VAN WERT — The bottom half of the Division IV Sectional championship pitted two Putnam County League opponents as the Ottoville Big Green faced the Kalida Wildcats.

It was a month to the day since the two teams met last when the Green dominated the contest 45-32 at Kalida; different venue, same story. Ottoville scored the first six points of the game and never looked back as they subjugated their PCL foe 53-37.

The Big Green used a 20-0 first half run, paced by four three pointers. Austin Miller paced the Green with 13 points, Noah Altenburger added 11, while Brandon Miller and Jason Wehri contributed 10 a piece.

A.J. Maag collected 12 points for the Wildcats, scoring in each of the four quarters.

“I told the guys that our biggest problem tonight is that we didn’t play real well with a 20 point lead, but if that is our biggest problem from here on out then we should be in good shape.” Ottoville coach Tom VonSossan stated.

Ottoville was well in command after the first frame, leading 18-6; Wehri put the Green up 26-6 hitting two from the line with 4:15 to go in the first half. The green and gold shot 17 of 22 for the game from the stripe and used a balanced scoring attack to take a commanding 33-11 lead after 16 minutes.

“I think we had some good inside out action, Jason did a good job in the paint and then kicking it out to the perimeter. We have been shooting the ball pretty well, if teams want to come into the game and concentrate on Jason, we have to get some guys that can make them pay and that is what we did early.” VonSossan commented.

The teams came out from the half and exchanged five point runs, but a late surge by the Wildcats proved to be too little, too late, although outscoring Ottoville 18-10 in the final period.

“We have been consistent with moving the ball around lately, hopefully that is something we can continue on Tuesday night.” VonSossan noted.

The Big Green moves on to the Elida Districts where they will take on the Pandora-Gilboa Rockets on Tuesday.

Scoring by Quarters

Ottoville 18 13 12 10 - 53

Kalida 6 5 8 18 - 37

Ottoville (53)

A. Miller 4-3-13, Noah Altenburger 4-1-11, Andrew Koch 2-0-5, Brandon Miller 1-8-10, Wehri 3-4-10, Landin 0-1-1, Sargent 1-0-3. Totals 15-17-53.

Kalida (37)

Kahle 2-2-6, Horstman 1-0-3, Maag 4-3-12, VonderEmbse 1-0-3, Schnipke 2-0-6, Basinger 3-1-7. Totals 14-6-37.

Three point goals: OV; A. Miller (2) , Altenburger (2), Koch, Sargent. Kalida; Horstman, Maag, VonserEmbse, Schnipke (2).