Signs south of Ottawa wish the Titans “Good Luck.”
Dean Brown | The Lima News
OTTAWA — Excitement around tournament time in Ottawa has a special meaning. This will be the third consecutive year that the team has earned a state high school boys basketball tournament berth. Previous state appearances were in 2013, 2012, 2008, 2004, 1996, 1978 and 1977. Yet the excitement this year is subdued.
Caden Erford, a starter on the basketball team, said, “There’s just been a different vibe kind of around the school, around the town. You know, we love it.”
Downtown some lightposts are draped in the school colors of gold and blue. A few electronic billboards encouraging the basketball team share display time with other local businesses. There is a display of signs in front of the school highlighting the names of the players and coach and another, yet different display, along state Route 65 heading south out of town on the way to the University of Dayton Arena, the site of this year’s tournament.
Some fans may jump on the bandwagon, attending games and buying merchandise, but attendance at any Ottawa-Glandorf basketball game, home or away, will affirm that the Titans have a truly loyal following – both a strong students’ section and a broad base from the community. Those in attendance are dedicated to the Titans, creating a supportive climate in whichever venue they play.
Nate Huber of Phantasm Designs, at 112 W. Main in Ottawa, said, “Everybody gets very excited around this time so it gets very busy. We have a lot of bodies moving through here during the day this time of year, for sure. It certainly is becoming a yearly event. It’s just really exciting here because we get to see all the parents and the fans and everybody coming in and they’re excited about the game and we get to share in that and we love that; we thrive off that.”
Athletes added to the excitement at Ottawa Elementary School. Athletes were on hand to autograph items for the students. The line snaked through the gym and into the hallway. Students patiently waited their turn to interact with the athletes. Students had clothing, basketball and sheets of paper with the Titan mascot to get signed by the players. One student offered her arm in a black sweatshirt to be signed by an athlete with a black Sharpie.
Ken Schriner, dean of students at the high school, said that things were quietly moving along. T-shirts were being sold. Thursday will be “Spirit Day” just as it has been throughout the basketball season. There’s no school Friday when the team is scheduled to leave.
The subdued excitement will reach a peak 10:45 Saturday morning when the Ottawa-Glandorf Titans meet the Columbus Africentric Nubians in the University of Dayton Arena for a spot on the championship game Sunday.
Reach Dean Brown at 567-242-0409
