 17-7 run in the second stanza put Van Wert ahead to stay with a 28-16 halftime lead.

It was much closer in the second half, but the Cougars outscored Bluffton 31-28 to preserve the non-conference victory.

Jacob Myers and Reggie Phillips led the Van Wert offense with 20 points apiece — the only Cougar players in double figures. The Pirates were led by Mike Gillett’s 20 points, while Mike Donnelly added 13 points for Bluffton.

After a subpar shooting night against Defiance, Van Wert returned to normal on Saturday, hitting 3 of 5 three-point attempts (60 percent), 20 of 33 from two-point range (60.6 percent) and 10 of 15 from the free throw line (66.7 percent). The Pirates hit 9 of 16 three-pointers (56.3 percent), were 7 of 18 from two-point range (38.9 percent) 3 of 4 from the charity stripe (75 percent).

The Cougars had the advantage in rebounds, 24-11, and also had fewer turnovers, 13-19, than Bluffton.

With the win, Van Wert is now 11-4 on the year.

The Cougar junior varsity team also got back on the win trail with a 49-32 victory over Bluffton. Michael Smelser and Matt Bidlack led Van Wert with 10 points apiece. Robbie Stratton was the Pirates’ top scorer, also with 10 points.

The Cougar JVs are now 14-1 on the year.

Van Wert will next play Friday at WBL foe Wapakoneta, with a home game Saturday against St. Henry from the Midwest Athletic Conference.