VW downs Carey, Lancers smash P-G

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Although it’s been an uneven season for the Van Wert Cougars, the tough schedule they played got them off to a good start in the post-season with a 58-48 win over Carey in a Division III sectional semifinal game played at Findlay High School on Wednesday.

On paper, the game was an easy win for the Blue Devils, but on the court — where it really counts — Van Wert was clearly the better team on Wednesday.

The Cougars (7-15) used a stifling man-to-man defense to pressure Carey into missed shots and turnovers, while shooting an excellent 55.9 percent from the field, including a blistering 80 percent from two-point range (16 of 20).

Van Wert also held the Blue Devils to 39.1 percent shooting from the field (18 of 46).

The Cougars led by three points, 12-9, at the end of the first quarter, but stretched that to five points, 27-22, at the half. Van Wert was up by eight, 44-36, at the three-quarter mark.

Connor Holliday led the Cougars, and all scorers, with 22 points, including 13 of 14 from the free-throw line. Nick Keber added 11 points for Van Wert. Zach Boes was Carey’s top scorer with 20 points, while Jared Wentling scored 13 points for the Blue Devils, who finish the season at 18-5.

The biggest difference in the game was the two teams’ free throw shooting. Van Wert made 17 of 21 attempts from the free-throw line (81 percent), while the Blue Devils were 7 of 16 from the charity stripe (43.8 percent).

The Cougars had one more turnover, 11-10, than Carey, while dominating the Blue Devils on the boards, 35-21.

Van Wert will next face Liberty-Benton, a 104-39 winner over Lakota on Wednesday, in the Division III semifinal game at Findlay. The game will start at approximately 8 p.m. Friday at Findlay.

Elsewhere in tournament action, the Lincolnview Lancers, led by a 32-point performance by Justis Dowdy, overpowered Pandora-Gilboa 72-40 in Division IV sectional semifinal action played at Van Wert.

Hayden Ludwig and Trevor Neate both added 9 points for the Lancers.

Colin Festermaker scored 15 points to lead the Rockets, while Drew Johnson added 10 points for Pandora-Gilboa.

Lincolnview led 17-10 at the end of the first eight minutes of basketball and was up by 26 points, 40-14, at the half after a 23-4 run in the second period.

It was 62-19 at the three-quarter mark, but the Rockets outscored Lincolnview 21-10 in the final quarter after Lancer Coach Brett Hammons decided to rest his starters.

Lincolnview will now play Delphos St. John’s, a 59-33 winner over Cory-Rawson in the other Division IV sectional semifinal, on Friday at Van Wert.

The Lancers earned a 58-53 victory over the Blue Jays in the regular season, but all bets are off when it comes to the post-season.