Elida outlasts Lady Cougars for WBL win

DAVE MOSIER/independent sports

The game went back and forth, but the Elida Lady Bulldogs used some clutch shooting down the stretch to edge the Van Wert Lady Cougars 68-63 in a Western Buckeye League game played Thursday in the Cougars’ Den.

Elida got the early lead, outscoring the Cougars 16-15 for a one-point advantage at the end of eight minutes of play. Van Wert returned the favor, outscoring the Bulldogs 18-13 in the second quarter to lead by four points, 33-29, at the half.

It was Elida up by a basket, 45-43, at the three-quarter mark, and the Bulldogs made enough shots down the stretch in the final quarter to get the win.

With the loss, the Cougars are now 4-11 overall and 0-5 in the WBL for the year, while Elida is 5-9 overall and 2-3 in league play.

The Lady Bulldogs had three players in double figures, led by game high scorer Shyah Wheeler’s 22 points. Also scoring in double figures were Abby Waddle, with 18 points, and Bailee Kuhn, with 15 counters.

Van Wert had four players in double figures, led by Emma Kohn’s 16 points. Riley Jones scored 13 points, while Alexa Dunlap and Erin Morrow each had 10 points for the Cougars.

Van Wert made 22 of 57 field goal attempts (38.6 percent), while the Lady Bulldogs were 23 of 49 from field goal range (46.9 percent). The Cougars were better from the free throw line, making 12 of 15 (80 percent), while Elida was 15 of 25 at the line (60 percent).

The Van Wert junior varsity team took its record to 9-6 with a 41-28 victory over Elida. Cassidy Meyers was the only player on both teams in double figures, with 14 points, while Alexis Rupert added 9 points and Phoebe Eutsler had 8 points for the Cougars. Lauren Kesler had 9 points for Elida.