Cougars lose to Wapak in season ender

DAVE MOSIER/independent sports

The Van Wert Cougars ended the regular season on a down note, losing to Wapakoneta 65-53 in both teams’ Western Buckeye League finale on Friday.

Wapak’s Ethan Good provided much of the Redskins’ offensive muscle, missing very few attempts in scoring 25 points in the game. Jarrett Koch added 12 points for Wapakoneta, while Aaron Good had 10 points for the Auglaize County squad.

Van Wert had three players in double figures, led by Ryan McCracken’s 15 points — all three-pointers. McCracken shot 50 percent from three-point range. Josh Braun added 14 points for the Cougars, while Jacoby Kelly had 11 points in the losing effort.

Wapakoneta led by just a basket, 15-13, at the end of first eight-minute period, but a 21-12 run in the second quarter was the difference in the game, and gave the Redskins an 11-point advantage, 36-25, at the half.

The Cougars rallied in the third quarter with a 17-14 run to get within eight points, 50-42, but Wapak preserved the win with a 15-11 fourth quarter effort.

With the loss, Van Wert ends its regular season with a 6-16 record, 1-8 in the WBL, while the Redskins are now 13-9 on the year and 5-4 in league play.

Wapak shot well from the field, making 22 of 41 shots field goal attempts (53.7 percent), including 6 of 17 from three-point range (35.3 percent). The Cougars made 20 of 46 field goal attempts (43.5 percent), including 5 of 16 from behind the arc (31.3 percent).

As it has most of the year, Van Wert struggled at the line, hitting just 8 of 15 free throw attempts (53.3 percent). The Redskins were 15 of 17 at the charity stripe (88.2 percent).

The Cougars had a slight edge in rebounding, 23-22, and also had one less turnover, 11-12.

The Van Wert junior varsity team got another win with a 57-45 victory over the Redskin JVs. Three Cougar players scored in double figures, led by Drew Bagley’s 17 points. Both Nate Place and Blake Henry scored 12 points in the game. Gage Schenk led Wapak with 12 points, while Adam Scott scored 10 for the Redskin JVs.

Van Wert will begin Division II sectional tournament play at Lima Senior High School with a game against Bryan. The game is expected to begin at approximately 8:15 p.m.