Cougars fall to hard-charging Paulding

DAVE MOSIER/independent sports

PAULDING — The Van Wert Cougars found out that having AJ Smith be a non-factor in a ballgame is definitely not a good thing as they lost 62-50 to a Paulding team that put up some impressive second-half offensive numbers en route to the win.

Smith, who sat out the second quarter after getting two quick fouls in the first stanza was never in the game, offensively, as the Cougars’ leading scorer had just 3 points following Monday’s 20-point offensive effort against Coldwater. Joey Hurless led Van Wert with 19 points, including a 5-for-5 effort at the foul line, while Nik Wolford had 10 points for the Cougars. Lance Foor was the big offensive gun for Paulding, with 22 points, while Neil Roehrig added 12 points for the Panthers.

Van Wert had a five-point lead, 11-6, at the end of the first quarter and maintained that lead, 25-20, at the half. That’s when the wheels fell off, though, as the Panthers, who shot only 27 percent in the first half from the field, got hot in the third quarter, outscoring Van Wert 26-15 to go up by six, 46-40, at the three-quarter mark.

The Cougars never recovered, as Paulding finished them off with a 16-10 fourth quarter and the big win for the Northwest Conference school. In fact, both of Van Wert’s losses this year are at the hand of NWC schools, as the Crestview Knights also defeated the Cougars in the Tip-Off Tournament to start the season.

Van Wert was 16 of 27 from two-point range (59.3 percent), but hit only 3 of 22 three-point attempts (13.6 percent). The Cougars were 9 of 13 (69.2 percent) from the line. After a dismal first half, Paulding sizzled from the field, hitting 23 of 47 two-point attempts (48.9 percent) and was 2 of 5 from three-point range (40 percent). The Panthers were 10 of 13 at the line (76.9 percent).

Van Wert also trailed in rebounds, 18-25, while the Cougars had 18 turnovers to 12 for Paulding.

With the loss, Van Wert is now 5-2 overall, while the Panthers are also 5-2 on the year.

The Cougar junior varsity also had a close call, but edged the Paulding JVs 45-43. Nathan Stoller led Van Wert with 12 points, while Nick Keber added 11 counters for the Cougars, who remain unbeaten at 7-0.

Van Wert gets a breather until December 29, when the Cougars play Delphos St. John’s at home.