Ottawa-Glandorf’s Caden Erford (24) drives against Celina’s Caleb Gabes (1). Erford set the O-G record for 3-point buckets in a game with 10 and scored 36 points in an 87-53 win by the Titans at Ottawa-Glandorf.
Jackelyn Johnson | The Lima News
OTTAWA – Caden Erford didn’t panic when his shots didn’t fall like they usually do in the last couple of games.
The Ottawa-Glandorf senior forward just practiced. And practiced. Then he practiced a little more.
And the payoff for the extra shots he put up was a record-setting performance when he scored 36 points and connected on 10 three-pointers in O-G’s 87-53 win over Celina on Friday night.
Those 10 three-point buckets broke the Ottawa-Glandorf record of nine in a game, held by T.J. Metzger and Brennen Blevins.
Colin White had 31 points and 13 rebounds for the Titans (15-2, 6-0 WBL). Braylon Gabes led Celina (10-7, 4-2 WBL) with 20 points.
“Last week it was a little frustrating, obviously, but this week it was feeling good all week in practice. Coach just said, ‘Shoot it with confidence. That’s all you can do. We know you can shoot it, shoot it with confidence,’ ” Erford said.
“A couple days this week Colin and I came up here before school. The more shots the better. You can’t shoot enough, really,” he said.
Ottawa-Glandorf coach Tyson McGlaughlin said, “I’m so proud of Caden. He just hadn’t been hitting. He was going to break out of it. When he saw that first one go in it was like a weight off his shoulders. It’s amazing when that first one goes in. He got that first one to fall and all of a sudden he was ready to go.”
Erford hit five 3-point shots in the first half and five in the second half. He matched his previous career high when he hit his eighth three of the game in the fourth quarter, then added two more to get the record.
“I give all the credit in the world to my teammates and coaches and everyone just because when someone’s hot you give them the ball and that’s what they did. That’s just the type of team we are. We always want what’s best for each other, we truly want good for each other,” he said.
Erford was aware he was approaching the record and the Titans’ bench confirmed it. “I had it in the back of my head and the bench let me know for sure,” he said.
He remembers watching Metzger hit nine threes in the 2013 Division III state championship game against Versailles and seeing Blevins match that total several years later.
“It’s just a great feeling. Those are two really, really good players. Just knowing I’m in the same category as them for something, it’s reassuring and good to know,” Erford said.
Celina was within three points, 27-24, with three minutes left in the first half before the Titans ended the half on a 14-4 run, including three 3-pointers, to go up 41-28.
O-G’s lead never dropped below 10 points in the second half. The Titans shot 60 percent in the game and 70 percent in the second half.
Ottawa-Glandorf 87, Celina 53
Score by quarters
Celina 9 19 16 9 – 53
O-G 17 24 27 19 – 87
Celina
Caleb Gabes 10, Grant Duncan 5, Carter Altstaetter 1, Kaiden Werntz 2, Braylon Gabes 20, Lennon Cisco 13, Jack Knapke 2. Totals: 18-9-53.
Ottawa-Glandorf
Colin White 31, Caden Erford 36, Ross Maag 4, Grant Schroeder 4, Grady Toumazos 6, Dave Westrick 2, Alex Wagner 4. Totals: 30-11-87.
Three-point goals: OG – Erford 10, White 3, Wagner 1; C – B. Gabes 4, Cisco 3, Duncan 1.
Records: Ottawa-Glandorf (15-2, 6-0 WBL); Celina (10-7, 4-2 WBL)
