Owen Sensabaugh of Spencerville drives to the hoop during his 24-point effort on Friday night against Bluffton.
Chris Howell | The Lima News
BLUFFTON — It took an extra four minutes for Spencerville to finally put away Bluffton, leaving the Bearcats as the last unbeaten team in the Northwest Conference.
The two juggernauts went step for step once play began on Friday night at Bluffton High School. There were 12 lead changes before Spencerville took care of business in overtime 76-74 on a game-winning putback from Carter Sudhoff.
“That was a special one for sure,” Spencerville coach Kevin Sensabaugh said. “Our guys wanted that so badly. I thought we played our butts off tonight and we fought through so much adversity in the first half.”
Carter Sudhoff, who spent the majority of the first half on the bench in foul trouble, got himself going inside in the second half, recording 14 points before finding himself at the free throw in overtime for a chance to seal the deal.
However, Sudhoff missed both free throws with under 10 seconds to play. The rebound from his second miss deflected into the left corner before Carder Orr and Evan Osting tipped the ball back into the paint.
That’s where the 6’5” Sudhoff secured the ball out of a scramble and bounced in the game-winning basket as time expired.
“I missed the free throws, but I had to forget about that and find a way to get us the win,” Carter Sudhoff said. “I don’t know what happened on that last play, Carder (Orr) sent a shot, and Evan (Osting) got a stick back that didn’t go, and I was somehow unboxed out and in perfect position for an easy two. It was crazy.”
Sudhoff finished the game with 16 points. Owen Sensabaugh turned in a game-high 24 points for the Bearcats.
Marek Donaldson returned to the starting lineup for Bluffton after missing the previous three weeks and finished with a team-high 18 points and four three-point field goals.
Reps turned into records
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.
“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 of 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.”
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.
Getting everyone involved
OTTOVILLE – Ottoville boys basketball coach Keith Utendorf was looking for contributions from his bench in Friday’s Putnam County League matchup with visiting Kalida.
And he got it.
Nine players broke into the scoring column for Ottoville on Friday night, en route to a convincing 51-27 victory over Kalida at the L.W. Heckman Gymnasium.
With the win, Ottoville improved to 13-4 overall and 4-1 in the PCL. Kalida slipped to 3-13 overall and 2-3 in PCL action.
“Everything, obviously, is always going to start with our defense, our pressure, and our collective efforts,” Utendorf said. “I thought our guys were on point, especially early. I thought that late in the first half we started to wear on them a little bit. We got a little bit of a jump and hit a couple of shots. That really got us going early.”
Ashton Miller came off the bench and led Ottoville with nine points, including a 3-pointer. Landon Horstman and Michael Turnwald each scored eight points. Jace Langhals added six points for the Big Green.
Griffin Klausing led Kalida on Friday with seven points, including a 3-pointer.
A run for the ages
BLUFFTON – Pandora-Gilboa’s 60-42 win at Bluffton on Saturday night could be divided into two parts.
And those parts were as different as a weather forecast that began with 70 degrees and sunny in the morning and called for a freeze warning by the end of the day.
When Bluffton’s Marek Donaldson hit a 3-pointer in the first minute of the fourth quarter to tie the game at 40, it looked like it was going to be the closely contested non-league matchup that had been predicted between two teams who came into the game with identical 14-2 records.
But over the next six minutes, the Rockets outscored the Pirates 20-0 to go from a 40-40 tie to a 60-40 lead in a monumental momentum swing.
“You don’t see that night in and night out,” Pandora-Gilboa coach Mike Lee said about the Rockets’ 20-0 run. “I think some of that had to do with them having an exhausting, competitive game last night. I think as the game went on, especially in that second half, the air just kind of got lifted out of the gym a little bit.”
Colin Harris led P-G with 16 points and three other Rockets scored in double figures. Aidan Morris scored 14 points, Aiden Harris had 13 points and Nate Maag contributed 12 points. Blake Sommers’ 12 points led Bluffton and Donaldson scored 10 points.
Out-rebounded, but not out-matched
LIMA — If you were just keeping score, there was nothing wrong with Lima Senior’s 79-65 win over Mansfield Senior on Tuesday night.
But if you were keeping stats, it might have contained a flaw. At least Lima Senior coach Quincey Simpson found one in the box score.
