T-Birds get easy win over Cougar boys

DAVE MOSIER/independent sports

The Van Wert Cougars got behind early and couldn’t catch up as the unbeaten Lima Central Catholic Thunderbirds defeated the Cougars 67-49 in non-conference action played in the Cougars’ Den.

The T-Birds led Van Wert by eight points, 17-9, at the end of the first period, and were up by 16, 38-22, at the half.

The Cougars outscored LCC 19-15 in the third quarter to cut the lead to 12, 53-41, at the three-quarter mark, but the T-Birds went on a 12-8 run in the final stanza to seal the victory.

Nick Taflinger led all scorers with 20 points, including four three-pointers, while Dantez Walton added 12 points, nine of those on three-pointers, for LCC. Tre Cobbs had 9 points for the T-Birds, while Josh Dixon added 8 for LCC.

The Cougars were led by Colin Smith’s 13 points, while Jacoby Kelly added 10 points and Connor Holliday had 9 points for Van Wert.

The Cougars were 16 of 38 from the field (42.1 percent), including 3 of 12 from three-point range (25 percent). Van Wert made 14 of 21 from the free-throw line (66.7 percent). The T-Birds were 24 of 38 from the field (63.2 percent), including 9 of 17 from three-point range (52.9 percent). LCC were not that great from the line, though, making just 8 of 15 from the line (53.3 percent).

Both teams had 20 rebounds for the game, while the T-Birds had two fewer turnovers, 14-16.

The Cougars are now 2-5 on the season, while LCC is 6-0.

The Van Wert junior varsity also lost, 42-33, to the T-Bird JVs. Nick Keber led the Cougar JVs with 10 points, while Thomas Williams had 13 points for LCC.