KENTON – Ottawa Glandorf opened the first quarter of their first game on Thursday night with a bang as they blew past host Kenton 80-51 to open the 2021-22 season.
Juniors Lily Haselman and Maggie Verhoff helped the visitors out to a quick 8-0 lead in the first three and a half minutes of the game as the duo combined for a pair of steals and a the first ten points for the Titans. Back from an injury that cost her a year, Verhoff opened the contest by knocking down a corner three pointer on her way to all 10 of her game markers in the first half.
Kenton’s Brynn Butler got her squad on the board for the first time with 4:17 remaining in the opening stanza with a jumper to cut the lead to 8-2 before the visitors again went on a big run behind their transition defense and baskets by Myka Aldrich, Chloe Schroeder, and Chloe Glenn to take a 16-2 lead. Lauren Bartlett’s three pointer with under :30 remaining cut the OG lead to 16-5 at the end of the first.
Over the course of the second eight minute span the two teams combined to put on what closer resembled a track meet than the defensive battle at times in the first and combined for 49 points.
Five three pointers for Kenton found their way to the bottom of the net with three coming from the hands of 6’0 freshman Macee Heckathorn to at one point pull the Wildcats within 20-11. Unfortunately for the hosts they were unable to make many more shots fall as just a trio of free throws from Bartlett and Gabi Wetherill and a layup from Sadie Larrabee represented all the rest of the scoring in the period.
Ottawa Glandorf sophomore Katie Kaufman sank a three pointer from the left wing for her first career triple to give the Titans a 23-11 lead with 5:40 to go and just moments later was joined by big sister Erin who knocked down one of her own for a 27-14 score.
Junior post Chloee Glenn, the Titans leading returning scorer from a state finalist a year ago notched six of her game high 17 points in the second quarter and handed out a pair of assists to push OG on top 45-25 heading into the locker room at the buzzer.
Already with a pair of triples to her credit in the first half the Wildcats first score of the second half came from Bartlett again from beyond the arc with 6:58 to trim the deficit to 47-28 before a run led by Haselman, Glenn, and Katie Kaufman quickly the score to 50-34 before freshman Kaelyn Grothouse knocked down a free throw for her first career point and a 51-34 margin.
Finding themselves continually hounded to the tune of 32 turnovers on the evening the Wildcats finished the second half with as many free throw makes (8) as two’s and three’s but were unable to keep the Titans reserves off the scoreboard as the lead continued to build for the blue and gold guests.
Fourth quarter run outs by Emma Brinkman, Myka Aldrich, and Kaydree Frey led by the passing ability of Glenn helped the Titans to secure the 80-51 season opening victory.
Ottawa Glandorf who has won 10 straight in the series were led by four in double figures paced by Glenn’s near career high tying 17 to go along with a career best 14 from Lily Haselman, 10 from Maggie Verhoff, and 10 from Myka Aldrich.
Kenton ended the evening with two in double figures as Macee Heckathorn connected on four from deep on her way to a team high 14 and was joined in double figures by Lauren Bartlett’s 11.
Next up for the Wildcats (1-3, 0-1) is a Thursday, December 9th trip to Elida to battle the Bulldogs while the Titans (1-0, 1-0) open the home portion of their schedule on Saturday afternoon taking on Fairview.
Scoring:
OG (80):
Chloe Schroeder 4
Lily Haselman 14
Maggie Verhoff 10
Kaelyn Grothouse 3
Emma Brinkman 3
Myka Aldrich 10
Erin Kaufman 8
Katie Kaufman 7
Kaydree Frey 4
Chloee Glenn 17
FT: 13/18
3PT: 5 (Verhoff 2, Haselman, E. Kaufman, K. Kaufman)
TO: 17
Kenton (51):
Lauren Bartlett 11
Emily Pees 7
Brynn Butler 6
Gabi Wetherill 1
Sadie Larrabee 4
Macee Heckathorn 14
Olivia Nolting 6
Tatum Miller 2
FT: 11/14
3PT: 8 (Heckathorn 4, Bartlett 3, Nolting)
TO: 32
JV: OG 56-18