The Spartans (9-6) dominated on the scoreboard from start to finish, running out to a 50-28 halftime lead on the strength of a 31-point second quarter, and never letting Mansfield Senior get closer than 11 points in the second half.
Freshman guard Shawn Foster played an excellent all-around game when he led the Spartans in scoring with 30 points, led in rebounds with eight, and in assists with four. Isaiah Wilson had 14 points, Jagger Hutchins scored 13 points and Jaeveon Walton added 10 points.
Kyevi Roane’s 22 points led Mansfield Senior (12-5).
The blemish Simpson found in the game stats was that Lima Senior was out-rebounded by a whopping 18 rebounds by a smaller Mansfield Senior team. The Tygers had a 42-24 overall advantage on the glass and a 25-8 edge in offensive rebounds.
“I’m not happy (about) how we rebounded. I thought we did a bad job rebounding the ball as a team,” Simpson said. “I’m not sure why, but we’ll watch the film and I’ll be able to see why. They out-rebounded us and in order to win games you have to win the rebounding battle. That’s where it all starts,” Simpson said.
Hard work pays off
BATH TOWNSHIP – Bath coach Kirk Looser has been looking for consistency from his young team this season.
In Tuesday’s non-league matchup against visiting Perry, Bath delivered a solid offensive performance in its 55-43 victory over the Commodores.
With the win, Bath improved to 2-12 overall. Perry slipped to 5-10.
Zavier Tickle scored 14 points and pulled down eight rebounds. Jaxon Foster had 13 points, including two 3-pointers. Foster also came away with six rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block. Trey Crawford added 13 points, including four 3-pointers for Bath.
“We’re just trying to build something,” Looser said. “Trey (Crawford) has been battling all year. He’s been working hard. He hasn’t shot the ball very well this year. He’s had a game or two here and there, where he has shot pretty well. He’s worked really hard, but it just wasn’t happening. Now tonight – he’s capable of doing that. I’ve seen him in practice, just drilling those kinds of shots.
“Tickle has probably played the best for us all year. He’s undersized (6-foot-1), playing that position (forward). He just battles people. He has done such a nice job. Jaxon (Foster) – the kid can shoot it. If you let him (Foster) set his feet, he can shoot it. So he is starting to get into a little bit of a groove.”
Za’mere Daniel led Perry and all scorers on Tuesday with 18 points. Daniel came away with six boards. Jason Thomas had seven points and six rebounds. Brady Shively added seven points for the Commodores.
Big scorers
Several area boys basketball players topped the 15-point plateau in recent games:
• Cameron Elwer of Delphos St. John’s had another monster performance with 40 points against Minster. He added 23 points in a win over Lincolnview.
• Karder Agner of Delphos Jefferson dropped a game-high 26 points in a win over Leipsic.
• Beckett Bertke of Shawnee scored 23 points in a 24-point win over Van Wert.
• Carson Clum of Allen East led all scorers with 20 points in a win over Lincolnview.
• Cooper Thomas scored 20 points to lead Hardin Northern past Temple Christian.
• Shawn Foster of Lima Senior had 20 points in a win over Grand Rapids Central.
• David Etzkorn topped Elida’s box score with 19 points in a win over Bryan. He added 16 points in a two-point win over Wapakoneta.
• Gavin Payne of Kenton tallied 19 points in a win over Allen East.
• Michael Turnwald of Ottoville led all scorers with 19 points in a two-point loss to Paulding.
• Dawson Clay of Temple Christian scored 19 points in a loss to Hardin Northern.
• Alex Sanders of Upper Scioto Valley tallied 19 points in a win over Elgin.
• Bo Birnesser of Columbus Grove had 17 points in a win over Continental.
• Ty Lammers of Leipsic scored 16 points in a narrow victory over McComb.
• Beau Sanders of Upper Scioto Valley tallied 16 points in a win over Elgin.
• Zamere Daniel paced Perry with 16 points in a win over Wayensfield-Goshen.
• Jarron Swick scored 15 points, leading Fort Jennings to a bounce-back win over Holgate.
• Isaac Gallmeier of Delphos Jefferson scored 15 points in a win over Leipsic.
• Andon Ruhe scored 15 points and grabbed seven boards, leading Miller City to a decisive win over Fort Jennings.
