TOLEDO – Four Titans finished in double figures on Saturday afternoon in Toledo in a 64-23 triumph over the Irish.
Ottawa Glandorf head coach Troy Yant with the victory became the third coach in Putnam County history to achieve 300 wins with a single school. Yant joins a club that includes Ottoville’s Dave Kleman (532), and Gary Kreinbrink of Leipsic who finished with 504 wins.
“It’s not my 300th win, it’s the 300th win of the program during my time as head coach,” replied Yant when asked about the accomplishment. “Today was a fun day and I appreciated the effort the girls gave to ensure a victory.”
Top ranked O-G (16-0) showed their ability to turn up the pressure early as they forced seven first quarter Central Catholic turnovers. Though tied at 2-2 after the first minute and a half on a Serenity Bolden make for the Irish, the Titans rolled through the rest of the opening period to take a 20-8 advantage.
Fast break baskets by Karsyn Erford and Liv Grothause opened the scoring for the visitors, but triples from the duo of Carlie Brinkman and Kaelyn Grothause helped to punctuate the early run.
Three Titans notched six points in the second period, again thanks to a bevy of Irish miscues. Liv Grothause, Erford, and senior Kaitlyn Kimmet pushed the halftime score to 42-18 in favor of O-G.
Central Catholic’s home floor, the Sullivan Center has seen many great performances over the years but on this day the Titans added their second half defensive effort to that lore.
Junior Serenity Bolden, one of two returning scorers in an Irish win last season in Ottawa opened the second half with two of her team high seven. Unfortunately for the hosts it would be the last make from the field in the quarter and until a Madison Stricker make with 2:50 remaining in the game.
O-G’s pressure held Central Catholic to just five points in the second half while seven players in the road jerseys found the bottom of the net.
“I was pleased with the overall team effort,” said Yant. “The girls were focused and able to get out and run, and they shared the ball like a team that trusted their teammates.”
Kaitlyn Kimmet, Kaelyn Grothause, and Carlie Brinkman all posted 10 points on the afternoon while teammate Karsyn Erford led the way with a 15-point effort.
Central Catholic’s Azariah Tilghman scored five for the Irish (3-12) who return to action on Tuesday when they open the first of a three-game road trip at St. Mary’s Prep.
Ottawa Glandorf swept the trio of games on the day as they were victorious in the freshman contest 64-3, and the junior varsity game 52-14. Combined this season the three squads for O-G have assembled 35 wins in as many outings.
Next up for the midnight blue and gold is a Thursday night WBL contest at the Supreme Court in Ottawa against visiting Van Wert.
Scoring:
O-G (64):
Liv Grothause 8
Karsyn Erford 15
Carlie Brinkman 10
Rilee Brinkman 1
Madison McKee 6
Kaelyn Grothause 10
Leah Escamilla 2
Kaitlyn Kimmet 10
FT: 2/3
3PT: 4 (K. Grothause 2, C. Brinkman)
TO: 11
TCC (23):
Marissa Justen 3
Paris Waites 4
Serenity Bolden 7
Madison Stricker 2
Kyleigh Cullen 2
Azariah Tilghman 5
FT: 2/6
3PT: 3 (Justen, Waites, Tilghman)
TO: 18