Time for the biggie

OK It’s the big one Friday night.
Hopewell-Loudon vs. St. Wendelin girls.
Yep that’s a pretty big game too and will likely be played in front of a packed house in the North Countyline Street gym. It’ll be the first time in a long time the SWHS gym was packed for a basketball game.
Alright, alright. Yes I know Liberty-Benton plays at Van Buren Friday night.
So what’s going to happen?
Well it’s going to be close. Or a blow out. Or really who the hell knows.
All I know it’s a big game and people have been talking about it for weeks.
The Eagles are the No.1 team in the Division III AP poll and the Knights are No.3 in Division IV. Something’s about to give Friday night.
Now if I were a betting man I would take the under in this game. Say maybe 100 points combined by the two teams.
They both play outstanding defense. Everyone talks about L-B senior and the BVC scoring leader Nathan Hyde but people tell me the player to watch on the court for the Eagles is freshman Aaron Craft, who harasses opposing offensive players like a an army of gnats near those bananas on your counter at home.
Liberty-Benton had given up just 40 points in a game twice this season (See the comparison between the two teams below).
Van Buren coach E.J. Frost is one of the best. He’s an excellent coach that gets everything from his players. He has a young team that has probably already exceeded everyone’s expectations.
But as the team keeps winning, expectations grow and now I imagine those expectations include winning the conference and knocking off the Eagles. The Knights did survive a 60-55 scare against Cory-Rawson in a rather lackluster game, according to my Van Buren sources.
Who’s going to take it?
I’d probably have to go with the Eagles at this point. But one thing I am pretty sure of is both L-B and VB will have pretty nice runs in the OHSAA Tournament in March.

Liberty-Benton (13-0)
Cory-Rawson W 70-30
Arlington W 66-37
At Lima Bath W 60-29
Eastwood W 70-26
Patrick Henry W 68-59
Elida W 57-19
At Woodmore W 88-25
At Vanlue W 74-49
McComb W 82-37
At Elmwood W 57-27
Arcadia W 66-37
Ottoville W 50-31
Leipsic W 72-39

Van Buren (14-0)
McComb W 56-33
At Miller City W 56-45
At Arcadia W 55-40
Hopewell-Loudon W 74-33
At Elmwood W 69-52
At New Riegel W 82-58
At North Baltimore W 72-63
Leipsic W 83-44
Fostoria St. Wendelin W 80-54
At Cory-Rawson W 60-55
Carey W 66-45
AT Hardin Northern W 72-51
Pandora-Gilboa W 56-40
Tiffin Calvert W 70-36

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