Elida edges Cougars in WBL battle

DAVE MOSIER/independent sports

It was a typical Van Wert-Elida rivalry game: a wild free-for-all that ended with just a basket’s difference between the two teams. Unfortunately, the Cougars were on the short end of the score, losing 43-41 in a Western Buckeye League game played Friday night at home.

It was a failure to hit free throws down the stretch – including two shots with 3.8 seconds left that could have sent the game into overtime – that doomed Van Wert.

The Cougars led 10-9 after one quarter of play, but a horrid shooting second quarter didn’t help the Van Wert cause, as Elida outscored the Cougars 15-2 in the quarter to go up by 12 points, 24-12, at the half.

Van Wert turned the tables on the Bulldogs in the third period, though, as the Cougars went on a 19-9 run to trail Elida by a basket, 33-31, heading into the final quarter. But Van Wert just couldn’t make up any ground on the Bulldogs in the final quarter, as both teams scored 10 points and Elida walked away with the win.

The Cougars are now 4-6 on the year and 2-2 in the WBL, while Elida is 10-2 overall and 3-1 in league play.

Both teams had similar nights in terms of offensive shooting. The Cougars were 16 of 42 from the field (38.1 percent), including a 3-12 night beyond the arc (25 percent). Van Wert made 8 of 14 free throws (57.1 percent). The Bulldogs hit 16 of 41 from the field (39 percent), including 7 of 20 from three-point range (35.3 percent) and were 4 of 7 from the line (57.1 percent).

Elida outrebounded the Cougars 28-22, while Van Wert had fewer turnovers, 6-12.

Connor Holliday led the Cougars with 12 points, while Kyle Keber added 10 points for Van Wert. The Bulldogs were paced by Dakota Mathias’ 19 points – the only Elida player in double figures.

The Cougar junior varsity team was successful, beating Elida 45-26. Brant Henry led Van Wert with 10 points, while Colin Smith and Gavin Gardner each scored 9 points for the Cougar JVs. Elida was led by Baylen Stinson’s 9 points.

Van Wert will travel to Bryan tonight to play the Golden Bears, with another road game on Tuesday at Kalida.