ELIDA – Ottawa Glandorf utilized balanced scoring from nine players during Thursday evenings 48-29 regional semifinals victory over Liberty Center at the Elida Fieldhouse.
Marred in turnovers through the first four minutes the Titans fell behind 3-2 on the scoreboard after a Liberty Center basket from Kailey Blanton at 5:31 but turned up their defensive pressure to keep the Tigers scoreless while building a lead they would never again surrender.
Kaitlyn Kimmet tied the contest at 3-3 with a free throw and watched as classmate Kaelyn Grothause pushed through two of her own to make it 5-3 OG. The first of three first half Titan triples, a shot from the corner by Lily Haselman and a make by Carlie Brinkman pushed the blue and gold into a 10-3 lead at the first stoppage.
OG continued to keep their opponent scoreless through the nearly first five minutes of the second quarter while running their lead to 21-3 on the strength of three point goals from Karsyn Erford and Kaelyn Grothause and post baskets by Katie Kaufman and Chloee Glenn.
Liberty Center’s drought of 10:27 came to an end with a pair of free throws by Elle Mohler at 3:03 in the period but their drought without a make from the field would not meet a conclusion until a three from junior Eliza Jones at 2:15 split the net to cut the deficit to 21-8.
Leading 26-10 to begin the third period the Titans found themselves unable to race ahead as easily in the opening minutes as they did in the first half due to the increased pressure from Liberty Center and forced into a quartet of turnovers.
Freshman standout Karsyn Erford notched five straight points for Ottawa Glandorf in the middle portion of the third stanza to run the lead to 31-15 before a four point scamper from Bea Barrett and Alyssa Giesige helped to send the Tigers into the final eight minutes of play within 37-19.
Entering play on Thursday evening the Tigers had connected on 103 shots from beyond the arc but found themselves forced to rely on the deep shot to make a comeback late. Connections by Peyton Armey and Eliza Jones cut the lead to 16 but the deficit would get no closer as the Titans utilized an Erford triple and an 8 for 10 performance from the line to secure the victory.
Junior Katie Kaufman missed the first four free throws she took earlier in the contest but knocked down all six of her attempts in the fourth period when her team needed the makes most and was joined by Emma Brinkman who successfully completed both of her tosses.
Liberty Center was led in scoring by the trio of Peyton Armey, Eliza Jones, and Bea Barrett who all finished with six. The Tigers see their season conclude at 22-4 with their first regional appearance since 2007.
Ottawa Glandorf has now won 11 straight contests played inside the Elida Fieldhouse and will put their 23-3 mark on the line in Saturday evenings 7pm regional final against Margaretta, 53-52 winners over Harvest Prep earlier in the night.
Scoring from nine players was led by Karsyn Erford with 11 but followed up with eight apiece from Katie Kaufman and Kaelyn Grothause, and seven each by Lily Haselman and Chloee Glenn.
Saturday’s game will be broadcast live on WZOQ Radio as the Titans seek their sixth trip to the state tournament in the last nine seasons and the first since 2021.
Scoring:
OG (48):
Karsyn Erford 11
Lily Haselman 7
Kaelyn Grothause 8
Emma Brinkman 2
Myka Aldrich 2
Carlie Brinkman 2
Kaitlyn Kimmet 1
Katie Kaufman 8
Chloee Glenn 7
FT: 12/22
3PT: 5 (Erford 3, Haselman, K. Grothause)
TO: 20
Liberty Center (29):
Alyssa Giesige 2
Emerson Gray 2
Elle Mohler 3
Peyton Armey 6
Gracie Miller 2
Eliza Jones 6
Bea Barrett 6
Kailey Blanton 2
FT: 7/10
3PT: 4 (Armey 2, Jones 2)
TO: 16