OTTAWA – Tuesday evening’s Putnam County clash resembled a heavyweight boxing match more than a basketball game at times as host Ottawa Glandorf landed the final punch and secured a 42-21 victory at the Supreme Court.
Through nearly the first four minutes of the game neither team was able to find the scoreboard as the physical defensive effort from both squads helped keep their opponent scoreless.
Ottawa Glandorf’s Lily Haselman rushed ahead of the Wildcat defense with 4:53 remaining in the opening period for a layup that put the Titans on the board first just seconds before a Camille Hovest score tied things up at 2-2.
Senior Erin Kaufman’s bucket in the post and a free throw from freshman Kaelyn Grothouse made it 5-2 OG before the last score of the period for Kalida rained down from deep on a triple by junior Livia Recker. OG ended the minutes of the quarter with a 5-0 run led by post Chloee Glenn to take a 10-5 lead at the first buzzer.
Recker knocked down a second triple of the first half with 6:56 to cut the Titan advantage to 10-8 but watched again as the hosts snagged a quick five point run punctuated by Glenn basket and a Chloe Schroeder three point goal on back to back possessions.
Utilizing their defense to offense style the Titans raced to a 17-10 lead before the Wildcats stopped a 4:13 span without a basket as Brooke Vennekotter notched her only score of the evening to end the drought.
Fast break baskets by Erin Kaufman and Myka Aldrich put the Titans on top 21-10 at the halftime stoppage.
While the defense was able to again hold Kalida off of the scoreboard for a long stretch, Ottawa Glandorf’s offense continued to up their lead with six points from Glenn, two from Malone signee Erin Kaufman, and a pair from Katie Kaufman to help celebrate her 16th birthday.
Over the final half of the quarter Kalida tossed in a three from Brooke Erhart and baskets by Whitney Unverferth and Camille Hovest to get within 28-16 after a three from OG’s Grothouse.
Kalida’s Erhart struck again from beyond the arc with 6:18 to cut the Titan advantage to 34-21. Unfortunately for the Wildcats on the same sequence Camille Hovest suffered an injury and was helped to the trainers room.
Though the visitors would not score again in the contest, the hosts would toss across six more markers behind the trio of Grothouse, Glenn, and Kaydree Frey before the final buzzer.
“We knew coming in this was the most physical, aggressive pressure we’ve faced to date. I thought we battled really hard defensively but we have to slow down on offense and be stronger and not panic so much when a team gets up into us. This will serve us well later in the year” said Kalida coach Adam Huber.
Ottawa Glandorf boss Troy Yant opined post game “We did just enough to win. I thought our defense was a little better but our run game and offense struggled at times. I thought Kalida did what they normally do, which is play hard and physical. Missing Maggie Verhoff seemed to throw us into a bit of a funk but we did what we needed to to win the game.”
Next up for Kalida (2-2) is a Saturday afternoon Putnam County League contest with rival Fort Jennings. The Wildcats were led in scoring by Brooke Erhart and Livia Recker each with six.
Ottawa Glandorf (3-0) was led in scoring by Chloee Glenn and will be in action on Thursday evening when they continue WBL play by hosting Wapakoneta.
Scoring:
OG (42):
Chloe Schroeder 3
Lily Haselman 2
Kaelyn Grothouse 6
Emma Brinkman 2
Myka Aldrich 2
Erin Kaufman 9
Katie Kaufman 2
Kaydree Frey 2
Chloee Glenn 14
FT: 4/7
3PT: 2 (Schroeder, Grothouse)
TO: 16
Kalida (21):
Whitney Unverferth 2
Brooke Vennekotter 2
Livia Recker 6
Meridith Bockrath 1
Brooke Erhart 6
Camille Hovest 4
FT: 1/2
3PT: 4 (Recker 2, Erhart 2)
TO: 36
JV: OG 41-34