PAULDING — It wasn’t the start Van Wert wanted. And it didn’t end the way the Cougars wanted either.
But for 32 minutes, the lady Cougars gave highly touted Lima Bath all it wanted before coming up just short in a 41-36 Wildkitten victory in Division II district semifinal action at Paulding High School last night.

The lady Cougars were held scoreless in the opening stanza, missing all eight shots from the field and committing four turnovers in the quarter. Lima Bath, though, struggled as well. Van Wert’s defense limited the Wildkittens to 2 of 13 shooting in the period as well to go along with two turnovers.

“Our defensive effort was very good tonight,” noted Cougar head coach Lance Moonshower. “I thought we played extremely hard and we did a good job of continuing to battle despite our offensive struggles.”

One of two free throws by Lima Bath’s Cassie Best made it 9-0 Wildkittens before Van Wert found the scoreboard. A bucket by the Cougars’ Clair Butler, off of a Livia Butler assist, broke the scoreless streak with 5:22 left in the period.