O’ville downs Lancers in OT in sectionals

DAVE MOSIER/independent sports

Ottoville and Fort Jennings in Division IV boys’ basketball tournament action Tuesday at Van Wert High School.

Both games were close, with Jennings beating Lima Temple Christian 48-44 and Ottoville needing overtime to put away Lincolnview, 70-66.

The Big Green needed a big fourth quarter to send their game with Lincolnview into overtime. The Lancers led by a point, 13-12, at the end of one quarter, but Ottoville outscored them 19-17 in the second stanza to take a one point lead, 21-20, at the half.

Lincolnview came out shooting in the third quarter to lead by 11 points, 49-38, at the three-quarter mark of the game. The Big Green rallied, though, going on a 21-10 run that was capped by Tyler Roby’s field goal in the final seconds to tie the game at 59 apiece.

In the overtime period, the Lancers faltered a bit offensively, while the Big Green made 9 of 11 free throws to garner the victory, 70-66. Free throws were crucial in the game, with Ottoville making 21 of 25 (84 percent), while the Lancers were just 11 of 23 from the line (47.8 percent).

Brandt Landin led Ottoville with 27 points, while Roby scored 19 points, and Luke Schimmoeller added 10 points for the Big Green.

Lincolnview was led by Kyle Williams and Justis Dowdy, who each scored 18 points in the contest. Austin Leeth added 12 points for the Lancers.

In the other Division IV game, Fort Jennings had to earn its victory over Temple Christian. The Musketeers took the early lead, 13-9, in the first quarter, but were outscored 20-9 by the Pioneers to trail by seven, 29-22, at the half. Jennings rallied in the third quarter, going on a 15-7 run that gave them a one-point lead, 37-36, heading into the final period of play.

The Musketeers then made some clutch field goals down the stretch to get the win.

Wallenhorst led Fort Jennings with 16 points, while Good scored 23 points for Temple Christian to lead all scorers.