TONTOGANY — Otsego junior Samantha Lehr scored the game-winner on a layup at the buzzer as the Knights opened the season by defeating North Baltimore, 37-35.

Lehr’s bucket came after a NB turnover, leading to a timeout called by Otsego coach Eric Simon with 10.2 seconds remaining and the game tied at 35-35.

Simon said once the play was set up, Lehr executed it perfectly by scoring a tough layup on a post move in the paint.

“We set up a play to go sideline but we thought the middle of the floor would be open because we had been using that corner, and of course they are going to pay attention to (sophomore guard and leading scorer) Jocelyn (Cornell), so we wanted to get it in the middle,” said Simon.

“Sam is a great post, she is going to be double or triple-teamed, but the nice thing with her she took that off the dribble and that is a hard thing to finish.”

Lehr said it was redemption for herself and her classmate, Sophie Dimick, a solid shooter who was having a hard time putting down her three-point shot.

“I was really frustrated because the whole game I was kind of off,” Lehr said. “Their defense was really stout in the post, and we knew we had to just kick it in gear and do what we had to do. I’m proud of us.”

Lehr’s layup closed off a 12-4 run by the Knights over the final four minutes and 15 seconds after Otsego fell behind 31-25 on a triple by NB forward Aubrey Cotterman.

After an offensive rebound putback by NB senior forward Mackenna Ducat, the Otsego rally continued with a corner baseline triple from Dimick, her only three-point goal of the night.

Cornell scored on a dish from Dimick to bring the Knights back to within two, 33-31, with two minutes remaining, and junior Morgan Hillesheim scored on an eight-foot shot in transition to tie the game at 33-33 with 1:10 remaining.

Lehr scored in the paint with 45 seconds left to put the Knights back on top, but NB sophomore guard Kaylee Allison hit a 17-footer to tie the game again at 35-all with 30 seconds remaining.

It was the 4-foot-11 Cornell who led all scorers with 18 points, including two treys, plus she had nine steals and six rebounds.

“She’s the energizer bunny. She plays hard,” Simon said. “We are working on getting her a little more fundamental.

“She stepped up to the varsity last year and we won four or our last eight games with her, so she makes a difference — energy, energy, energy.”

Lehr said it was amazing watching Cornell running wild across the court, leading to nearly getting double-digit steals. Plus, even though guarded by players up to a foot taller, she was getting open and nailing shots from the arc.

“She’s a sophomore this year and she went crazy — we’re so proud of her and she has just got amazing skills,” Lehr said.

Lehr had nine points and six rebounds, Hillesheim scored five, Dimick had three points and four rebounds and sophomore Cailyn Rider added two points, seven rebounds and two steals. Junior Savannah Villarreal did not score, but had five rebounds.

For the Tigers, the 5-11 Ducat, a foot taller than Cornell, had a double-double 13 points, 18 rebounds and two steals.

Cotterman had 10 points and eight rebounds, senior guard Alivia Patterson had seven points and four rebounds, junior guard Neveah Dewitt had three points and two steals, and Allison had two points and seven rebounds. NB sophomore forward Josselyn Paynter had four rebounds and three steals.

Otsego had to make up for poor shooting, hitting on just 23% (23-of-64) field goals and 44% (4-for-9) from the line.

The Knights did that by committing just three second half turnovers, including none in the fourth quarter, despite having 14 in the first half. The Tigers finished with 27 turnovers, including 13 in the second half.

“That is a big number for us, but to be able to come back from that and keep battling and lose by two, we’ll work on it going forward,” NB coach Clinton Ebright said. “They played their hearts out.”

The Tigers shot 25% (14-for-48) from the field and made 4-of-5 free throws, plus NB owned a 47-40 advantage off the glass.

Ebright has only eight players in his entire program, and one is out with an injury. There is no junior varsity or freshman team, but the ones he has pack proved they can pack a solid punch.

They will play their first season in the Northwest Central Conference this year, taking on teams located mostly south or east of Lima.

“I think we’ll be OK,” Ebright said. “It’s somewhat more of our competition level.”

They were taking on an Otsego program that has been young the past three years. Most of Simon’s older players on the court are in their third or fourth year of varsity basketball, but Simon now has a full program, including a full JV and freshmen team.

“I was expecting a good team,” Ebright said. “They were young. They are going to be good for a while.”

Two Otsego freshmen are listed on the rosters of all three teams, plus the freshman team took on the Perrysburg freshman prior to the varsity game, losing to the Yellow Jackets, 40-26.

Simon is hopeful because his older players are varsity veterans plus the program is set for the future.

“That helps a lot even though we’re young, we only have two seniors, but we have a lot of varsity experience. Our numbers are fantastic,” Simon said.

“We’ve got 25 players, we have a full freshman team, so I know may not know how to coach but I can build a program,” Simon continued, sarcastic about his ability to coach. “I’m proud of that.”

Simon says it is unlikely there will be an NBC title this year for his varsity, but Wednesday’s win was a refreshing start.

“I think this year we should be middle of the pack, and then next couple years (we’ll do better) because we have a great eighth grade group coming up, too. So the numbers are there,” said Simon.

“When I took over this program, I’m not complaining, but it was during COVID and we had 15 kids, so we’ve taken our lumps and we deserve a couple of these (close wins), definitely.”