1/20/2009
Cougs fall in overtime to Celina
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BY KEVIN WANNEMACHER
Times Bulletin Staff
kwannemacher@timesbulletin.com
VAN WERT - Van Wert outplayed visiting Celina for 28 minutes of Monday night's Western Buckeye League boys basketball battle.
However, it was the Bulldogs who survived two Cougar chances at the end of regulation before pulling out a 58-54 overtime win.
With the win, Celina moves to 3-0 in the WBL and 8-3 overall while the Cougars drop to 2-1 in the league and 4-6 in all games.
Van Wert led 37-27 at the end of three quarters and appeared headed to victory. The Cougars held a 43-31 advantage midway through the final stanza. A Darin Waterman basket along with a trey from Derek Gagle pulled the Bulldogs within 43-36 at the 4:38 mark.
After the two teams traded baskets, Waterman connected for buckets on consecutive Bulldog possessions to get Celina within 45-42. Following a Van Wert turnover, Waterman added another basket to pull Celina within 45-44 at the 49 second mark.
Brady Dunlap hit one of two foul shots to push the advantage to 46-44 before Gagle tied the contest with 22 seconds remaining with a Bulldog bucket, setting the stage for the end of regulation.
With the ball inbounded underneath the Cougar basket at the four second mark, the Cougars had two chances at shots inside five feet but were unable to convert as time expired.
"We had an opportunity to win the basketball game but we didn't convert," noted Van Wert coach Dave Froelich. "We didn't do a good job of doing the little things, playing fundamental basketball, and that is why we lost the game."
"Our kids battled all night long," Celina's Chris Bihn commented. "One thing about these kids is that they just don't give up, they continue to battle hard."
Celina's Jake Green put the Bulldogs on top in the extra session, picking up a basket and two free throws for a 51-47 lead. With the Bulldog lead at 54-50, Van Wert's Jacob Bagley connected on a trey to bring the Cougars within 54-53.
Two Gagle foul shots widened the margin to 56-53 before a Bagley foul shot got Van Wert within 56-54. On Celina's ensuing possession, Gagle added a pair of charity tosses to seal the Bulldog win.
"This is a good win for us," continued Bihn. "To go on the road and beat a quality team like Van Wert is a big challenge. These kids, though, just continue to play hard and give it all they have."
"It's disappointing because this is a game we could have won," Froelich stated. "It came down to we didn't do the little things down the stretch. Turnovers, missing easy shots, not making free throws ... all those things came back to haunt us."
Bagley paced the Cougar effort with 24 points with Olson adding 10 markers and 11 rebounds. Hammons and Tyler Putman also had six each for Van Wert while Hammons also picked up 10 boards. Corey Clifton dished out six assists.
The Cougars led 15-5 after one quarter behind 11 points from Bagley and four from Olson. Van Wert posted a 24-16 halftime advantage.
Gagle picked up 20 points and nine boards to lead the Bulldogs with Green adding 18 markers and five caroms. Waterman also chipped in 11 points and seven rebounds.
Celina finished the contest 20 of 63 from the field for 32 percent compared to Van Wert's 17 of 50 for 34 percent. At for the charity stripe, the Bulldogs were 15 of 19 (79 percent) with the Cougars hitting 14 of 20 (70 percent).
Van Wert dominated the boards 47-36 with the Cougars having 22 turnovers compared to 11 for the Bulldogs. Celina had 26 points in the paint compared to 20 for Van Wert.
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