The Western Buckeye League Champs will play in the final for a second straight year after a stunning comeback win.
Columbus –There is an old saying in sports. If you can’t score, you can’t win.
Just ask the Hathaway Brown Blazers.
Leading their D-II state semifinal with Ottawa-Glandorf by three heading into the fourth quarter, the Blazers failed to score a single point in the final eight minutes, and dropped a 51-40 verdict to the Titans.
Ottawa-Glandorf was in control early, building a 23-16 lead late in the second quarter. The Blazers, who played one of the toughest schedules in the state this season, then went on a 10-3 run to close the half tied at 26.
In a hotly contested game, O-G prevailed to play in the Div. II final for a second consecutive year.
Hathaway Brown continued its hot hand early in the second half, using a 9-2 run to open a 35-28 lead. The Titans fought back to within three at the end of the period, then put the lid on the Blazers’ basket in the fourth.
Consecutive drives by sophomore Kadie Hempfling, the Western Buckeye League Player of the Year, gave the Titans the lead for good early in the fourth quarter.
Once they got behind, the Blazers offense completely fell apart.
They air-balled three pointers, missed point blank layups, turned the ball over, and most importantly, seemed to forget about Dani Lawson. The 6-2 junior, already committed to Purdue, finished with 13 points and ten rebounds, but only took ten shots, and got precious few touches in the final eight minutes.
Glandorf, which lost to Versailles in the D-III title game last season, got 20 points from Hempfling and 11 from junior Kylie White, who also grabbed 11 rebounds. Jackie Carman led the Blazers with 14 points.
Ottawa-Glandorf had a 28-14 edge in points in the paint, and 19-9 in points off turnovers. They forced 19 turnovers while committing just 9.
The Titans will take a 27-2 record against Alter Saturday at 2pm for the D-II title. In that game, the Titans’ Dani Ellerbrock will play in her 108th high school game, just the fourth player in OHSAA history to have played in that many.
(Press Pros Photos and Page Design by Julie McMaken Wright)
Kadie Hempfling (left) and Dani Lawson battle for a loose ball in the Division II semi-final won by Ottawa-Glandorf.
“The Spot” is proud to sponsor coverage of the 2015-16 state tournaments on Press Pros Magazine.com.
