First Posted: 3/15/2015
OTTAWA —Ottawa-Glandorf’s girls are back.
Just last fall Ottawa-Glandorf was preparing for the state soccer tournament.
Now four months later, five of those girls return for the state girls basketball tournament. It marks the first time the O-G girls basketball team has been to state.
In soccer, it was the first time a team from the area reached the state championship game. The Titans lost to Hamilton Badin 2-0 in the Division III state championship match on Nov. 7 at Crew Stadium.
Ottawa-Glandorf (25-2) will meet Proctorville Fairland (22-5) in the Division III girls basketball state semifinals at 8 p.m. Thursday at Ohio State.
In the other state semifinal, Versailles (24-4) will play Doylestown Chippewa (28-0) at 6 p.m. on Thursday.
The five O-G basketball players who were on the soccer team are Dani Ellerbrock, Elissa Ellerbrock, Erin Basinger, Danielle Schroeder and Lexi Schroeder. All five are regulars in the rotation on the basketball team, with Elissa Ellerbrock being the team’s leading scorer at 12 points per game.
Danielle Schroeder feels there is a carry over from soccer.
“When it came to tournament time (in basketball), it brought back memories from soccer, how hyped we got it and the drive that we had,” Schroeder said. “I think that at least helps me, and probably the other four girls.”
Dani Ellerbrock said reaching the state finals in soccer was a motivating factor this winter.
“I guess that gave us the drive just to get there and play at Ohio State,” Ellerbrock said.
Added Schroeder, “Going to state in soccer motivated us to play this good in tournament to go to state.”
Basinger was a key defender on the soccer team. On Saturday in the regional finals, the 5-9 Basinger guarded North Union’s 6-foot-4 center Autumn Hudson and held her to eight points and three rebounds.
“It (going to state in soccer) gives you a lot more confidence of how it’s going to go,” Basinger said.
Elissa Ellerbrock said she hasn’t forgotten the excitement of getting to the state finals in soccer.
“The feeling is just unreal,” she said. “We wanted that feeling so bad again.”
O-G coach Troy Yant wasn’t sure if there was a true connection between soccer and basketball.
“I have no idea what that really means for the girls,” he said. … “But it’s great to have that experience. They’re athletes. They bring athleticism and you can see what athleticism can do.”
With a late start from soccer, the Titans lost two games early, including a 66-35 loss to Bath in the Western Buckeye League opener.
“That was a wake-up call,” Schroeder said of the Bath loss.
While the O-G offense found its way early in the year, the Titans leaned heavily on their defense. The Titans use a man-to-man press and a halfcourt man. They forced 34 and 22 turnovers in their two regional wins.
“It’s an amazing feeling,” Dani Ellerbrock said. “We’re making history, playing together and having a great time.”
