VW independent sports
ROSSFORD — Van Wert made the most of an hour and 45 minute trip to Rossford on Tuesday. The No. 9 seed Cougars made the long trek to northern Wood County for a Division IV sectional semifinal game against the No. 8 seed Bulldogs and Van Wert cruised to a 60-23 blowout win over the hosts.
Van Wert led 11-5 at the end of the opening quarter, with Amaya Dowdy scoring six points. In the second quarter, the Cougars held Rossford to just two points while increasing the lead to 25-7 at halftime, with Dowdy and Katie DeAmicis each scoring five points. Any hopes of a Rossford (5-18) comeback were dashed in the third quarter as Van Wert outscored the Bulldogs 26-8 in the period. Dowdy scored nine points in the period, Jazz Florence added 10 more and DeAmicis scored five points, as the lead ballooned to 51-15. Dowdy and Florence each scored 20 points, while DeAmicis finished with 10.
Van Wert (2-21) will travel to Findlay to face No. 1 seed Liberty-Benton (17-5) in the sectional championship game at 2 p.m. Saturday.
POSTED: 02/17/26 at 8:21 pm. FILED UNDER: Sports
SCOTT TRUXELL/independent sports
This week’s installment of Random Thoughts centers totally around high school tournament basketball.
MaxPreps vs. Martin RPI
Martin RPI rankings for girls and boys basketball were used in the Northwest District for the 2022-2023 season. In a way, it was a test run and by most accounts, it worked pretty well. However, the following season, the Ohio High School Athletic Association switched to MaxPreps for RPI rankings, not just in the Northwest District, but statewide. Truth be told, I felt bad for the guy who runs Martin RPI. To me, it felt like if it went well in the one season (it did), then perhaps OHSAA might expand Martin RPI rankings statewide. That didn’t happen. Instead, it went to MaxPreps.
In my mind, both Martin and MaxPreps do many things well. There have been some complaints about MaxPreps involving inaccurate or missing scores, and the site locking up right before last weekend, which apparently prevented some coaches from entering their information.
Martin is more focused on RPI, while MaxPreps shows schedules, scores, rosters (not always complete or accurate) and results. There are some bugs to clean up and I’d like to think those will be addressed sooner rather than later.
The old days
RPI rankings are used to seed teams in each district and I think, personally, by and large that the rankings and seeds assigned are accurate. One could argue there may be a minor mistake here or there, but the old process, where coaches met, stated their cases and voted on the spot had its flaws as well. Leagues or conferences sticking together and/or grudges made up most of those issues, but those were usually the exception, not the rule.
I used to enjoy going to the seeding meeting and hearing the coaches. It was good comradarie and it was interesting listening to the coaches explain wins and losses, strength of schedule etc., and it was interesting to see what the final result was. That’s all gone now, replaced by a computer. Sure, coaches still can pick where they would like to go on the bracket, at least if they’re seeded high enough, but it’s still not the same.
I’ll say this – coaches my age and older (I’m not THAT old, mid-50s), certainly remember the old “pill” process. Coaches would vote on the top two seeds, then the remaining teams would draw a number of a hat or something similar. If you weren’t chosen as a No. 1 or No. 2 seed, you had a random number help decide your place on the bracket. So it could go like this – You could be 15-3 at the time of the draw, with losses to the No. 1-2 seeds and draw the last “pill,” meaning you would be last to decide where to go on the bracket. It wasn’t a good system at all and I’m glad it’s been gone for years.
(more…)POSTED: 02/16/26 at 9:16 pm. FILED UNDER: Sports
VW independent sports
Crestview’s Kaci Gregory is one of four Knights to earn all-NWC girls basketball honors, while two Lincolnview players also earned all-conference accolades in balloting done by conference coaches.
Gregory was named first team All-NWC, while teammates Peyton Hoffman, Haley McCoy and Lillie Best were named honorable mention All-NWC. Lincolnview’s Keira Breese was named second team All-NWC, and teammate Kassidy Hammons was named honorable mention All-NWC.
Columbus Grove’s Nicole Nesby was named NWC Player of the Year and after leaving the Bulldogs to a second consecutive NWC championship, Columbus Grove head coach Brian Schroeder was named NWC Coach of the Year.
First Team
Nicole Nesby, Sr., Columbus Grove
Evelyn Lehman, Jr., Allen East
Kaci Gregory, Jr.,Crestview
Kendall Palte, Sr., Columbus Grove
Claire Brinkman, Jr., Delphos Jefferson
Maelee Miller, So., Bluffton
Second Team
Keira Breese, Sr., Lincolnview
(more…)POSTED: 02/16/26 at 11:22 am. FILED UNDER: Sports
VW independent sports
Van Wert and Lincolnview are No. 1 seeds in their respective boys basketball sectional/districts, while the Crestview Knights are the No. 2 seed at their district. Pairings were set Sunday afternoon and games will begin February 26 or 27 for most area teams.
