WAPAKONETA – Ottawa Glandorf started the game on a 14-0 run and never looked back on Thursday night as they opened up defense of their five straight Western Buckeye League titles in a 73-37 blowout victory over host Wapakoneta.
The Titans forced eight opening quarter turnovers and raced down the court on six occasions for baskets en route to 28 first quarter points. Post players Erin Kaufman and Chloee Glenn accounted for nine points apiece as the visitors continued to push their lead and run away from Wapak on the scoreboard.
Baskets by Ella Okuley that included both a three and two point goal along with a fast break bucket pushed the lead to 14-0 in the opening quarter before a free throw by Casey Minnig gave the Redskins their first marker with 5:16 showing on the scoreboard and a 14-1 deficit. Wapak’s first make from the field came moments later after a Kelsey Erford free throw for the Titans on a basket by Taylor Jenkins to trim the lead to 15-3.
Led by their ability to rotate ten to twelve players deep the Troy Yant led Titans continued to hound Wapakoneta on the defensive end with their pressure and flip miscues into points to build a 49-20 halftime lead on big quarters from sub Lily Haselman who notched four points and was joined by three pointers from teammates Alexa Fortman, and Anna Siefker during the run.
Okuley, a junior for OG struck again as part of her nine first half points and career high 11 points on the evening with a pair of baskets in a short span on the fast break to push the lead higher.
In the third quarter the Redskins pulled within 55-22 on an Addy Allen make but were unable to get any closer as they were held to just six points and outscored 15-6. OG’s Erin Kaufman and Chloee Glenn continued their terrific outings in the post and in transition and each added four points in the period to finish with 15 before exiting in the middle of the stanza for good.
Ottawa junior Averi Krouse added her mark to the game in the third and fourth quarters from behind the arc as she knocked down her first and second career three point goal to help the Titans finish off their 38th straight Western Buckeye League victory.
Wapakoneta outscored the Titans 11-9 in the final eight minutes behind the trio of Katie Lisi, Allie Wilson, and Casey Minnig but fell at the final buzzer 73-37.
The Redskins (1-1, 0-1) are off until Thursday, December 10th when they travel to the Horseshoe to battle league rival St. Marys while the Titans (5-0, 1-0) will be in action on Monday evening as they host a non-league tilt with Lima Senior that can be heard live at 7:15 P.M. on WZOQ Radio
OG has now defeated Wapak seven straight times and holds a 39-9 all-time mark against the Redskins who remain the last team to have handed the Titans a WBL loss, 39-36 on February 4th, 2016.
Scoring:
By Quarter:
OG 28-21-15-9
Wapak 13-7-6-11
OG (73):
Kelsey Erford 4
Anna Siefker 3
Lily Haselman 6
Ella Okuley 11
Alexa Fortman 3
Myka Aldrich 2
Averi Krouse 6
Erin Kaufman 15
Katie Kaufman 6
Kaydree Frey 2
Chloee Glenn 15
FT: 4/8
3PT: 5 (Krouse 2, A. Siefker, Okuley, Fortman)
TO: 11
Wapak (37):
Katie Lisi 7
Taylor Jenkins 2
Allie Wilson 8
Addy Allen 4
Casey Minnig 8
Reagan Courter 2
Alyssa Harrod 6
FT: 4/10
3PT: 1 (Wilson)
TO: 25
JV: OG 33-17 (Kaydree Frey 12 OG)