FIRST QUARTER OFFENSE … Wauseon senior Autumn Pelok unloads a 3-pointer in the first quarter of Wednesday night’s regional semifinal versus Ottawa-Glandorf. Pelok accounted for all of Wauseon’ points in the quarter. (PHOTO BY JACOB KESSLER, STAFF)
By: Nate Calvin
FINDLAY – Ottawa-Glandorf was the team with more tournament experience entering Wednesday night’s regional semifinal and it showed early on.
The Titans jumped out to a 14-2 lead with 2:00 left in the opening quarter and held off a Wauseon surge at the end of the opening half to pull away in the second half for a 63-42 win.
WBL Player of the Year Erin Kaufman established herself with three buckets and two free throws for eight points during OG’s 14-2 run to start the game.
Wauseon senior guard Autumn Pelok sparked the Indians offense by hitting two triples late in the quarter as she scored all eight points for Wauseon in the first quarter.
An Ellie Rodriguez 3-pointer at the start of the second quarter for Wauseon trimmed the OG lead to 16-11 before an offense rebound bucket by Kaitlyn Kimmet for the Titans pushed the lead back to 18-11.
Hayley Meyer added two field goals with a trey by Marisa Seiler in between the Meyer’s buckets to draw Wauseon to within 21-18.
The Titans would get the last four points of the second half as Kaufman scored twice to extend the OG advantage to 25-18 at halftime.
Just as at the opening of the game, the Titans started fast with two buckets from Myka Aldrich and Erin Kaufman and Katie Kaufman each added a field goal during an 8-0 OG run to take a 33-15 lead.
Meyer stopped the run for the Indians with a hoop and Seiler knocked down a couple shots as the Titans led 41-27 entering the final quarter.
It was another scoring run by the Titans to start the fourth, this one was 10-0, as Erin Kaufman had two field goals and Katie Kaufman added a bucket to key the run and give the Titans a comfortable 51-27 lead.
OG (20-7) was 8/10 from the floor in the fourth quarter to cap off a 26/44 (59%) shooting night to go along with 11/19 (57%) at the foul line and turned the ball over seven times.
The Titans dominated the glass as they outrebounded the Indians 27-13, including 14-5 on the offensive boards. Erin Kaufman led all scorers with 22 points and Katie Kaufman had 12.
Wauseon ended 16/36 (44%) shooting with seven triples, was 3/4 at the charity stripe while committing 16 turnovers.
Seiler paced two Indians in double figures with 17 points and Pelok tallied 10.
Wauseon (22-4) closes their season with the third most wins in a single season in program history.
WAUSEON 8 10 9 15 – 42
OG 16 9 16 22 – 63
Nate can be reached at sports@thevillagereporter.com