Smith to North Alabama…

Crestview High School senior Lincoln Smith has signed a letter of intent to run cross country at the University of North Alabama, a Division I program in Florence, Alabama. The Lions are members of the Atlantic Sun Conference. Last fall, Smith led the Knights to the Division IV cross country state championship. Photo submitted

Random Thoughts: HS hoops, more

Editor’s note: the first segment has been updated with information about Van Wert’s last boys basketball win at Ottawa-Glandorf.

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent sports

This week’s installment of Random Thoughts centers around two tough weekends – one this Friday and Saturday, and the other last Friday and Saturday, plus spoilers, a team on a roll, an upset involving highly ranked boys basketball teams, and a Super Bowl prediction. 

Tough weekend

Another big weekend is on tap for the Van Wert boys basketball team. Friday night, it’s a key WBL at Ottawa-Glandorf, which is never an easy place to play. Saturday, St. Henry comes to town.

The Titans are 10-4 (4-2 WBL) and 5-1 at home this season. When’s the last time Van Wert won at The Supreme Court? According to Van Wert City Schools Superintendent Mark Bagley, who has a long association with the basketball program, the Cougars last won at O-G in 1990, when Joe Gardner and Quincy Cloud took the court for Van Wert. The Cougars wound up in the state tournament that year.

St. Henry is 10-4 but upon closer examination, the Redskins have lost to Division VI No. 1 Marion Local twice, Division VII No. 1 Delphos St. John’s, and Spencerville, meaning this is a really good 10-4 team.

Tough weekend II

It was a tough weekend for the Lincolnview Lancers. They suffered their first conference loss of the season at Allen East, 59-55, on Friday. The following night, Delphos St. John’s did what they’ve done against a number of teams this season – win by a large margin. The Blue Jays topped the Lancers 89-58.

Despite that, especially the loss to Allen East, the Lancers still control their own destiny in terms of the NWC title race. If Lincolnview defeats Delphos Jefferson this Friday and Crestview next Friday, they’ll earn at least a share of the title. Both games are at home. With just one conference loss, Allen East remains in the title hunt. The Mustangs play at Spencerville this Friday, Bluffton next Friday and Columbus Grove in the regular season finale.

Upset win!

Lydia Grace (above) fires up a long jump shot during Monday night’s game against Versailles. Below, Lillie Best (20), Zoe Ross (1) and Kaci Gregory (3) are all smiles. They had reason to be happy, as the Lady Knights defeated Versailles, ranked No. 5 in Division V, 51-43 in overtime. Haley McCoy led Crestview with 15 points, Payton Hoffman had 13 points and Gregory finished with 11 points, including six in the extra session. Crestview (10-9) will play at Wayne Trace next Tuesday. Wyatt Richardson/Vzn Wert independent

Girls hoops: Cougars lose, Lancers win

VW independent sports

Parkway 56 Van Wert 23

Abby Williamson connected on four three pointers, including two in the fourth quarter and Parkway defeated Van Wert 56-23 at Van Wert High School Monday night.

The Panthers held the Cougars scoreless in the first quarter and took a 14-0 lead into the second quarter, including six points by Megan Hughes. Parkway led 25-9 at halftime and 36-17 after three quarters.

Williamson finished with 16 points, Hughes added 11 and Hadley Stover finished with nine points. Van Wert was led by Katie DeAmicis and Jada Watson, who each scored six points.

Both teams will return to action Thursday night, with Van Wert (0-18) hosting No. 1 Ottawa-Glandorf and Parkway (16-3) hosting St. Henry.

Lincolnview 48 Fort Jennings 32

FORT JENNINGS — At Fort Jennings, Lincolnview used a 13-0 fourth quarter scoring advantage to pull away from the Musketeers 48-32 Monday night. 10 of Lincolnview’s fourth quarter points came from the foul line, as the Lancers went 10-of-13 from the free throw line in the period.

Destiny Breese and Joey-Kate Carey accounted for all 11 of Lincolnview’s first quarter points and the two teams were tied after the first quarter. Annabel Horstman scored six points in the second period and the Lancers led 21-16 at halftime. Quinlyn Walker scored all six of her points in the third quarter and Horstman added four more.

Breese led Lincolnview with 15 points, Horstman had 13 points and Carey added 10. Reese Hellman led Fort Jennnings with 10 points.

Lincolnview (8-11) will play at Delphos Jefferson Thursday night.

OHSAA honors track and field legend

Submitted information

COLUMBUS — The Ohio High School Athletic Association has announced that its annual track and field state championships in early June will be named after track and field legend and pioneer Jesse Owens, while the OHSAA also unveiled the schedule and format for this year’s event with the expansion to five divisions.

The OHSAA Board of Directors unanimously accepted a proposal from OHSAA Executive Director Doug Ute that, effective immediately, the event be renamed the OHSAA Jesse Owens Track and Field State Championships.

