VAN WERT – Senior forward Erin Kaufman scored a career high 24 points on Thursday night on the road to help keep Ottawa Glandorf unbeaten in the Western Buckeye League with a 53-40 victory.
OG’s college bound post scored the first two points of the game for the Titans and quickly added another as part of a 12-0 blue and gold run before adding her sixth triple of the season as part of a 21-12 opening period.
Kaufman continued to utilize her size advantage against the smaller Cougars by snagging loose balls and rebounds while dominating in the scoring column. In the third period Kaufman scored 11 of her game and career high 24 as the Titans increased their lead deep into double digits.
“It was nice to see Erin have a nice game, she played well, balanced and determined” said Titans boss Troy Yant.
Four shots fell down in the opening quarter for Van Wert from the field from the duo of Carlee Young and Sofi Houg with three being from behind the arc. The Cougars junior and senior duo would be responsible for seven triples on the evening as they attempted to keep their opponents close on the scoreboard.
Though the first eight minutes of play was an offensive explosion, the second quarter saw points harder to come by as the two squads combined for just 10 combined points as the Titans headed into the break leading 27-16.
Held to no baskets made over the final five minutes of the opening half the Cougars erupted for a trio of makes from beyond the arc in the third by Young and Houg and at one point pulling within a single digit deficit.
Strong defensive performances for an Ottawa Glandorf squad missing top defender Kaelyn Grothouse from Myka Aldrich, Lily Haselman, and first time starter Kaitlyn Kimmet helped to keep the Cougars at bay.
Kyra Welch, a 12.7 point per game scorer for Van Wert who was held to just a single basket and a free throw in the first three quarters hit for seven in the final period against a mix of OG starters and subs and helped to set up the only other make, a three by Sofi Houg for the last of her markers.
“We struggled at times to make up for the loss of Kaelyn but did enough to get another win in the league. Now we have a day to try to work on the things that didn’t go smoothly tonight before facing another state ranked team Saturday in Toledo Central Catholic” opined Yant after the contest.
Van Wert (9-7, 3-3) was led by the duo of Sofi Houg (17), and Kyra Welch (10). Next up for the Cougars will be a Tuesday evening contest hosting Fairview before a Thursday WBL clash with unbeaten Shawnee.
OG (11-4, 6-0) remains unbeaten in the WBL and were led by the Kaufman sisters of Erin (24), and Katie (10). Toledo Central Catholic visits on Saturday afternoon in a battle of state ranked squads at the Supreme Court at 12:30 p.m.
Scoring:
OG (53):
Lily Haselman 3
Myka Aldrich 8
Carlie Brinkman 4
Kaitlyn Kimmet 4
Erin Kaufman 24
Katie Kaufman 10
FT: 6/10
3PT: 1 (E. Kaufman)
TO: 15
Van Wert (40):
Carlee Young 9
Kyra Welch 10
Sofi Houg 17
Maria Bagley 4
FT: 6/10
3PT: 8 (Houg 4, Young 3, Welch)
TO: 21
JV: OG 46-17