Columbus Grove’s Lauryn Auchmuty drives between Ottawa-Glandorf’s Carlie Brinkman (left) and Emma Brinkman during Thursday night’s game at Columbus Grove.
Richard Parrish | The Lima News
COLUMBUS GROVE — Sometimes, just getting out with a win is good enough.
Ottawa-Glandorf girls basketball head coach Troy Yant was not necessarily pleased with each facet of his team’s performance in Thursday’s 36-30 nonleague victory over Columbus Grove.
However, Yant acknowledged that it was good enough for at least now.
O-G managed to overcome a subpar shooting performance Thursday night, en route to a hard-fought road win at Columbus Grove.
“We did just enough to squeak by,” Yant said. “Unfortunately, we couldn’t carry the momentum from the last couple games. I thought we were really playing well (the last couple games). But with Chloee (Glenn) and Maggie (Verhoff) out of the lineup (due to injuries), it takes a lot of offense out. Offensively, it looked like we weren’t playing team basketball.”
For the game, O-G shot 33 percent from the field. Columbus Grove connected on 41 percent of its field goal attempts.
Freshman Karsyn Erford led Ottawa-Glandorf (9-2) with 14 points, including two 3-pointers. Kaelyn Grothause had eight points, including two 3-pointers. Kaitlyn Kimmet pulled down a team-high eight rebounds to go along with four points for the Titans.
Lauryn Auchmuty led Columbus Grove (6-6) and all scorers with 16 points, including three 3-pointers. Auchmuty also came away with eight boards and two assists. Jaylen Sautter and Brynn Fortman each had six points for the Bulldogs.
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“I thought our defense was good,” Yant said. “We had a couple breakdowns. Auchmuty is a heck of a player, but good players are going to get their shots. It’s frustrating, just in the way that our offense performed. That mirrored other things, too. So, we have a few things we need to work on.”
O-G jumped out to the early lead.
Columbus Grove did briefly lead 6-5, but the Titans responded and pulled out to a 15-11 advantage by the end of the first quarter.
Auchmuty led the way for the Bulldogs with eight points, including two 3-pointers.
O-G was 5 of 9 shooting from the field in the first quarter. Columbus Grove connected on 4 of 8 shots from the floor.
The Bulldogs turned the ball over six times in the first stanza. Despite the turnovers, Columbus Grove kept it close.
At the 3:20 mark of the second quarter, Auchmuty canned her third trey of the game to pull the Bulldogs to within one point, 17-16.
However, the Titans managed to slip out with an 18-16 lead at the halftime break.
Both teams struggled from the field in the second stanza. O-G was 1 of 8 shooting from the floor, while Columbus Grove was 2 of 7 from the field.
For the half, O-G was 6 of 14 for 43-percent shooting. Columbus Grove was 6 of 15 for 40 percent.
Auchmuty led the Bulldogs with 11 first-half points. Erford led the Titans with six markers.
Columbus Grove cut it to one point, once again.
At the 5:03 mark of the third, Sautter hit a 3-pointer to make it 20-19, O-G.
However, the Titans responded.
By the end the third, O-G led 26-19.
Erford and (Emma) Brinkman (three points) each had a 3-pointer in the third.
The Bulldogs hung around in the final quarter.
With 1:15 left to play in the contest, Sautter hit a 12-footer to cut it to 3, 33-30.
However, O-G managed to stave off Columbus Grove down the stretch.
On the night, Columbus Grove held a slight edge on the boards, 24-23.
Columbus Grove committed 16 turnovers for the game, while O-G turned it over just eight times.
“Fortunately, we get a couple days now, to end 2022 and get in a couple days of practice; and hopefully get Chloee (Glenn) back,” Yant said. “She (Glenn) is very important to what we want to do on offense.”
Mark Altstaetter wrote this story for LimaScores.com. Reach The Lima News sports department at 567-242-0451.
