BOWLING GREEN – While Ottawa Glandorf may have been feeling under the weather leading into Wednesday night’s regional semifinals tilt with Emmanuel Christian they sure didn’t show it as the Titans rocked the Warriors 70-49.
Ottawa Glandorf jumped out to a 23-6 first quarter advantage on the back of future Ohio State Buckeye Colin White who slammed and raced his way to 17 of his game high 36 markers in the opening period.
Led by their ferocious defense the No. 1 ranked Titans (23-3) utilized scoring from six players in the opening half while flipping Warrior miscues into baskets, much to the delight of a huge crowd from Putnam County in attendance inside the Stroh Center.
Emmanuel Christian (22-4) standout sophomore Nate Miles accounted for a team high tying 19 points alongside seniors teammate Jalen Brown for the Warriors. Unfortunately for the Warriors dynamic duo the Titans took away nearly any help from any other player on the scoreboard with a bevy of highlight defensive swipe and scores.
Senior post Dave Westrick who returned late in the season after a knee injury proved to be a key cog in the blue and gold machine as he snagged offensive rebound after offensive rebound to give the Titans multiple shot per possession and help his team win the rebounding battle 28-18.
In addition to the four highlight level dunks White utilized to push his troops ahead and send the fans into a frenzy, the senior connected on all 11 of his charity tosses to run his newest streak of connections to 18 in a row dating back to the district finals against Spencerville.
Grant Schroeder (10), and Caden Erford (14) joined White in double figures for the Titans who advance to the regional finals on Saturday to battle Margaretta with a trip to the final four on the line.
Erford, a 6’4 senior canned a pair of deep triples in the second quarter to give OG a 36-19 halftime advantage en route to his average. Through his last three seasons Erford has hit 144 three pointers and surpassed former standout TJ Metzger and head coach Tyson McGlaughlin’s career totals of 139 and 143 respectively.
Scoring:
OG (70):
Grant Schroeder 10
Grady Toumazos 4
Dave Westrick 4
Ross Maag 2
Colin White 36
Caden Erford 14
FG: 25/44
3PT: 4/10 (Erford 2, Schroeder, White)
FT: 16/17
REB: 28 (Westrick 6/White 6)
TO: 10
Emmanuel Christian (49):
Kayden Lightner 6
Jalen Brown 19
Nate Miles 19
Antwoine Mister 3
Zalieya Usrey-Martin 2
FG: 19/44
3PT: 4/11 (Brown 3, Miles)
FT: 7/8
REB: 18 (Mister 5)
TO: 11