KALIDA — Ottawa-Glandorf and Archbold each easily advanced in the Division III girls basketball district semifinal at Kalida Thursday.
Ottawa-Glandorf disposed of Delta 47-32, while Archbold defeated Allen East 58-36 .
Ottawa-Glandorf and Archbold will return on Saturday for the district championship. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m., with the winner of that game advancing to the regional semifinals at Ohio Northern University on March 5.
In the opener, the O-G Titans turned a 9-9 score midway through the second quarter into a 25-14 halftime lead en route to a win against Delta.
The Titans’ pressing defense caused 12 first-half turnovers, while their relentless work on the boards produced 11 offensive rebounds.
For the game, O-G caused 20 turnovers, while committing just seven.
“We’ve lost games where we’ve had more shots than our opponents,” Ottawa-Glandorf coach Troy Yant said. “It gives us a better opportunity when we don’t knock down shots.”
The Titans (16-8) were led by junior Kristen Miller who scored 13 points.
Sophomore Elissa Ellerbrock added 13 for O-G. Anna Bellman added six, while Danielle Schroeder and Jill Rosselit each chipped in with five.
“Kristen did an excellent job maintaining her composure,” Yant said. “Her ball handling and ability to get into the lane and knock down some shots.”
Delta cut the lead to 36-28 at the end of the third quarter, but the Panthers were cold to start the fourth quarter and did not get their first basket until halfway through the final stanza.
“We looked at the shot chart at halftime and we limited their shooter,” Yant said. “Closing them out and maintaining our position (was important). They increased the tempo and got some turnovers.”
Delta (16-8) was led by junior Abbie Harris with 14 points.
Archbold 58 Allen East 36
In the second game Allen East scored the first two points of the game. Archbold rattled off the next 17 straight and led 22-4 at the end of the first quarter and rolled to a 58-36 win.
“Their pressure came out and they are very athletic,” Allen East coach Jarrod Wehri said. “There are few teams that can pressure like that and it takes some adjustment.”
The Blue Streaks (23-1) extended the lead to 31-12 by halftime and 47-28 at the end of the third quarter.
Jesse Fidler led all scorers with 11 points. Taylor Coressel added nine while Cassidy Wyse and Darian Oberlin each added eight.
Archbold outrebounded Allen East 32-22 and the Blue Streaks won the turnover battle 16-12.
“They are a talented, talented squad,” Wehri said. “They put a lot of pressure on teams. Boxing out is important. They are very disciplined at crashing the boards. It’s a mindset to stay disciplined and to stay focused.”
Allen East (13-9) was led by Kaycee Rowe with eight points. Lindsi Woods added seven.
“It’s been a great team this season,” Wehri said. “We’ve had our struggles, but since the midpoint we have lost to Crestview and Archbold. They are two very good teams.”
