Lima Central Catholic’s Willie Foster, left, blocks a dunk attempt by Ottawa-Glandorf’s Colin White during Saturday’s game at Msgr. Edward C. Herr Gymnasium. Foster scored 26 points, including a last-second driving layup, to lead LCC to a 56-54 win at home.
Jessica Trinko | The Lima News
LIMA — Everyone knew Willie Foster was going to get the ball.
After all, the Lima Central Catholic sophomore had already scored 24 points, and the game was on the line as the Thunderbirds patiently waited for the clock to tick down to zero with the score tied at 54-54 against Ottawa-Glandorf in a battle of unbeaten teams Saturday afternoon.
Foster delivered, albeit by going a little off script, driving toward the basket and tapping up a layup with 3.8 seconds remaining. Ottawa-Glandorf could only watch a last-second 3-point attempt miss in a 56-54 showdown of two of the area’s best teams.
“That was not the plan. We actually had a play to isolate Willie,” LCC coach Sean Powell said. “But O-G does what they did. They refused to let it work and showed a double-team. So our point guard had to get the ball out. It just happened to go to Willie, and the spacing was there.”
Willie calls game.
Birds still unbeaten!🦅#FlyWithUs pic.twitter.com/4b2GBqXkqF
— Tbird Sports (@LCCtbirdSports) December 30, 2023
Video courtesy of @LCCtbirdSports
Foster, who finished with a career-high 26 points in front of an electrified packed house at Msgr. Edward C. Herr Gymnasium, had one of those days every player dreams about, where all the hard work pays off with baskets falling, hitting 58% of his shots. He also had eight rebounds.
“I was going all game; I was feeling it,” Foster said. “All my hard work and dedication paid off. You just have to live in the moment. Every time I shoot the ball, I know it’s going in.”
The Titans (7-1) saw what was happening a moment too late to slow Foster’s drive, coach Tyson McGlaughlin said.
“We put Grant (Schroeder) on the ball and had the matchup that we kind of wanted there, and we’re trying to send another guy over to get the ball out of his hands. By the time we started to rotate over there, we were a step late. Those are the mistakes that happen early in the year. You’d rather make those corrections in practice. There are a lot of things that we can take from this game.”
Jordan Priddy added 14 points for the Thunderbirds (7-0), which eight of those coming in a tense fourth quarter that never saw more than a three-point differential in the final seven minutes.
Carson Parker added 10 points while drawing the duty of defending Ottawa-Glandorf’s Ohio State-bound Colin White for most of the night.
White started off relatively slowly with just three points in the first quarter, but he finished with 21 points and 15 rebounds. White had the ball in his hands for the last play but had to heave a deep 3-point attempt that was off the mark.
“We just wanted to force him into taking shots that we was uncomfortable with,” Parker said. “I mean, every shot for him in comfortable, but we were making it the most uncomfortable shot for him that we could.”
Caden Erford added 17 points and seven rebounds for the Titans, while Ross Maag had eight rebounds. Both Erford and White provided crowd-pleasing dunks at the end of the first quarter.
The crowd was loud and proud for both schools in this game, with the stands full for much of the junior varsity game beforehand. Powell called it a “hostile environment,” despite being his home court, based on how many Titan fans made the trip south. It felt like tournament basketball.
“You know, from my point of view, I saw that ball in the basket, I’m just as pumped up as everybody else in this building, or I guess half the building,” said LCC senior Billy Bourk, who had 11 rebounds in an extremely physical game.
The teams have developed quite a rivalry over the years, dating back to when they often faced one another in the playoffs. Alas, they won’t see each other again this year, as Ottawa-Glandorf is in Division III and LCC’s Division IV this year.
“It’s the most fun rivalry game,” Parker said. “It’s always packed. O-G always packs out their side. They’re always making it loud. It’s just a lot of fun. It’s a game you look forward to every year.”
Ottawa-Glandorf 12 11 13 18 — 54
Lima Central Catholic 9 14 15 18 — 56
OTTAWA-GLANDORF
Alex Wagner 3, Grant Schroeder 6, Grady Toumazos 7, Colin White 21, Caden Erford 17. Totals: 19- 14- 54.
LIMA CENTRAL CATHOLIC
Jordan Priddy 14, Willie Foster 26, Carson Parker 10, Billy Bourk 6. Totals: 22- 10- 56.
3-point goals: O-G-White 1, Erford 1. LCC-Priddy 1, Foster 1.
Reach David Trinko at 567-242-0467 or on Twitter @Lima_Trinko.
