Lima Central Catholic’s Willie Foster shoots against Ottoville’s Ashton Miller, left, and Andy Moorman during Friday’s game at Msgr. Edward C. Herr Gymnasium.
Richard Parrish | The Lima News
LIMA — The first act belonged to Ottoville. But the loudest cheers and the curtain calls belonged to Lima Central Catholic.
LCC weathered a blazing start by Ottoville – a start that included what might have been the Big Green’s best quarter of the season – to get a 63-46 non-league boys basketball win on Friday night at Monsignor E.C. Herr Gymnasium.
The Thunderbirds (17-2) outscored Ottoville 39-17 in the second half, which made their win look easier than it actually was.
Ottoville led 19-11 at the end of the first after outscoring LCC 17-2 in the final 6 ½ minutes. That lead grew to as many as 13 points halfway through the second quarter and Ottoville was up 29-24 at halftime.
But the second half belonged to LCC.
“I thought we prepared and were ready for a matchup and challenge like we faced tonight. We just have to be able to respond a little better when they punch back,” Ottoville coach Keith Utendorf said.
“They’re really good. Their athleticism and their pressure on defense bothered us, especially in the second half, and got us off kilter,” he said.
Sophomore guard Willie Foster led LCC with 20 points. He had a pair of 3-pointers and three dunks, the best of which came in the first quarter when he went above the rim to catch a pass with his right hand and delivered a powerful slam. He made all but one of his 10 field goal attempts.
Carson Parker had 16 points and 7 rebounds for the Thunderbirds. DeMarr Foster scored 11 points and Jordan Priddy got all eight of his points in the third quarter when LCC took control of the game. Keaton Schnipke’s 12 points led Ottoville (14-6).
“We stayed connected. We stayed together as a team and just kept going and fought back,” Willie Foster said.
LCC turned up its defensive pressure in the second half. And, while it didn’t lead to a lot of turnovers, it often made Ottoville uncomfortable.
“We mixed up some defenses and I think that kind of threw them off a little bit and slowed them down and helped with defending their dribble drive. We were able to create a couple of turnovers which allowed our offense to start flowing,” LCC coach Sean Powell said.
Utendorf said, “We took a couple of shots that led to run-outs, and when they got those run-out lay-ups and a couple of fouls with them the momentum really switched.”
LCC shot 54 percent on field goals (25 of 46). Ottoville shot 37 percent (18 of 49).
Lima Central Catholic 63, Ottoville 46
Score by quarters:
Ottoville 19 10 8 9 — 46
LCC 11 13 24 15 — 63
OTTOVILLE
Keaton Schnipke 12, Jace Langhals 9, Landon Horstman 9, Michael Turnwald 5, Adam Brinkman 9, Ashton Miller 2. 18-5-46.
LIMA CENTRAL CATHOLIC
Carson Parker 16, Jordan Priddy 8, Billy Bourk 5, Willie Foster 20, Parker Judy 3, DeMarr Foster 11. Totals: 25-7-63.
Three-point goals: O — Brinkman 3, Schnipke 2; LCC — W. Foster 2, Parker 1, Priddy 1, D. Foster 1, Judy 1.
Records: LCC 17-2; Ottoville 14-6.
