ELIDA – Ottawa Glandorf’s girls basketball team is headed to the state final four for the sixth time in program history as a dominating defensive performance on Saturday night inside the Elida Fieldhouse pushed the squad to a 45-26 win over Margaretta.
“The entire team was locked in on defense” said 12th year OG mentor Troy Yant. “The defense limited them enough that we were able to make due with the offense we were able to muster.”
After the halftime break the blue and gold defenders surrendered just a pair of baskets to the Polar Bears while holding Margaretta scoreless for 11 minutes and 30 seconds of the final 16 minutes played in regulation.
OG raced out to a 12-8 lead at the end of the first in large part thanks to senior Katie Kaufman who netted the first shot of the game just :28 in and collected four of her six free throws in the opening half en route to a game high 16 points.
“We practice our defense all season, it starts from there” said junior Kaitlyn Kimmet who finished with nine rebounds to lead the Titans. “Once we get stops on defense our offense will come. We have worked on it all season and it showed tonight.”
Fast break jumpers and layups in the second quarter pushed the Titan lead to 14-8 early in the second. Margaretta (25-3) knocked down a long three point goal from Ellyse Schaefer and added a free throw from senior Lilly Edwards to keep within striking distance at the half.
Through the third quarter the Titans turned to their post leader in Kaufman to help grow their lead and watched as the future Malone Pioneer dominated inside for six of the nine points her team would score.
Sophomore standout Karsyn Erford finished off her 18th double figure scoring game and fourth straight effort early in the fourth and finished with 13 points to go along with seven total and six offensive rebounds.
Margaretta shut down Harvest Prep in their semifinals victory on Thursday night but found tough sledding against the Titans offensively on this night, shooting just 9/35 from the field. Five of the nine makes for the Polar Bears came from beyond the arc led by junior Reagan Heck who led her team with 11 points.
“I thought our defensive adjustments and focus as halftime were especially important” stated Yant. “Carlie (Brinkman), and Megan (Horstman) did a very good job of limiting their playmakers ability to get things going offensively.”
Ottawa Glandorf improves to 25-2 on the season and will be returning to the final four after a three year absence and will take on Portsmouth on Thursday evening at 8pm in a game broadcast live on WZOQ Radio: https://christiannetcast.com/listen/player.asp?station=zsportslive2 .
Scoring:
OG (45):
Liv Grothause 4
Karsyn Erford 13
Carlie Brinkman 6
Katie Kaufman 16
Myka Aldrich 4
Kaitlyn Kimmet 2
FG: 16/37
3PT: 1/8 (Brinkman)
FT: 12/20
REB: 33 (10 Offensive – Kimmet 9)
TO: 9
Margaretta (26):
Lilly Edwards 1
Ellyse Schaefer 10
Dani Grunden 4
Reagan Heck 11
FG: 9/35
3PT: 5/14
FT: 3/5
REB: 20 (5 Offensive – Heck 5)
TO: 13