• Carter Sudhoff of Spencerville scored 15 points in a win over New Knoxville.
• Mason Rayle of Continental contributed 15 of his team’s 29 points in a loss to Columbus Grove.
BOYS BASKETBALL STANDINGS
Western Buckeye League
`WBL`All
Ottawa-Glandorf`6-0`15-2
Shawnee`6-0`11-5
Elida`4-2`12-4
St. Marys`4-2`12-5
Celina`4-2`10-8
Defiance`3-3`7-11
Wapakoneta`2-4`7-10
Kenton`1-5`9-8
Van Wert`0-6`3-15
Bath`0-6`2-14
Midwest Athletic Conference
`MAC`All
St. John’s`6-0`16-2
Coldwater`6-0`14-3
St. Henry`7-1`14-3
Minster`3-3`11-7
Marion Local`3-3`8-9
Parkway`2-3`11-6
Versailles`2-4`7-10
New Bremen`2-4`6-10
Fort Recovery`0-7`5-12
New Knoxville`0-6`3-14
Northwest Conference
`NWC`All
Spencerville`5-0`13-4
Bluffton`5-1`14-3
Allen East`4-1`9-7
Crestview`4-2`13-6
Leipsic`3-3`8-9
Columbus Grove`2-3`9-6
Delphos Jefferson`1-4`5-11
Lincolnview`0-5`4-13
Ada`0-5`3-14
Northwest Central Conference
`NWCC`All
Upper Scioto Valley`5-0`10-6
Ridgemont`5-1`13-5
Cory-Rawson`4-2`7-9
Perry`4-2`6-9
Hardin Northern`3-3`4-13
Ridgedale`2-3`9-7
Waynesfield-Goshen`2-3`4-10
Elgin`2-5`3-12
Temple Christian`1-5`7-10
North Baltimore`0-4`6-9
Putnam County League
`PCL`All
Pandora – Gilboa`4-0`15-2
Ottoville`4-1`13-5
Miller City`3-2`12-4
Columbus Grove`3-2`9-7
Leipsic`2-3`9-9
Kalida`2-3`3-14
Fort Jennings`1-4`7-11
Continental`0-4`2-14
Toledo City Athletic League
`TCAL`All
Lima Senior`4-1`10-6
Scott`5-2`10-6
Start`4-2`7-10
Bowsher`3-3`4-13
Rogers`3-4`8-10
Woodward`1-5`3-13
RESULTS AND SCHEDULE
Friday
Spencerville 74, Bluffton 72
Ottawa-Glandorf 87, Celina 53
Ottoville 51, Kaldia 27
Delphos St. John’s 66, Minster 42
Crestview 61, Ada 34
Allen East 68, Lincolnview 36
Defiance 38, Bath 35
Leipsic 72, Delphos Jefferson 61
Miller City 65, Fort Jennings 27
Perry 51, Waynesfield-Goshen 44
Shawnee 47, Van Wert 23
Hardin Northern 53, Temple Christian 47
Upper Scioto Valley 72, Elgin 40
Liberty-Benton 68, Pandora-Gilboa 56
Coldwater 65, Versailles 60
St. Henry 68, Fort Recovery 56
Marion Local 42, Parkway 39
New Bremen 74, New Knoxville 42
Pandora-Gilboa 68, Liberty-Benton 56
Ridgedale 35, Cory-Rawson 32
Saturday
Spencerville 61, New Knoxville 35
Pandora-Gilboa 60, Bluffton 42
Delphos St. John’s 65, Lincolnview 35
Lima Senior 51, Grand Rapids Central 45
Bryan 48, Bath 37
Columbus Grove 50, Continental 29
Kenton 68, Allen East 59
Fort Jennings 47, Holgate 25
Wayne Trace 56, Kalida 40
Paulding 55, Ottoville 53
North Baltimore 57, Ada 50
Delphos Jefferson 53, Waynesfield-Goshen 45
Miller City 74, Riverdale 38
St. Henry 80, Celina 56
Liberty-Benton 58, Defiance 56
Coldwater 63, Upper Scioto Valley 40
Marion Local 42, Fort Loramie 36
Minster 49, Jackson Center 45
Parkway 45, South Adams 34
Crestview 65, Hicksville 40
Arlington 81, Hardin Northern 29
Ridgemont 72, Vanlue 29
Cory-Rawson 39, McComb 32
Genoa Christian Academy 44, Temple Christian 43
St. Marys 52, Sidney 38
Tuesday
Games ended after The Lima News deadline. Find scores, game stories, photos and more on LimaScores.com.
