OTTAWA – Celebrating the youth and future of Lady Titans basketball was on the docket Saturday afternoon but the current squad demonstrated the present is solid as well as they raced past visiting Ottoville 65-31.
Tied 2-2 after baskets by OG’s Karsyn Erford and Ottoville’s Erica Thorbahn the hosts dashed ahead to a 10-2 advantage through the next three minutes of play on baskets by Kaelyn Grothause, Erford, and Carlie Brinkman on the way to a 16-6 first quarter that saw Erford beat the horn with a jumper.
Held to free throws and a single three point goal from Isabelle Furley the Big Green pulled within 22-12 midway through the second quarter but got no closer as Ottawa Glandorf finished the half on a 13-4 run.
Led by Erford’s six and a triple from senior Lily Haselman the Titans found themselves able to open up their inside game with Katie Kaufman and a three point play from Grothause while snatching a handful of Big Green miscues.
Ottoville sophomore Erica Thorbahn, an 11.3 per game scorer who was held to just four in the first half erupted for the Big Green in the third as she connected on 3 of 4 free throws and splashing home a triple as part of her team high 13 points.
Turnovers and fast break offense ruled the third for the host Titans as a four point run by Myka Aldrich and a six point quarter from Erford and Kaufman pushed OG ahead heading into the fourth 49-24.
Ottawa Glandorf continued the use of their pressure defense throughout the final eight minutes of play while the duo of Aldrich and Carlie Brinkman banked in fast break shots off the glass for a total of 10 quarter markers.
Triples by Megan Horstman and Karsyn Erford punctuated the Titans lead in the middle of the period to finish off a 34 point victory over the Big Green.
Freshman Karsyn Erford led all scorers with a game high 17 points that broke her previous high of 13 set on three different occasions this season and was joined in double figures by Katie Kaufman (11), and Myka Aldrich who notched her first double figure game of the season with 10.
Next up for the Big Green (8-7) is a Thursday evening Putnam County League matchup with rival Fort Jennings. Ottawa Glandorf (13-2) has now won nine straight matchups and will be in action Thursday as they host Western Buckeye League foe Van Wert at the Supreme Court.
Scoring:
OG (65):
Karsyn Erford 17
Megan Horstman 3
Lily Haselman 3
Kaelyn Grothause 9
Emma Brinkman 2
Myka Aldrich 10
Carlie Brinkman 8
Kaitlyn Kimmet 2
Katie Kaufman 11
FT: 8/13
3PT: 2 (Erford, Haselman)
TO: 11
Ottoville (31):
Jessa Burgei 2
Erica Thorbahn 13
Jocelyn Langhals 2
Skylar Turnwald 2
Paige Turnwald 4
Becca Turnwald 4
Isabelle Furley 4
FT: 12/14
3PT: 3 (E. Thorbahn 2, Furley)
TO: 21
JV: Ottawa Glandorf 39-16