First Posted: 3/6/2015
OTTAWA — There are very few secrets between Putnam County League teams.
When Miller City and Ottoville matched up Friday night for a Division IV boys sectional final basketball game at Ottawa-Glandorf’s Robert J. Hermiller Gymnasium, both squads knew what to expect.
And Friday’s contest played out to all the pregame hype as it took overtime before Miller City was able to slip out with a hard-fought 63-61 victory over the Big Green.
With the victory, Miller City (17-5) will face Columbus Grove (16-7) in a district semifinal at Elida at 8 p.m. Tuesday. Columbus Grove defeated McComb in the second sectional final Friday at O-G, 63-57. Ottoville ends its season 12-11.
Despite having three players with three or more fouls, heading into the overtime session, the Big Green hung close to Miller City.
However, Miller City staved off an early run by Ottoville in the extra session to garner the sectional title.
Adam Niese led Miller City with 24 points, including 10-of-15 shooting from the free throw line. Niese also pulled down seven rebounds and had two steals at the defensive end. Adam Drummelsmith scored 16 points and had 10 rebounds. Jared Snyder had 15 points, four steals and three assists for the Wildcats.
“Coach told us to never give up,” Drummelsmith said. “With it being our last year (being a senior), we’re going to put it all out there.
“They (Ottoville) gave us our first loss in the league the last two years; so this being our senior year, we got the real one (sectional championship) this year.”
Brandt Landin led Ottoville with 22 points, with 20 of those coming in the second half. The 6-foot-4 Landin also had seven boards, two steals and two blocks. Teammates Tyler Roby (15) and Austin Honigford (14) also scored in double figures. Roby had four 3-pointers. Honigford dished out seven assists.
“It’s always a battle. It’s fun to play in these, and it’s even more fun when you come out on top,” Miller City coach Bryan Kuhlman said. (Ottoville coach) Todd (Turnwald) got us the last two years during the regular season. So, we had to battle all night long. And I’m really proud of them.”
Miller City, behind the hot shooting of Snyder, pulled out to a 12-9 lead by the end of the first quarter. Snyder went on to score 11 points in the first half.
Miller City made just 3-of-17 shots from the field in the second quarter as Ottoville knotted the game at 20 by the break.
In the second half, Landin took over for the Big Green, scoring both from the outside and off the dribble. For Miller City, Niese was nearly unstoppable, scoring both off the dribble and at the charity stripe.
At the end of three quarters of action, the game was tied at 30.
In the final eight minutes of regulation, both squads pushed the ball down the court and traded baskets at a fast clip. Both teams scored 22 points in the fourth frame.
Roby got hot from the outside, hitting two treys to keep the Big Green close, while Landin kept doing his thing inside the paint.
At the end of regulation, the game was tied at 52.
In OT, Roby got his team out to a 55-52 lead with his fourth 3-pointer of the game.
However, down the stretch, Drummelsmith hit two key shots – a 3-pointer and then a put-back to knot the game at 58, with 1:13 left to play. Those two shots seemed to swing the momentum back to Miller City in the final minute as the Wildcats were able to come away with the win.
“It’s heartbreaking,” Turnwald said. “I don’t think anyone realizes how close this team is. We have five seniors that just laid it on the line tonight. I couldn’t be more proud of those guys.
“There were a couple situations where I wished we could have done some different things, but they played basketball. They hit some big shots, and it’s tough on these guys. These guys have won huge games all year. They put themselves in a good position to win tonight’s game. And every senior can walk away knowing they laid it on the line.”
For the game, Miller City shot 36 percent from the field. Ottoville shot 56 percent.
Miller City won the battle on the boards, 34-26.
In the turnover department, Ottoville committed 17 turnovers (11 in the first half). Miller City turned the ball over just seven times.
“We had to go man-to-man. We tried to play a 3-2 zone most of the game. We were lucky right at the end and they missed a couple shots and we were able to get the rebounds,” Kuhlman said. “That’s what it comes down to – survive and move on. …That’s what we’re doing.”
Columbus Grove 63, McComb 57
After pulling out to a 53-42 lead by the end of the third quarter, Columbus Grove had to stave off McComb down the stretch to secure the sectional title.
McComb cut the deficit to two points in the final minutes, but Columbus Grove did enough in the end to come away victorious.
Columbus Grove’s Jace Darbyshire led all scorers with 30 points, including five 3-pointers. Darbyshire came into Friday’s contest needing 31 points to notch his 1,000th career point. Two free throws in the final seconds put the 5-10 senior within a point of the elite club.
Gabe Stechschulte (11) also scored in double figures for Columbus Grove. Stechschulte hit twice behind the arc.
Drew Siferd (15), Adrain Grubb (11) and Noah Kasmarek (11) all scored in double figures for McComb.
With the sectional title victory, the Bulldogs will now face PCL-rival Miller City in a district semifinal on Tuesday at the Elida Fieldhouse.
“McComb is a very good team,” Columbus Grove coach Ryan Stechschulte said. “You don’t go 18-4 by accident. They took the ball out of Jace’s hands (in the fourth quarter) and we had guys that don’t have tournament experience that did some things you would expect from guys who don’t have a lot of experience. But, it’s a good learning lesson for those guys. But, I think they’ll make the right plays next time.”
During the regular season, Miller City defeated Grove by three points. That regular-season loss is one that Columbus Grove hasn’t forgotten.
“I missed that three at the end. ….It’s really been haunting me lately,” Darbyshire said. “I just want to get back at them.”
