O-G looks to rebound from first losing season in two decades

OTTAWA – The 2024-25 season was not a normal one for Ottawa-Glandorf boys basketball.Part of the reason is that the Titans have set the bar so high that average would just not cut it any more.After nine straight 20-win seasons, a phenomenal run that included a Division III state championship in 2013 and five other trips to the state Final Four, rebuilding, not reloading, became the catchword for O-G. Hit hard by graduation losses and then costly injuries, the Titans went 8-13, the program's first sub-.500 season in 20 years.With nine lettermen returning this season, reloading might be back in the vernacular of O-G head coach Tyson McGlaughlin."We played as lot of young guys last year and lost quite a few close games (two in overtime and four by 4 points or less)," McGlaughlin commented."Hopefully that experience will benefit our returning guys and lead to a successful season."Seniors Brody Fortman and Holden Aldrich are two-year lettermen for O-G. Fortman, a 6-foot-4 forward with a good outside shot, averaged 10 points and 4.0 rebounds and was third-team all-Western Buckeye League last season; Aldrich, a 6-7 center, averaged 3.5 rebounds.Juniors Adam Maag (6-0, 5 ppg) and Royce Ellerbrock (5-10, 6.2 ppg), along with sophomore Jordan Schumaker (6-1, 5 ppg) all return at the guard positions, where O-G must replace three-year starter Grady Tousmazos, a second-team all-WBL pick who averaged 11 points and 2.0 assists. Graduation also cost the lineup Ross Maag, a 6-3 forward who averaged 4.0 points and 4.0 rebounds.Two 5-9 seniors – Brayton Heitmeyer and Grant Leopold – also lettered last season and will help on the perimeter, along with 6-0 seniors Landon Pester and Parker Heckman.Nolan Duling, a 6-6 junior, is also a returning letterman and along with Aldrich (6-7), Fortman (6-4), juniors Carson Yeager (6-4) and Owen Verhoff (6-8) and sophomore Dawson Miller (6-4) gives McGlaughlin the opportunity to put a sizeable lineup of players on the floor.O-G will again play a highly competitive schedule as the Titans look to turn the page and commit last year's record to the history books."Though we only graduated two (players) from last year, we still have some inexperience at multiple positions," said McGlaughlin, whose 324-90 career coaching record includes a 294-73 slate at O-G."We feel we've had a great off-season and our guys have worked very hard to improve."