By Matt M. Stutz

2022 Co-Putnam County League boys basketball champs Pandora-Gilboa and Ottoville squared off in the Van Wert Sectional Final match-up on Friday, February 25 in familiar style. For three quarters, the teams went back-and-forth, never leading by more than six points with stellar defense on both sides. The Rockets led 26-24 at the end of the third quarter and were ahead 28-24 early in the fourth. Ottoville responded, hitting back-to-back 3-pointers to regain the lead, and closed game with a 20-3 run and avenging their regular season loss to the Rockets. P-G bowed out of the tournament, losing 44-31.

The Rockets (16-8) and Big Green played to a 13-13 deadlock after the first eight minutes of the game. P-G sophomore Colin Harris had eight of those points in the first, on his way to a team high 16; hitting three 3-pointers. The second quarter saw Ottoville go up six about midway through, before P-G clawed their way back to get within a point at 19-18 by the halftime intermission.  

After halftime, P-G looked to take control of the low scoring game.  The Rockets immediately took their biggest lead of the contest, going up 24-19 early in the third, following a pair of senior Ryan Johnson free throws. P-G outscored the Big Green 8-5 in the quarter still leading by two, heading into the fourth and final period.

Johnson finished the game with 8 points, while classmate Will Huffman chipped in with 3 points, getting the Rockets on the scoreboard with a first quarter 3-pointer. Sophomore Aidan Morris came off the bench to score 2 points, while sophomore Aidan Harris hit two free throws for his 2 points.

The Rockets will good-bye to seven senior basketball players whose efforts earned them two League titles in 2022. With a solid core of junior and sophomore letterwinners returning at the Varsity level, and a JV team who went 21-1 this season, the future of the boys basketball program under the direction of veteran Head Coach Mike Lee looks to be in good hands.