Preview: Crestview Knights vs. Van Wert Cougars
Crestview is 8-0 against Van Wert since January of 2015, and they'll have a chance to extend that success on Tuesday. The Crestview Knights will be playing in front of their home fans against the Van Wert Cougars at 7:30 p.m. Given that both teams suffered a loss in their last game, they both have a little extra motivation heading into this match.
Crestview unfortunately witnessed the end of their four-game winning streak on Thursday. They took a 45-40 hit to the loss column at the hands of Allen East. The result shouldn't come as a shock considering that's the fewest points Crestview has scored all season.
Despite their defeat, Crestview saw several players rise to the challenge and make noteworthy plays. Cali Gregory, who scored 18 points along with five rebounds, was perhaps the best of all. That was a full 45% of Crestview's points, marking the sixth time in a row she's earned more than a third of the team's points. Another player making a difference was Myia Etzler, who scored six points along with seven rebounds and two blocks.
Meanwhile, Van Wert was within striking distance but couldn't close the gap on Thursday as they fell 32-28 to Memorial.
Despite the defeat, Van Wert had strong showings from Jazzlyn Florence, who scored 16 points along with two steals, and Katie Deamicis, who scored 11 points. As a matter of fact, that's the most points Florence has scored all season.
Crestview's defeat dropped their record down to 13-2. As for Van Wert, they have been struggling recently, as they've lost four of their last five matches, which put a noticeable dent in their 4-11 record this season.
Tuesday's matchup is shaping up to be a scrappy matchup: Crestview have been smashing the glass this season, having only averaged 27.7 rebounds per game. It's a different story for Van Wert, though, as they've been averaging only 20.9 rebounds per game. Given Crestview's sizeable advantage in that area, Van Wert will need to find a way to close that gap.
Crestview was able to grind out a solid victory over Van Wert in their previous matchup back in January of 2023, winning 46-34. Will Crestview repeat their success, or does Van Wert have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
