Cougar girls dominate Paulding for win

DAVE MOSIER/independent sports

The Van Wert Lady Cougars won their 11th game of the year, 54-20, with a dominating offensive and defensive performance over the shorthanded Paulding Lady Panthers on Tuesday.

The Cougars outscored Paulding 18-4 in the first quarter and led by 32 points, 38-6, at the half. It was 49-13 at the end of the third quarter.

Nine Van Wert players scored in the game, led by Erin Morrow’s 14-point performance. Emilie Moonshower had 9 points in the game. No Lady Panther scored in double figures.

The Cougars were 19 of 43 from the field (44.2 percent) and made seven three-pointers in the game. Van Wert was 9 of 13 from the free throw line (69.2 percent).

Paulding was 8 of 28 from the field (32.1 percent) and made just 3 of 20 attempts from the charity stripe (15 percent).

The Cougars turned the ball over 13 times, versus 28 times for Paulding, while the Panthers outrebounded Van Wert 25-16.

The Cougars are now 11-2 on the year, while Paulding falls to 5-5 overall on the season.

Van Wert also won the junior varsity game in convincing fashion, 46-27.