Besides recognizing the incomparable Owens, who demonstrated excellence, resilience, integrity and courage throughout his lifetime, the change is part of the ‘Jesse Owens Initiative’, “Beyond the Finish Line.” Created by ‘The Soul of Philanthropy Cleveland’, the ‘initiative’ is an important element in a number of curated outcomes to resurrect the legacy of one of America’s greatest heroes, empower the next generation and unite people from all backgrounds to pursue their highest potential. Joined by The Ohio State University and The Jesse Owens Foundation, this change at this time aligns OHSAA with the work of The Ohio 250 Commission, dedicated to recognizing Ohio’s significant contributions in celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States.

“The idea to rename the championships grew from a belief that Jesse Owens’ legacy should be permanently honored in Ohio, that Jesse Owens’ legacy should be visible, permanent and rooted in Ohio,” said Kevin Johnson, one of four founders of The Soul of Philanthropy Cleveland. “We are very grateful to the OHSAA, along with our partners and supporters for embracing the idea, and we’re committed to honoring Jesse Owens not only as a global icon, but as a proud son of Cleveland whose story continues to inspire generations of Ohioans and beyond.”

Lancers boys fall to DSJ; Knights win

VW independent sports

Delphos St. John’s 89 Lincolnview 58

DELPHOS — Division VI No. 4 Lincolnview trailed Delphos St. John’s 18-17 after one quarter but the Blue Jays (No. 1, Division VII) flexed their muscles and quickly pulled away from the Lancers, 89-58 at a sold-out Robert A. Arnzen Gymnasium on Saturday.

Gavin Evans supplied seven of Lincolnview’s first quarter points but despite foul trouble, Cameron Elwer countered with 10 points of his own, while Andrew scored eight. Things changed in the second quarter, when Delphos St. John’s went on a 15-0 scoring run, which included 10 points by Andrew Elwer, and the Blue Jays took a 23-point lead into halftime, 48-25.

For Lincolnview, Holden Price and Marshall Hammons combined for 13 points in the third period, but Cameron Elwer answered with 14 points of his own, including three treys, and Delphos St. John’s led 77-43 entering the fourth quarter.

Cameron Elwer, who became Allen County’s all-time leading scorer on Friday night, led all scorers with 29 points while Andrew Elwer added 20 points. The two combined to bring down 14 rebounds. Evans led Lincolnview with 17 points, Price added 10 points and Hammons finished with 10 points. Delphos St. John’s connected on 31-of-54 shots (57 percent), while Lincolnview was 23-of-52 (44 percent), but just 4-of-19 from three point range. Both teams were proficient from the foul line, with the Blue Jays converting 15-of-16 attempts and Lincolnview hitting 8-of-10. Delphos St. John’s finished with a 29-23 rebounding advantage.

Linconlview (14-4) will host a pair of games this weekend – Delphos Jefferson on Friday and Paulding on Saturday. Delphos St. John’s (16-0) will travel to New Bremen on Friday then will host Bath on Saturday.

Crestview 78 Hicksville 33

HICKSVILLE — Led by Hayden Perrott, Crestview exploded for 30 first quarter points and the Knights rolled by Hicksville 78-33 in non-conference basketball action at Hicksville High School Saturday night.

Perrott, a 5-10 senior guard who recently committed to the University of St. Francis-Fort Wayne, scored 21 of his game high 26 points in the first quarter, including five three-pointers. Liam Putman scored five points in the second quarter and the Knights led 47-21 at halftime. Will Sheets accounted for eight of his 11 points in the third quarter and Huxley Grose added five of his 10 points, as Crestview built the lead up, 63-27 entering the fourth quarter. In the final period, Kale Lichtensteiger scored all eight points, including a pair of threes, and Denver McDougall and Kash Lichtensteiger each hit a trey. Crestview finished the game 11-of-20 from three point range.  Boston Tribble and Paxton Yoder each led Hicksville (4-14) with eight points.

Crestview (12-6) has won five straight and 10 of their last 11 games. The Knights are off on Friday and will host Coldwater on Saturday (5 p.m. junior varsity start).

Roundup: prep bowling, WBL swimming

VW independent sports

Bowling

Lincolnview 2596 Temple Christian 2053

LIMA — Owen Dannenfelser had a 177-234-411 series to lead Lincolnview by Temple Christian on Saturday. Pacey Early finished with a 204-187-391 series for the Lancers, followed by Grayden Clay (181-190-371), Chandler Murphy (169), Logan Block (150), Aaron Garay (136) and Carson Cowdrick (131).

Swimming

Cougars compete at WBL championships

LIMA — Shawnee captured the 2025-2026 WBL boys swimming championship, while Ottawa-Glandorf took home the girls title at the Lima YMCA on Saturday.

