Cougar boys get WBL win over Lima Bath

DAVE MOSIER/independent sports

The Van Wert Cougars got another quality win on Friday, as the Cougars defeated Lima Bath 57-47 in Western Buckeye League boys’ basketball action. The win improves Van Wert’s record to 6-8 overall and 2-3 in the WBL, while the Wildcats fall to 3-11 overall and 1-4 in league play.

Both teams started out evenly, tying at 11-all at the end of the first quarter. The Cougars then got moving after that, outscoring Bath in the three remaining quarters, including a 15-9 run in the second stanza to go up by six points, 26-20, at the half. Van Wert also outpointed the Wildcats 13-11 in the third quarter to go up by eight at the three-quarter mark and then had its best quarter at the end, including a 10-of-14 effort at the free-throw line, to preserve the victory.

The Cougars had three players in double figures led by Connor Holliday’s 18 points, including 8 of 9 from the free throw line (6 of 7 in the fourth quarter alone). Jacoby Kelly added 14 points, while Josh Braun scored 12 for Van Wert.

The Wildcats had two players in double figures, led by Chase Clark, who scored 16 points in the game. Andrew Renner added 13 points for Bath, while Isiah Frazier scored 9 points for the Wildcats.

Van Wert shot well from the field, although mostly from two-point range. The Cougars made 19 of 40 field-goal attempts (47.5 percent), although they were only 2 of 14 from beyond the arc (14.3 percent). Van Wert was 17 of 22 at the free-throw line (77.3 percent).

The Wildcats made 17 of 42 field-goal attempts (40.5 percent), including an impressive 5 of 12 from three-point range (41.7 percent). Bath was less impressive at the line, making just 8 of 15 free-throw attempts (53.3 percent).

The Cougar junior varsity team was also victorious, beating Bath’s JVs 50-38 to go to 8-6 on the year. Van Wert’s JVs had three players in double figures, led by Ryan McCracken’s 15 points. Korbin Taylor added 12 points, while Davis Munroe scored 10 points for the Cougars.

Van Wert will travel to Coldwater tonight to play the Cavaliers in a non-conference game.