Hoops preview: Lancers, Knights, Cougars

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent sports editor

Another busy weekend is in story for the Lincolnview Lancers, the Crestview Knights and the Van Wert Cougars. All three teams will play twice this weekend and Van Wert will play another game next Tuesday.

Lincolnview vs. Bluffton, at Antwerp

A challenging weekend awaits the Lancers (5-6, 1-1 NWC), as this weekend’s opponents have a current combined record of 22-1.

After a 4-1 start, the Lancers have lost three straight and five of six against some formidable opponents. Lincolnview currently averages 50.3 points per game and allows 55.5 points per game. Creed Jessee averages 12.5 points and 4.6 rebounds per outing, while Collin Overholt is averaging 9.5 and a team high 4.5 assist per game. Jake Bowersock is Lincolnview’s third leading scorer and second leading rebounder (7.2, 4.3), followed by Aaron Cavinder (6.6 ppg), Landon Price (6.0 ppg) and Clayton Leeth (5.5 ppg).

Bluffton’s (11-1, 3-0 NWC) lone loss came to Ottawa-Glandorf, and the Pirates has outscored opponents by an average of 61-44. Luke Dennecker averages a team high 19 points per game, followed by Mason Soper, who averages 15.6 points and a team leading 7.6 rebounds per game, and Jared Piercefield (10.2 ppg, 5.4 rpg).

Lincolnview won last season’s game 55-52 in overtime.

Antwerp (11-0, No. 16 in Division IV) will host Ayersville tonight. The Archers have dominated opponents by an average of 60.6 to 44 points per game.

Jagger Landers currently averages 17.7 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, and Jayvin Landers adds 12.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists per contest. Luke Krouse averages 8.2 points per game, followed by Austin Lichty (7.6 ppg) and Jacob Savina (7.5 ppg, 4.6 rpg).

The two teams were scheduled to play last season, but the game was canceled by weather.

Saturday’s Lincolnview at Antwerp game will air live on 99.7FM WKSD.

Crestview vs. Delphos Jefferson, at Pandora-Gilboa

After a win over Allen East and a loss to Arlington last weekend, the Knights enter this weekend 4-8 (1-2 NWC). Crestview currently averages 48 points per game and gives up 52.8 points per outing.

Kalen Etzler is just shy of averaging a double-double, with 15.9 points and 9.7 rebounds per game. Carson Kreischer is the team’s second leading scorer at 11.3 points per game, along with 4.8 boards per contest. Gavin Etzler and Kaden Short each average 5.5 points per game, and Brody Brecht adds 3.4 points per game.

Delphos Jefferson is 4-8 overall, but 2-0 in the Northwest conference. Two losses are by a combined two points, while a third loss was by just three points. The Wildcats average 50.6 points per game and allow 54.9 points per game.

Ian Wannemacher leads Delphos Jefferson with 14.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, and Hunter Mericle 9.1 points and 4.2 assists per game. Doug Long Jr. chips in with 8.3 points and 4.4 rebounds per game, followed by Ashton Moore (6.9 ppg, 5.0 rpg), Colin Bailey (6.8 ppg) and Trent Teman (5.7 ppg).

Crestview won last season’s game 65-28.

Pandora-Gilboa is a new opponent to Crestview’s schedule. The Rockets (5-5) will host Arcadia in Blanchard Valley Conference play on Friday. Pandora-Gilboa currently averages 48.2 points per game and allows 55.6 points per outing.

The Rockets began the season 3-1 but have lost four of five, with the lone win coming over North Baltimore last Friday.

Walker Macke is the team’s leading scorer at 12.3 points per game, followed by Ryan Johnson (9.7 ppg), Austin Miller (7.0 ppg) and Blake Steiner (6.3 ppg). Gavin Biery averages a team high 4.2 rebounds per game.

Van Wert at Ottawa-Glandorf, at Bryan

With all due respect to other opponents on Van Wert’s schedule, this weekend might be the most challenging for the Cougars (3-7, 1-2 WBL), who average 52.1 points per game and give up 57.5 points per contest.

Owen Treece leads Van Wert with an average of 23.4 points per game, while Jake Hilleary averages 6.8 points and a team leading 5.8 rebounds per contest. Clayton Proffitt and Keaton Brown each average five points per game.

Ottawa-Glandorf (11-0, 2-0 WBL) is the No. 3 team in Division III and the Titans have outscored opponents by a 71-40 margin so far this season. Three players average double digits, led by Ben Westrick’s 16.2 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. Brennan Blevins contributes an average of 13.8 points and Owen Nichols averages 13.6 points and 8.0 rebounds per game. Ethan Alt and Parker Schomaecker average 6.8 and 6.3 points per game respectively.

The Titans won last season’s game 62-54.

Saturday’s opponent, Bryan, enters the weekend 10-2 and the Golden Bears will host Wauseon on Friday. Bryan averages 46.7 points per game, but allows just 40.7 points to opponents. The defense has given up 28 points or less in three games and the most a team has scored against the Golden Bears so far is 50 by Wauseon on December 28.

Bryan has a balanced attack, led by Reese Jackson (11.6 points per game), Titus Rohrer (11.4 ppg), Caleb Zuver (10.7 ppg) and Connor Arthur (7.9 ppg). Jackson is also the team’s leading rebounder with 6.1 per game, followed by Rohrer’s 5.0 boards per game.

Bryan won last season’s game 44-33.

Friday’s game at Ottawa-Glandorf and Saturday’s game at Bryan will air live on WERT 1220AM/104.3FM.