OTTAWA – Tinora started the game with the first three points on Tuesday night at Robert J. Hermiller Gymnasium but surrendered the next 34 as host Ottawa Glandorf defeated the Rams 60-28 in a non-league affair.
Sophomore Liv Mueller put the visitors on top 3-0 in the first minute of the contest as she buried a three pointer from the corner just in front of the OG bench before the Titans pushed into the lead on a three point goal by Anna Siefker and a fast break basket at 6:47 by Kelsey Erford for a 5-3 lead they would hold onto the rest of the evening.
Ottawa Glandorf continued to turn Ram miscues and offensive opportunities into their trademark fast break transition scores as Erford accounted for 11 of her game high 17 in the period and helped to set up baskets by teammates Lily Haselman and Ella Okuley. Junior post Erin Kaufman, a 2nd team WBL selection a season ago netted five of the 23 points for her team in the quarter that also saw her knock down three of her four free throw attempts.
The second quarter didn’t get any better for the visiting squad in the turnover department as they were tagged for half of their 20 miscues and outscored by OG 19-3 on the way to a 42-6 home team halftime lead.
Tinora’s first points of the second stanza came with 3:04 before the half and stopped a 34-0 Ottawa Glandorf run when Anna Gray slipped behind the defense for her first score of the game. Gray would seconds later slip in one of two free throws for the only other marker for the Rams in the second.
Chloee Glenn, playing in her first action of the season returned on a mission as she snagged a pair of rebounds and stuck them back on back to back possessions for four of her six markers on the night.
In the third quarter while the Titans found themselves utilizing their deep bench and rotation, the Rams opened the third quarter on a three pointer reminiscent of the opening moments from the hands of Mueller for the second of her makes of the game.
Freshman guard Karli Okuley pulled her squad to within 51-13 with 2:30 remaining in the third and stop a nearly five minute drought for her club. Okuley continued to throw down Tinora with :54 remaining on a three pointer to get within 51-16 heading into the fourth period.
Tinora outscored the Titans 12-9 in the fourth quarter but fell at the final buzzer 60-28. OG’s Averi Krouse’s made free throw with 3:48 before the final buzzer was the first career point for the junior that saw teammates Lily Haselman, Myka Aldrich, Emille Horstman, and Kaydree Frey all make baskets on the way to a 32-point victory.
Rams junior Madeline Zachrich scored all six of her points in the final eight minutes and the final basket of the game with just seconds remaining.
Ottawa Glandorf moves to 3-0 on the season and will next be in action next Tuesday night when they travel to battle Patrick Henry while Tinora opens their 2020-21 season with a loss and will attempt to get even this weekend when they battle Delta.
Scoring:
Ottawa Glandorf (60)
Kelsey Erford 17
Anna Siefker 5
Lily Haselman 6
Ella Okuley 2
Alexa Fortman 2
Myka Aldrich 4
Emille Horstman 2
Averi Krouse 1
Erin Kaufman 7
Kaydree Frey 2
Katie Kaufman 6
Chloee Glenn 6
3PT: 1 (Siefker)
FT: 9/19
TO: 17
Tinora (28):
Anna Frazer 3
Emily Harr 2
Lexi Wachtman 2
Liv Mueller 6
Madeline Zachrich 6
Anna Gray 3
Karly Okuley 5
3PT: 2 (Mueller 2)
FT: 2/7
TO: 37
JV: 42-35 OG