Otworth went on to score 18 points with seven rebounds as the Bobcats defeated Notre Dame 46-33 at Green on Tuesday night.
Green coach Bobby Blanton attributed the Bobcats' slow start to the long layoff. With the holiday break and subsequent snow days, Green hadn't played since Dec. 18.
"We looked a little rusty but it's been a long break," Blanton said. "Longer than we expected, but we'll take the win."
The win improves Green to 3-2 overall and 3-0 in the SOC I. The loss keeps Notre Dame winless at 0-6 and makes the Titans 0-3 in the league.
Green's defense helped force a Notre Dame scoring drought over the first and second quarter. It was nearly six minutes between the Titans' sixth and ninth points.
"We held them to single digits every quarters but the last quarter so that's pretty good," Blanton said. "We've had a month to prepare so we've just been talking about everything. From transition defense and trying to recognize shooters on the floor for whichever team we're playing."
Notre Dame trailed by as many as 17 points at 33-16 but managed to climb back into contention.
Over the last two minutes of the third quarter and first minute of the fourth Notre Dame went on an 8-2 run to make the score 35-24. The Titans got it as close as 10 points at 38-28 but were unable to make shots down the stretch despite earning several second chances with strong offensive rebounding.
"The first half I don't think we attacked the basket as well as we should have," Notre Dame coach Matt Mader said. "We were settling for some outside jumpers that weren't falling. In the second half we had to attack the basket. I think we did a pretty good job of that in the second half but ... the shots just didn't go in."
Keying the run for Notre Dame was its late rebounding and pressure defense.
"We tried to pick up the tempo a little bit there in the second half and that seemed to favor us," Mader said. "Defensively I think we're close to where we want to be. We did box out and we did rebound pretty well. Those shots sooner or later are going to start falling."
While Notre Dame was able to crash the boards late, East maintained a fairly steady rebounding advantage throughout with Matt Ratcliff leading the way. The 6-foot-5 junior scored 12 points in the contest and pulled down a game-high 13 rebounds.
Defensively, Green stopped Notre Dame’s top scorers. Tyler Noel and Alex Glockner led Notre Dame with eight points apiece and Brad Pierron scored just five points against the defensive pressure of Green's Tyler Hughes.
"We did have some good looks at it," Mader said. "Give Green credit. They have a nice team inside and out. They did a nice job."
Green will host Clay on Friday while Notre Dame will host Western.
JOHN STEGEMAN can be reached at jstegeman02@hotmail.com
Notre Dame 6 7 9 11 — 33
Green 12 11 10 13 — 46
Notre Dame — Noel 2 4 8, Perez 0 2 2, A. Glockner 4 0 8, Emnett 1 0 2, B. Glockner 2 0 4, July 1 0 2, Pierron 2 0 5, Evans 1 0 2. Totals 13 6 33.
Green — Otworth 7 4 18, Pierce 2 3 7, Ratcliff 4 2 12, Pinkerton 1 3 5, Stapleton 2 0 4. Totals 16 12 46.
3-pointers — Notre Dame 1 (Pierron); Green none
Records — Notre Dame 0-6 (0-3); Green 3-2 (3-0)
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