Coaches Corner: VW County girls’ hoops

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent sports editor

The 2017-2018 girls’ high school basketball regular season will come to a close this week and sectional tournaments will begin next Tuesday. Van Wert, Crestview and Lincolnview each hope to end the regular season on a high note heading into tournament play, and head coaches Rob Adams, Mark Gregory and Dan Williamson shared their thoughts heading into the postseason.

Van Wert head coach Rob Adams

The Lady Cougars (6-14, 2-6) will play their final two regular season games at home – tonight against Lima Central Catholic (2-19) and Thursday against Celina (2-19, 0-8 WBL) – then will open Division II sectional play against Elida at Spencerville High School next Tuesday at 8 p.m.

Head coach Rob Adams believes the Lady Cougars have shown progress while playing an extremely challenging schedule.

“We have played the sixth toughest schedule in Division II with teams such as Ottoville, Minster, Ottawa Glandorf, Lima Bath, Coldwater, Defiance and Fort Recovery,” Adams explained. “We have had tremendous growth from our lower classes. The understanding of what we are trying to do on the court is starting to click. This will give us confidence and a major boost heading into our sectional game next week against Elida.”

After a winless season in 2015-2016 and six victories last season, Adams said improvement is coming daily.

“With any good or great teams comes a foundation,” Adams stated. “We are laying the bricks one day at a time. Our team gets along great and that makes for a really fun season regardless of overall record.”

” It’s all about the experience, you beat the teams you’re supposed to and you try and compete as well as you can against the teams that are a tough matchup, Adams added. “We have been ‘in’ several games to the very end and eventually we will turn that corner.”

Crestview head coach Mark Gregory

At one point the Lady Knights (15-6, 5-2 NWC) were 6-6, but are on a nine game winning streak that includes Monday night’s impressive 57-33 road win over highly regarded Wayne Trace. The victory snapped Wayne Trace’s 13 game winning streak.

While reflecting on the winning streak, head coach Mark Gregory said there have been plenty of positives during the nine game stretch.

“We have been blessed to have won our last nine games we have played,” Gregory said.  “The wins haven’t always been pretty, but we have found ways to get it done. We have played very well as a team and that is what I am most proud of.”

“Our rebounding, limiting our turnovers, and getting to the free throw line are our biggest assets during the nine game winning streak,” Gregory added.

The Lady Knights will finish the regular season with slim Northwest Conference title share hopes. Crestview will play at conference co-leader Spencerville on Thursday. A win by the Lady Knights and an Ada upset of the other co-leader (Columbus Grove) would result in a tri-championship.

Regardless of the outcome on Thursday, Crestview will begin Division III sectional action against Patrick Henry. The game will be played at Lincolnview High School and will tip off next Tuesday at 7 p.m.

“Our conference and non-conference schedule has been very tough,” Gregory said. “It has definitely prepared us for the tournament.”

Lincolnview head coach Dan Williamson

The Lady Lancers (10-11, 2-5 NWC) will end the regular season at home against Paulding on Thursday night.

While looking back, head coach Dan Williamson reflected on some positive things about the season.

“For a majority of the season, our defense and rebounding have been a pleasant surprise,” Williamson said. “I think the biggest thing that we have going for us right now is that the team really enjoys being around each other and is still improving.”

“Aside from a few rolled ankles etc, we have been able to stay healthy,” Williamson added.

While tournament play begins in a week, Williamson said Lincolnview isn’t looking past Paulding.

“While we are using it as a chance to work on some things for tournament, we definitely want to win this game as it is an NWC game and it will also give us a chance to get to 11-11 on the season,” Williamson explained. “Going into tournament you want to be playing your best basketball and we have won our last two games and four out of our last five. We have the ability to play outstanding basketball and we will definitely need to play our best in longer stretches of time if we are going to have success in the tournament.”

Williams also believes a tough regular season schedule has prepared the Lady Lancers for the tournament.

“Our schedule, both conference and non-conference has prepared us for what is ahead in tournament,” Williamson stated. “We have played two or three state ranked teams as well as multiple teams in Division II and III. The Northwest Conference is very balanced this year and each game was tough. Every opponent brought different challenges to the game for which you have to make adjustments.”

Lincolnview’s postseason will begin at 8 p.m. next Tuesday against Delphos St. John’s at Paulding High School. The winner will play Delphos Jefferson for the lower bracket sectional championship.