Experienced O-G faces Final 4 newcomer Portsmouth

When it comes to experience, or experience at the state tournament, there's quite a difference between Portsmouth and Ottawa-Glandorf, who will meet tonight in the Division III state semifinal.The Titans have made a number of state tournament appearances, reaching the Division III final back in 2021, losing to Berlin Hiland.The Titans' standout seniors, Katie Kaufman and Myka Aldrich, were part of that team.But O-G's experience is even deeper than that."We've been down to the state tournament a couple times as a program, and many of these girls have older sisters in the program that have played," said Ottawa-Glandorf coach Troy Yant. "So they've been around the program, they know what to expect."Portsmouth, by contrast, is new to this scene. The Trojans' have never made it to the state tournament, and hadn't even won a district crown since 1985.On top of that, the Trojans have only one senior, Emily Cheatham. Portsmouth coach Amy Hughes said keeping the team calm in big moments can be a challenge, but the players have responded."It's tough. We play a lot of tough competition, we play in the summer," said Hughes, who played Division I college basketball at Connecticut and Xavier. "We have a lot of competitive practices, so we work on situations where it's uncomfortable, where they're behind the 8 ball. "So they have been in multiple situations where things don't go their way, that kind of thing, so it is a constant practice to (get) them where they don't react, where they just play harder, play tougher," she said. "They don't have reactions just because they're young or just because they're energetic."Portsmouth is young, but it's tall, athletic and talented, with a 21-5 record.Leading the group is Sienna Allen, a 6-foot sophomore who was named the Southeast District Player of the Year. Allen scored 15 points in the Trojans 42-25 regional final win over North Adams Saturday."You look at their roster, and you see their youth, and you're like, 'Oh, OK,'" Yant said. "But then you look on tape and you're like 'Oh, they're playing like seasoned veterans.' So, I don't think that's any real advantage, so we're gonna have to go out there and be ready for what they present."And that's where some similarities come in. Ottawa-Glandorf and Portsmouth have both played excellent defense in the tournament so far."I would say that my kids are just so tough. They play with a lot of heart and energy," Hughes said. "Really, that's just their personality in every day life, but on the basketball court, add some skill and some fundamentals and some winning to that and it's become a great mixture."Likewise, Ottawa-Glandorf's intense defense has been a staple for years, making the Titans one of the toughest teams in the area.This season, with players like Kaufman, Aldrich and sophomore Karsyn Erford leading the way, as well as juniors Kaitlyn Kimmet and Carlie Brinkman contributing, O-G's defense has been terrific, helping the program to a 25-2 record.The Titans have only allowed 30 or more points once in the tournament."All of these girls are second year starters, at least, so they've got 50-some games or more varsity experience," Yant said. "It's not like they're wide eyed or anything of that nature at this point in time. We just need to play basketball."Hughes said she's impressed with O-G."Ottawa-Glandorf, we think they're big, they're long, they're tall," she said. "A great point guard, a great post player, very well coached, very experienced. "I think it will be a fun game," she said. "We're extremely excited to get there. Can't wait until Thursday."The game will take place at approximately 8 p.m.tTonight at the University of Dayton, following the other semifinal: LaGrange Keystone vs. Columbus AfricentricThe final will be at 2 p.m. Saturday.