New Bremen at Bath, 7:30 p.m.
Pandora-Gilboa at Columbus Grove, 7:30 p.m.
Delphos Jefferson at Fort Jennings, 7:30 p.m.
Elida at Findlay, 7:30 p.m.
Lima Senior at Trotwood-Madison, 7:30 p.m.
Friday
St. Henry at Delphos St. John’s, 7 p.m.
Kalida at Miller City, 7 p.m.
Ada at Leipsic, 7:30 p.m.
Allen East at Spencerville, 7:30 p.m.
Bath at Wapakoneta, 7:30 p.m.
Bluffton at Columbus Grove, 7:30 p.m.
Delphos Jefferson at Lincolnview, 7:30 p.m.
St. Marys at Elida, 7:30 p.m.
LCC at Crestview, 7:30 p.m.
Thurgood Marshall at Lima Senior, 7:30 p.m.
Ottawa-Glandorf at Shawnee, 7:30 p.m.
Ottoville at Continental, 7:30 p.m.
Pandora-Gilboa at McComb, 7:30 p.m.
Elgin at Perry, 7:30 p.m.
Temple Christian at North Baltimore, 7:30 p.m.
Ridgedale at Waynesfield-Goshen, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday
Kalida at Wapakoneta, 5:30 p.m.
Marion Local at Spencerville, 6 p.m.
Temple Christian at McComb, 6 p.m.
Bluffton at Riverdale, 6:30 p.m.
Columbus Grove at Waynesfield-Goshen, 6:30 p.m.
Fort Jennings at Allen East, 7:30 p.m.
Miller City at Elmwood, 7:30 p.m.
Upper Scioto Valley at Pandora-Gilboa, 7:30 p.m.
Perry at Kenton, 7:30 p.m.
Botkins at Shawnee, 7:30 p.m.
Delphos St. John’s vs Dunbar (at O-G Winter Classic), 1 p.m.
Lima Senior vs Lutheran West (at O-G Winter Classic), 3:15 p.m.
Ottawa-Glandorf vs Troy Christian (at O-G Winter Classic), 6:45 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL RESULTS AND SCHEDULE
Saturday
Miller City 49, Wayne Trace 43
Allen East 58, Perry 32
Columbus Grove 45, Arlington 32
St. Henry 48, Bath 39
Kalida 58, Pandora-Gilboa 35
Ottoville 55, Leipsic 31
Anna 43, Marion Local 35
Parkway 47, Ansonia 22
Versailles 55, Tri-Village 44
Arcadia 41, Upper Scioto Valley 29
Bryan 51, Liberty-Beton 37
Liberty Center 67, Bluffton 39
Monday
Lincolnview 57, Fort Jennings 46
Crestview 49, Liberty-Benton 39
Parkway 44, Van Wert 18
Delphos St. John’s 51, LCC 25
Fort Recovery 47, Celina 43
New Bremen 46, Hardin Northern 10
Tuesday
Games ended after The Lima News deadline. Find scores, game stories, photos and more on LimaScores.com.
Calvary Christian at Ada, 6 p.m.
Paulding at Ottoville, 7 p.m.
Thursday
Delphos St. John’s at St. Henry, 7 p.m.
McComb at Pandora-Gilboa, 7:15 p.m.
Leipsic at Ada, 7:30 p.m.
Spencerville at Allen East, 7:30 p.m.
Wapakoneta at Bath, 7:30 p.m.
Columbus Grove at Bluffton, 7:30 p.m.
Lincolnview at Delphos Jefferson, 7:30 p.m.
Elida at St. Marys, 7:30 p.m.
Shawnee at Ottawa-Glandorf, 7:30 p.m.
Waynesfield-Goshen at Ridgedale, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday
Shawnee at LCC, 1 p.m.
Allen East at Botkins, 1:30 p.m.
Leipsic at Kalida, 1:30 p.m.
Miller City at Van Buren, 1:30 p.m.
