It’s a magical milestone and Lincolnview’s Keira Breese hit it Thursday night. Breese scored her 1,000th career point on a fourth quarter trey at home against Allen East. Breese finished the night with 10 points, but the Lancers fell to the Mustangs 37-26. Lincolnview (7-11, 1-3 NWC) will travel to Fort Jennings on Monday. Wyatt Richardson/VW independent
POSTED: 01/29/26 at 9:36 pm. FILED UNDER: Sports
VW independent staff/submitted information
In Western Buckeye League wrestling action at Van Wert High School on Thursday, St. Marys Memorial came away with a 44-33 win over the Cougars.
Van Wert was led by Owen Bates (No. 6 in the state) who won by a 16-2 technical fall over Cayden McCullough (No. 17). Individual Results are as follows:
106 – Logan Neargarder (SM) fall 1:23 over Alianna Estrada
113 – Owen Bates (VW) 16-0 technical fall over Cayden McCullough (SM)
120 – Chace Luedeke (SM) fall 3:48 over Heath Calvelage (VW)
126 – Ryan Wallace (VW) fall :51 over Wesly Klosterman (SM)
132 – Mikey Hoehn (VW) forfeit
138 – Jax VanGundy (SM) 18-3 technical fall over Roman Martin (VW)
144 – Dyllan Fink (SM) fall 3:13 over Gavin Gonzalez (VW)
150 – Zach Myers (SM) 9-6 decision over Caleb Bledsoe (VW)
157 – Devon Burker (VW) 16-3 major decision over Noah Bruce (SM)
165 – Briggs Wallace (VW) fall 1:10 over Christian Carter (SM)
175 – Tyler Holsinger (SM) fall :59 over Carter Heath (VW)
190 – Auston Welker (VW) forfeit
215 – Zaden Williams (SM) forfeit
285 – Matt Murray (SM) forfeit
The Cougars (6-6, 3-4 WBL) are back in action next Thursday on the road as they travel to Ottawa-Glandorf to take on the Titans in a WBL match.
POSTED: 01/29/26 at 9:35 pm. FILED UNDER: Sports
VW independent sports
ST MARYS — St. Marys Memorial jumped out to a 15-point first quarter lead and from there went on to defeat Van Wert 70-37 on Thursday.
Audrey Reineke scored 14 of her 33 points in the first quarter, connecting on four treys and the Roughriders led 22-7 at the end of the period. Reineke and Sophia Menker each scored six points in the second quarter and St. Marys (12-7, 4-3 WBL) led 38-17 at halftime. Reinke added 13 points in the third quarter. Amaya Dowdy and Flannery Foster each scored seven points for Van Wert, with five of Foster’s points coming in the fourth quarter.
Van Wert (0-17, 0-7 WBL) will host Parkway on Monday.
POSTED: 01/29/26 at 9:35 pm. FILED UNDER: Sports
VW independent sports/submitted information
The 19th Hole Golf Entertainment Center at Hickory Sticks Golf Course opened last February with the goal of expanding recreational access and community programming in Van Wert County. The facility features three golf simulators, dart boards, a shuffleboard table, and multiple viewing areas designed for year-round use.
A key component of the center’s programming includes free weekly simulator access for four area high school golf teams. Van Wert, Crestview, Lincolnview, and Parkway high school teams are scheduled to practice on Monday evenings throughout the winter months, when outdoor course access is limited.
Participation averages approximately 15 student-athletes per session. The winter access allows players to maintain practice routines and prepare for upcoming competitive seasons.
“This free collaboration with our local schools was created as a way to remove barriers for student-athletes during the offseason,” YMCA CEO Hugh Kocab said. “Access to indoor practice space can be difficult in winter, and this partnership makes consistency possible.”
A coach from one of the participating schools highlighted the value of the collaboration.
“Having a reliable indoor option allows players to work on fundamentals and track progress when weather would normally stop training,” the coach said.
