Tale of the Tape: Knights vs. Rockets

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent sports editor

BOWLING GREEN — Two teams with long winnings streaks will meet for the Division IV regional championship at Bowling Green State University on Friday night, with the winner advancing to next Thursday’s State Tournament in Columbus.

Crestview and Pandora-Gilboa will tip off at 7 p.m. at the Stroh Center.

The Knights have won 19 straight games, including a 61-45 regional semifinal victory over Maumee Valley Country Day on Tuesday.

The Rockets have also won 19 consecutive games, including Tuesday’s 50-31 victory over Mohawk. Pandora-Gilboa’s only loss of the season came on December 23, 55-52 over Upper Scioto Valley.

Below is a brief comparison of the two teams:

Crestview Knights (23-3)

Head coach: Jeremy Best

Team scoring average: 63.7 points per game, allows 45.1 points per game.

Projected starters – Wade Sheets, 6-2 junior OR Kalen Etzler, 6-7 freshman; Javin Etzler, 6-7 junior; Drew Kline, 5-9 junior; Derek Stout 6-4 senior; Derick Dealey 5-9 senior.

Team leaders – Javin Etzler: 15.3 points per game, 7.5 rebounds per game; Derek Stout: 12.6 ppg, 3.7 rpg; Wade Sheets: 8.3 ppg, 4 rpg; Drew Kline 6.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg; Kalen Etzler: 6.2 ppg; Derick Dealey: 6.1 ppg; Jace Vining 5.1 ppg; Trevor Gibson 3.3 ppg.

Pandora-Gilboa Rockets (25-1, No. 13 in final A.P. poll)

Head coach: Joe Braidic

Team scoring average: 50.8 points per game, allows 32.8 points per game.

Projected starters – Jared Breece, 6-0 junior; Cooper McCullough, 5-11 senior; Drew Johnson, 6-5 senior; Riley Larcom 6-2 junior; Eli Phillips, 6-3 senior.

Team leaders – Drew Johnson: 17.4 points per game, 6 rebounds per game; Jared Breese 9.6 ppg, 2 rpg; Cooper McCullough: 7.9 ppg, 2.6 rpg; Riley Larcom: 7.3 ppg, 2.9 rpg; Eli Phillips: 6.1 ppg, 5.8 rpg; Grant Murphy 3.5 ppg.

Note: Friday’s game will air live on WKSD 99.7FM, and will stream live via www.thevwindependent.com.