Knights, Lancers knocked out of tourney

Van Wert independent sports

Both Crestview and Lincolnview ended their seasons on Friday in Division IV sectional finals games played at Van Wert High School.

The Knights lost by the very same score as the Crestview girls’ team did on Thursday, 48-47, with Leipsic getting the upset.

Early on, it looked as if the Knights would cruise into the district tourney, as they compiled a 14-8 lead in the first quarter. But Leipsic rallied late in the second quarter to trail by four, 25-21, at the half. The score was knotted at 37-all at the three-quarter mark.

Crestview did most of its scoring from behind the three-point line, knocking down 10 treys to just four two-point baskets. The Knights were 9 of 12 at the free throw line (75 percent).

The Vikings took the ball inside on Crestview, hitting 15 two-point baskets, compared to four three-pointers. Leipsic was less-than-stellar from the free-throw line, though, hitting just 6 of 11 from the line (54.5 percent).

Connor Lautzenheiser led the Knights with 25 points, five of those three-pointers, while Mitchell Rickard added 12 points for Crestview. Leipsic was led by Nate Brecht’s 14 points, while Matt Schroeder added 11 points for the Vikings.

Leipsic (13-10) will continue into the district semifinals, while the Knights end their season at 12-10.

The Lincolnview Lancers ran into a defensive buzz saw in Delphos St. John’s in the other Division IV sectional finals game, losing 53-32 to the Blue Jays.

St. John’s was up 8-4 at the end of the first quarter and extended its lead to 10 points, 20-10, at the half. The third quarter was a killer for Lincolnview, as the Blue Jays went on a 14-4 run to lead by 20, 34-14, at the end of the quarter.

The Lancers hung with St. John’s in the final stanza (18-19) but couldn’t make up any ground on the Blue Jays.

Trevor Neate led Lincolnview with 10 points, while Hayden Ludwig added 8 for the Lancers. Top scorer Justis Dowdy was held to 4 points in the contest. St. John’s had three players in double figures, led by Tyler Conley’s 13 points. Alex Odenweller scored 12 points for the ‘Jays, with Andy Grothouse adding 11 points for Delphos.