The Indians won the boys title with 264 points, while runner-up St. Marys Memorial finished with 244 points, followed by third place finisher Ottawa-Glandorf (222 points). Van Wert finished 10th with 34 points. On the girls’ side, the Titans (368 points) easily outdistanced runner-up Shawnee (277 points) and St. Marys Memorial (212 points). Van Wert was sixth with 93 points.

Van Wert’s highest placer was Katie Kramer, who finished third in the 200 yard freestyle (2:28.15). Jayden White was the boys’ highest placer, finishing sixth in the 100 yard freestyle (55.47).

On the Air: radio stations WKSD/WERT

VW independent sports

Here are this week’s high school basketball broadcast schedules for 99.7FM WKSD and WERT 1220AM/104.3FM. All games will air live and pregame coverage will begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Games are subject to change.

WKSD

Monday, February 2 – Versailles at Crestview (girls)

Tuesday, February 3 – Paulding at Ottoville (girls)

Thursday, February 5 – Fairview at Paulding (girls)

Friday, February 6 – Ayersville at Antwerp (boys)

Saturday, February 7 – Paulding at Lincolnview (boys)

WERT

Saturday, February 7 – St. Henry at Van Wert (boys, 5 p.m. pregame)

Saturday night basketball scoreboard

VW independent sports

Here are scores of area boys high school basketball games played on Saturday, January 31.

Non-conference

Allen East 72 Kenton 42

Ayersville 50 Pettisville 32

Bluffton 45 Liberty-Benton 42

Coldwater 71 Bath 62 (3OT)

Crestview 78 Hicksville 33

Defiance 38 Napoleon 31

Delphos Jefferson 43 Waynesfield-Goshen 24

Delphos St. John’s 89 Lincolnview 58

Edgerton 68 Hilltop 32

Fort Recovery 65 New Lebanon Dixie 34

Liberty Center 74 Fairview 48

Lima Sr. 84 Shawnee 60

Marion Local 51 Fort Loramie 34

Minster 58 Smithville 50

Montpelier 73 Antwerp 47

New Bremen 57 Perry 34

Parkway 50 Fort Jennings 37

Patrick Henry 59 Leipsic 27

Sidney 63 St. Marys Memorial 52

Spencerville 62 New Knoxville 44

St. Henry 60 Celina 35

Temple Christian 64 Calvary Christian 42

Tinora 44 Archbold 41

Versailles 51 Russia 28

Wapakoneta 54 Greenville 40

Wayne Trace 55 Kalida 45

PCL

Columbus Grove 66 Continental 26

VW Cougars race by the Roughriders

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent sports

Much of the first quarter of Friday’s game between Van Wert and St. Marys Memorial was back and forth but after that, it was all Cougars, who cruised to an 88-50 win over the Roughriders at Van Wert High School. The 88 points was the most scored in a game by Van Wert since the 2006-2007 season, when the Cougars beat Shawnee 84-63.

It was a game that saw all five Van Wert starters hit double digits.

Late in the opening period, St. Marys Memorial (2-12, 0-6 WBL) led Van Wert 14-13, but Keaten Welch hit back-to-back triples from the left wing, with the second one coming at the buzzer and giving the Cougars a 19-14 lead. Welch’s long distance shots proved to be the catalyst for what was to come next – 18 unanswered points that were part of a 23-1 scoring run, and consecutive 29 point quarters by Van Wert. 

“I called a timeout in the first quarter and we talked about playing with more purpose on the defensive end,” Van Wert head coach Jeremy Best said. “Everything for them was really way too easy and once Keaten hit two huge threes that kind of propelled us and gave us gave us some momentum, but it started on the defensive end like it always does with us. If you want to get on a run, you have to get stops. I thought offensively we did a really good job of making the extra pass, looking up the floor, working inside out against the zone and stepping into shots and the ball went through the hoop tonight – when that happens, everything looks easy.”

Xavier Kelly scored 11 of his 18 points in the second quarter as the Cougars stretched their lead to 38-17. Late in the period, Kaiven Welch and Griffin McCracken drilled consecutive treys and gave Van Wert a commanding 48-23 halftime advantage.

McCracken scored eight of his 13 points, Cohen Bragg scored seven of his 13 points and Zach Crummey accounted for five of his 15 points in the third quarter, and Van Wert’s lead ballooned to 77-43 by the end of the period.

“We have a bunch of selfless guys that work real hard to get each other shots and make plays for each other,” Best said. “A lot of that starts with our point guard. ‘X’ (Xavier Kelly) played a really good floor game for us tonight and he sets the table for us.”

Kaiven Welch added a pair of treys in the fourth quarter, which was largely played with reserves by both teams. Freshman Brayson Davis scored five points in the period for Van Wert and the latter half of the quarter was played with a continuous clock.