Cougar girls beat Lima Senior in OT

Van Wert independent sports

It took an overtime period, but the Van Wert Lady Cougars finally prevailed over a feisty Lima Senior team, 57-51, in a non-conference game Tuesday evening in the Cougar’s Den.

In one of Van Wert’s higher-scoring games this season, Destri Long’s Cougar girls were led by a 19-point effort from Alex Morrow. Kaitlyn Hall added 9 points for Van Wert, while Molly Gamble scored 7 points. The Lady Spartans had more offensive balance, with three players in double figures – Callahan with 17 points, Hurley with 12 and Benjamin with 11 markers – but the Cougars had more players in the scoring column, especially with three players with 6 points (Brooke Keber, Ashley Mohr and Toni Aquaviva).

Van Wert led 15-10 at the end of the first period, but had a major letdown in the second quarter as the Lady Spartans outscored them 23-4 to lead 33-19 at the half. The Cougars chipped away at the lead in the third quarter, trailing by 10, 42-32, with a period yet to play.

Van Wert made a 15-5 run in the fourth period and it was tied up at 47-all at the end of regulation. The Cougars then outscored Lima Senior 10-4 in the overtime period to ice the victory.

With the win, Van Wert goes to 5-12 on the year, but is 1-6 in the Western Buckeye League.

Also Tuesday, Celina eked out a 47-43 victory over the Crestview Lady Knights in a non-conference match-up at Crestview.