Division IV
As expected, Van Wert (15-6) earned the No. 1 seed at the Paulding district. The Cougars will host No. 7 seed Napoleon (4-16) in the sectional finals at 6 p.m. Thursday, February 26, with the winner advancing to the Paulding High School district and facing either No. 4 seed Wauseon (7-13) or No. 5 seed Elida (5-16) in the district semifinals at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 3.
Division V
Paulding (17-4) is the No. 1 seed at the Elida district and opted for a first round bye. The Panthers will host No. 7 seed Swanton (6-13) or No. 8 seed Delta (4-16) in the sectional finals at 7 p.m. Friday, February 27, with the winner moving on to the district semifinals at Elida High School to face No. 2 seed Liberty Center (14-7) or No. 9 seed Northwood (3-18) at 6 p.m. Tuesday, February 3.
Division VI
Lincolnview (17-5) is the No. 1 seed at the Defiance district, which earned the Lancers a home sectional championship game against No. 7 seed Hicksville at 6 p.m. Friday, February 27. The winner will advance to the Defiance High School district to face No. 3 seed Wayne Trace (13-8) or No. 6 seed Tinora (9-12) at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 4.
Crestview (13-8) is the No. 2 see at the Defiance district and won’t play a sectional game. Instead, the Knights will begin tournament play at the Division VI district semifinals against No. 4 seed Ayersville (13-7) or No. 5 seed Fairview (13-8) at 6 p.m. March 4.
Spencerville (14-7) is the No. 4 seed at the Wapakoneta district and will face No. 3 seed Lima Central Catholic (11-8) in the sectional finals at 6 p.m. Friday, February 27.
(more…)POSTED: 02/15/26 at 9:51 pm. FILED UNDER: Sports
VW independent sports
Boys basketball
Spencerville 50 Van Wert 49
Van Wert led 35-26 in the third quarter but Spencerville was able to rally for a 50-49 win over the Cougars on Saturday. It was Van Wert’s third consecutive loss and for the second straight night, the difference was the foul line, as Spencerville connected on 14-of-16 attempts, while Van Wert was 5-of-7.
A trey by Spencerville’s Grady Smith with just under five minutes left in the game gave the Bearcats a 46-44 lead, which they would not relinquish. Four consecutive free throws by Owen Sensabaugh and Will Sensabaugh with under a minute left gave Spencerville a 50-46 lead. Van Wert’s Griffin McCracken hit a trey with about five seconds left but the Cougars were out of timeouts and could not stop the clock.
With Keaten Welch scoring six of his 12 points in the period, Van Wert led 15-14 at the end of the first quarter, with Will Sensabaugh drilling a triple to end the period. A layup by Zach Crummey at the halftime buzzer gave the hosts a 27-23 lead. In the third quarter Xavier Kelly repeatedly slashed to the basket for eight of his 12 points
Will Sensabaugh led all scorers with 21 points and Grady Smith added 14 for the Bearcats.
The Cougars will finish their regular season at Kenton on Friday. The game will be played in the old Kenton gymnasium, due to other event taking place in the new high school gym. Spencerville will be at Delphos Jefferson.
Delphos St. John’s 75 Crestview 64
CONVOY — The second quarter was the difference during Saturday night’s game between Crestview and Division VII No. 1 ranked Delphos St. John’s.
(more…)POSTED: 02/15/26 at 9:50 pm. FILED UNDER: Sports
Van Wert senior Kaiven Welch (0) prepares to pass the ball during Saturday’s basketball game against Spencerville while younger brother Keaten Welch (5), a junior, drives to the basket against the Bearcats. The game was a close one, but Spencerville was able to hold on for a 50-49 win. Bob Barnes/Van Wert indepenent
POSTED: 02/15/26 at 9:49 pm. FILED UNDER: Sports
VW independent sports
COLUMBUS GROVE — Bluffton won the team title at the 2025-2026 Northwest Conference wrestling tournament while Crestview was the runner-up. The tournament was held Saturday at Columbus Grove High School.
Luke Sawmiller (157 pounds) was Crestview’s lone individual champion, earning it with a 7-4 decision over Columbus Grove’s Collin Sautter in the finals. Robert Tyas was the runner-up at 126 pounds after falling to Bluffton’s Branden Cross in the finals. Grant Grubb finished third at 113 pounds with a pin of Lima Central Catholic’s Austin McCain (3:01).
Lincolnview finished eighth in the team standings and the Lancers had an individual champion with Daniel Clark’s pin (:46) of Ben Hawkins of Allen East in the finals of the 215 pound weight class. Ethan Renner was the runner-up at 165 pounds after being pinned by Spencerville’s Keaton Jacobs (2:44) in the finals.
Bluffton finished with 204 team points, followed by Crestview (189), Allen East (180.5), Lima Central Catholic (163), Spencerville (131), Columbus Grove (83.5), Delphos Jefferson (75) and Lincolnview (70).