The partnership between the Van Wert YMCA and Hickory Sticks Golf Course reflects a broader effort to use local facilities to support youth development and community engagement. Organizers indicated that the free high school golf nights are expected to continue long term.
The YMCA of Van Wert County is partially funded by the Van Wert County Foundation and United Way.
POSTED: 01/28/26 at 10:17 pm. FILED UNDER: Sports
SCOTT TRUXELL/independent sports
The latest installment of Random Thoughts includes another perfect weekend, girls basketball title races, a new hall of famer, and a couple of cast-offs hitting it big.
6-0, again
Last week, I wrote that Van Wert, Crestview and Lincolnview boys’ basketball teams went a combined 6-0 on successive nights, Friday and Saturday, January 16-17. It was the first time since the 2017-2018 season.
Guess what – it happened again this past weekend.
- Van Wert: 47-42 over Wapakoneta, 54-42 over Coldwater
- Crestview: 69-52 over Delphos Jefferson, 66-63 over Celina (OT)
- Lincolnview: 80-66 over Bluffton, 56-46 over Parkway
That means back-to-back weekends, Friday and Saturday, 12 games, 12-0 for the three county schools. So…when’s the last time that happened? Answer – I don’t know. It hasn’t happened in the last 20 seasons. If and when I find when it last happened, I’ll let you know.
By the way, the streak will end this weekend, guaranteed. Crestview doesn’t play Friday night and Van Wert is off on Saturday night.
Girls hoops
For all intents and purposes, the WBL championship game is this Thursday night, when Ottawa-Glandorf (17-0, 6-0 WBL) hosts Bath (11-5, 5-1 WBL).
With all due respect, a win by the Titans would give them a two-game lead and no one is catching them. If Bath can score the win, they would likely have a more than decent shot at finishing as co-champs.
In the NWC, Columbus Grove (15-2, 6-0 NWC) is in the driver’s seat…wins against Bluffton and Delphos Jefferson gives them the outright crown, again. Bluffton can win a share of the title with a win over Spencerville on Thursday, and wins over Columbus Grove and Spencerville. That might be a tall order but hey, that’s why they play the games.
(more…)POSTED: 01/26/26 at 9:39 pm. FILED UNDER: Sports
Van Wert’s Zach Crummey (23) sizes up Coldwater’s 6-10 sophomore Jack Bruns. Cohen Bragg (24) uses the glass for two points against the Cavaliers and Xavier Kelly (2) delivers a pass during Saturday’s game against Coldwater. The Cougars won the game 54-42. Bob Barnes/VW independent
POSTED: 01/25/26 at 9:43 pm. FILED UNDER: Sports
VW independent sports
Van Wert 54 Coldwater 42
Zach Crummey scored 17 points, Cohen Bragg added 14 points and Van Wert was able to pull away from a stubborn Coldwater squad 54-42 on Saturday.
The Cougars led 14-10 at the end of the first quarter, then Crummey and Bragg combined for 12 points in the second quarater, including a tip-in at the buzzer by Bragg, to give Van Wert a 29-21 halftime lead. Undaunted, the Cavaliers opened the third period with an 8-2 scoring run to make it 31-29, but the Cougars answered with 10 unanswered points, including a hook shot down low by Crummey and a finger roll by Xavier Kelly. Van Wert led 43-31 to start the fourth quarter and battled foul trouble and an injury to Kelly, who went down with about three minutes left in the game and did not return. Kelly finished with 11 points. Nolan Gruss led Coldwater (7-7) with 11 points and Landon Knapke added 10.
Van Wert (13-3) will host St. Marys Memorial on Friday.
Crestview 66 Celina 63 (OT)
CELINA — It took an extra four minutes but Crestview earned its fourth straight victory with a 66-63 overtime win at Celina on Saturday.
Hayden Perrott, who on Friday signed a letter of intent to play collegiate basketball at the University of St. Francis-Fort Wayne, led all scorers with 32 points, including five points in overtime.
