Knights beat ‘Cats; Lancers lose to LCC

Van Wert independent sports

SPENCERVILLE — It was another tough road game for the Crestview Knights, but they again outlasted a scrappy competitor to down Spencerville 65-60 on Friday.

The Knights used balanced scoring and a pressure defense in the win. Four Crestview players were in double figures, led by Cam Etzler’s 17 points. Damian Helm added 16 points, while Connor Lautzenheiser added 13 points and Preston Zaleski scored 11 points for the Knights. Zack Goecke led Spencerville with 22 points to lead all scorers, while Ben Bowers scored 13 points and Mason Nourse added 11 for the Bearcats.

Spencerville took the early lead with a 13-8 first quarter, but the Knights came roaring back, outscoring the ‘Cats 21-7 in the second period to lead by nine points, 29-20, at the half. Spencerville again rallied, outscoring Crestview 12-7 in the third quarter to trail by four points, 36-32, at the three-quarter mark.

The Knights then made their free throws down the stretch in a back-and-forth fourth quarter in which both teams scored a total of 57 points (29-28, Crestview).

The Knights hit 22 of 39 field goals (56.4 percent), while Spencerville was 19 of 40 from the field (47.5 percent). Crestview also made 19 of 27 free throw attempts (70.4 percent), while the Bearcats were 14 of 21 at the line (66.7 percent).

Spencerville edge the Knights on the boards, 20-18, while Crestview was better at holding on to the ball, with 6 turnovers to 11 for the Bearcats.

The Knight junior varsity team got an easy win, 48-19, over Spencerville. Cody Mefferd led the scoring with 19 points, while Braden Van Cleave added 11 points for Crestview’s JVs. The Knights are 10-4.

Former Lincolnview High School basketball star Frank Kill brought his Lima Central Catholic Thunderbirds to  his former school on Friday and LCC took a 74-32 win back home.

Martyce Kimbrough, Tre Cobbs and Xavier Simpson led the T-Bird offensive attack with 16, 15 and 10 points, respectively.