POSTED: 02/15/26 at 9:48 pm. FILED UNDER: Sports
SCOTT TRUXELL/independent sports
Free throws can make or break any basketball team and Friday night, Shawnee proved it. The Indians converted 22-of-24 foul shots, including 16-of-18 in the fourth quarter, on the way to a 60-53 win over Van Wert. Meanwhile, the Cougars converted just 1-of-6 free throw attempts in the game.
The victory gave Shawnee (16-5, 8-0 WBL), the reigning Western Buckeye League champions, at least a share of this season’s league title. The Indians can win it outright with a victory over Ottawa-Glandorf next Friday.
“I’m proud of our guys,” Best said. “The whole culture of our program was on display tonight. It was fun to be a part of. I’m disappointed and upset for our guys but they’ll be ok. We still have hope (for a title share). We have a game against Spencerville and we still have another WBL game and so do they, so we’re still alive, we just need some help.”
The help would come in the form of Ottawa-Glandorf, who plays at Shawnee next Friday.
Shawnee led 15-10 at the end of the first quarter and 18-11 early the second quarter, but Van Wert (15-5, 7-1 WBL) responded with back-to-back treys by Griffin McCracken, then a layup by Cohen Bragg that gave the Cougars a 19-18 lead. From there, the two teams went back and fourth and Van Wert led 26-25 at halftime.
“I really liked what we did in the first half,” Van Wert head coach Jeremy Best said.
A McCracken trey nearly midway through the third quarter gave Van Wert a 35-31 lead, then a layup by the 5-9 senior late in the period gave the Cougars a 41-39 lead entering the fourth quarter.
A triple from the left corner by Bragg put Van Wert ahead 44-43 two minutes in the fourth quarter, but it was the final time the Cougars would lead in the game. Beckett Bertke converted a pair of free throws and casually swished in a trey from the top of the key, giving the Indians a 48-44 lead with 4:14 left. A layup by Bragg would put Van Wert to within two, 48-46, but that was as close as the Cougars would get, as the Indians went to work at the foul line. Beckett Bertke was 8-of-8 from the free throw line in the period while younger brother Trevick Bertke was 4-of-4 in the quarter. They finished with 22 and 20 points, respectively.
(more…)POSTED: 02/14/26 at 12:01 am. FILED UNDER: Sports
SCOTT TRUXELL/independent sports
It was a tale of two halves between cross county rivals Crestview and Lincolnview Friday night. The Knights controlled the first two quarters and led 29-22 at halftime but the Lancers flipped the script in the second half and rallied for a 57-44 win on Friday. The victory gave Lincolnview an outright NWC championship, the program’s first since the 2015-2016 season.
“Overall, we cannot be more proud of all our guys responding in the second half the way they did, knowing the stakes of the game,” Lincolnview head coach Brett Hammons said. “It was very rewarding and fun watching them celebrate with each other, their families and our fans.”
“Give credit to Lincolnview,” Crestview head coach Doug Etzler said. “They made us work on the defensive end all night long. They were patient and waited until we made a mistake and they capitalized. That is what we wanted to do when we had the bal but we didn’t make them work defensively to defend several passes.”
Crestview’s Owen Heckler hit a pair of first quarter treys and Hayden Perrott, Liam Putman and Will Sheets each scored four points and the Knights led 18-15 at the end of the period. Gavin Evans and Max Hammons combined for nine points. Perrott accounted for seven of Crestview’s 11 second quarter points and the Knights led 29-22 at the break.
“We struggled to find a good rhythm in the first half offensively and they were scoring better than we anticipated,” Hammons said. “We did not play a good first half and our message to the guys at halftime was that if we play our game and play with confidence we would be fine.”
The pep talked worked, as the Lancers outscored Crestview 35-15 in the second half. Chayse Overholt buried two three pointers in the third quarter and Evans added seven points in the period. Meanwhile, Crestview had a single basket by Will Sheets in the quarter, with the remaining five points coming from the foul line. Sheets went on to finish with a team high 13 points.
(more…)POSTED: 02/14/26 at 12:00 am. FILED UNDER: Sports
VW independent sports
Here are final scores of area boys high school basketball games played on Friday, February 13.
GMC
Antwerp 64 Hicksville 45
Ayersville 42 Edgerton 30
Fairview 50 Wayne Trace 48
Paulding 62 Tinora 46
MAC
Delphos St. John’s 86 Fort Recovery 49
Marion Local 67 Minster 44
New Bremen 40 Coldwater 38
Parkway 58 New Knoxville 41
Versailles 59 St. Henry 54
NWC
Columbus Grove 60 Delphos Jefferson 37
Bluffton 52 Allen East 44
Lincolnview 57 Crestview 44
PCL
Kalida 54 Continental 29
WBL
Bath 44 Defiance 36
Elida 35 Wapakoneta 31 (OT)
Ottawa-Glandorf 58 Celina 53
Shawnee 60 Van Wert 53
St. Marys Memorial 64 Kenton 21
POSTED: 02/13/26 at 10:05 pm. FILED UNDER: Sports