Perrott scored eight points in the opening quarter and the Knights led 15-12 at the end of the period. He added seven more in the second quarter to help Crestview to a 31-25 lead at the break. 10 third quarter points, including a pair of treys, came from Perrott and the Knights took a three point lead, 45-42 into the fourth quarter. Will Sheets scored seven of his 13 points in the final regular period but Celina’s Gavin Wicker countered with eight points and the Bulldogs tied the game 57-57, forcing overtime.
Cash Hammons scored 10 points for Crestview, while Wicker led Celina (4-10) with 24 points. Two other Bulldogs finished with double digits – Logan Billerman had 14 points and Caleb Schlater had 10 points.
Crestview (11-6) will return to action Saturday at Hicksville.
Linconlview 56 Parkway 46
It wasn’t easy but Lincolnview was able to celebrate its Winter Homecoming with a 56-46 win over Parkway on Saturday.
The Lancers had to rally in the second half to get the victory. Parkway led 14-8 after the first quarter and 33-23 at halftime. However, Lincolnview put the clamps on defensively in the second half while outscoring the Panthers by a 33-13 margin, including 18-8 in the third quarter.
Max Hammons led the Lancers with 17 points, Gavin Evans had 15 points and 10 rebounds and Marshall Hammons finished with 14 points and six rebounds. Bosten Korte led Parkway with 18 points.
Lincolnview (14-2) will host Allen East in a key NWC game on Friday, then will travel to Division VII No. 1 Delphos St. John’s on Saturday. Parkway (5-10) will travel to Coldwater on Friday and will host Fort Jennings on Saturday.
POSTED: 01/25/26 at 9:42 pm. FILED UNDER: Sports
VW independent sports
Here are this week’s girls and boys high school basketball broadcast schedules for 99.7FM WKSD and WERT 1220AM/104.3FM. All games will air live, with pregame coverage starting at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Games are subject to change.
WKSD
Tuesday, January 27 – Shawnee at Crestview (girls)
Thursday, January 29 – Wayne Trace at Antwerp (girls)
Friday, January 30 – Antwerp at Wayne Trace (boys)
Saturday, January 31 – Lincolnview at Delphos St. John’s (boys)
WERT
Friday, January 30 – St. Marys Memorial at Van Wert (boys)
POSTED: 01/25/26 at 9:40 pm. FILED UNDER: Sports
Crestview High School senior Hayden Perrott has signed a letter of intent to play college basketball at the University of St. Francis-Fort Wayne. Perrott celebrated the signing with a 32-point outburst during Saturday night’s game against Celina. Photos submitted
POSTED: 01/25/26 at 9:40 pm. FILED UNDER: Sports
VW independent sports
Here are scores of area boys high school basketball games played on Saturday, January 24.
PCL
Columbus Grove 70 Ottoville 52
Kalida 62 Leipsic 23
Non-conference
Allen East 67 Hardin-Northern 43
Ayersville 57 Delphos Jefferson 51
Bluffton 61 Pandora-Gilboa 47
Bath 66 Perry 33
Crestview 66 Celina 63 (OT)
Delphos St. John’s 68 Spencerville 66 (OT)
Edon 77 Edgerton 71
Fairview 53 Bryan 43
Hicksville 42 Fayette 38
Lincolnview 56 Parkway 46
Marion Local 71 Jackson Center 36
Minster 45 Fort Loramie 35
Mississinawa Valley 34 Fort Recovery 32
New Bremen 65 Ridgemont 36
New Knoxville 61 Fort Jennings 46
Ottawa-Glandorf 53 Findlay 38
Patrick Henry 67 Antwerp 55
Paulding 59 Montpelier 56
St. Henry 58 Wapakoneta 34
Temple Christian 62 Vanlue 23
Tinora 74 Hilltop 44
Van Buren 47 Kenton 19
Van Wert 54 Coldwater 42
Versailles 77 Greenville 21
Wayne Trace 63 Miller City 41
POSTED: 01/25/26 at 7:29 am. FILED UNDER: Sports
