Their record said 6-1.
Their shooting percentage suggested something else.
But in the end, the defensive effort put up by Upper Sandusky's girls basketball team spoke loudest.
The Rams limited Columbian to three field goals over 19-plus minutes on the way to a 43-22 win Tuesday night.
"We missed a lot of shots early and usually when we hit shots early, it gets us into a rhythm," Ram coach Brent Fahle said after his club improved to 7-1 while dropping Columbian to 2-5.
"I don't think we ever got into any kind of rhythm that whole first half," he said. "Maybe that's a credit to Columbian."
Fact Box
Upper Sandusky 43, Columbian 22
Upper Sandusky (7-1): Logan Kinley 1-2-4; Savannah Piecha 1-3-5; Amber Cox 2-0-5; Allison Snyder 4-0-9; Keely Stover 0-0-0; Alex Cameron 1-0-2; Kalene Johnson 0-0-0; Taylor Graboski 4-4-12. Totals: 15-11-43.
Columbian (2-5): Megan Moore1-0-2; Jocelyn Cole 5-0-12; McKenzie Zimmerman 0-2-2; Payge Smith 3-0-6; Sidney Baker 0-0-0; Marissa Ward 0-0-0; Valesha Province 0-0-0; Michaela Miller 0-0-0. Totals: 9-2-22.
Upper Sandusky971512 - 43
Columbian6268 - 22
Field goals: Upper Sandusky 15-46; Columbian 9-37.
3-point goals: Upper Sandusky 2-9 (Cox, Snyder); Columbian 2-12 (Cole 2).
Foul shots: Upper Sandusky 11-20; Columbian 2-4.
Rebounds: Upper Sandusky 30 (Snyder 9, Piecha 5); Columbian 27 (Smith 8, Province 5).
Turnovers: Upper Sandusky 13; Columbian 27.
The numbers weren't pretty. Upper Sandusky managed four field goals in 16 attempts in the first period and then, after Taylor Graboski scored from in close to start the second quarter, the Rams missed their last five shots of the half.
The problem for the Tornadoes was that, after all that effort, the Rams still had them doubled up on the scoreboard at 16-8.
"Defensively, I'm pleased," Columbian first-year coach Katie Fazekas said. "We do exactly what the scouting report says and 16 points in a half, that's great. The problem is at the offensive end. We're coming up short every game."
The struggle this game was like no other.
When Jocelyn Cole hit a 15-footer with 11 seconds left in the first period, it drew Columbian to within 9-6 at the quarter break.
But the Tornadoes went 1-for-8 from the field in the second quarter, the lone score coming on Payge Smith's shot from the left wing.
Cole hit a pair of 3-pointers in the third period, the two connections coming nearly six minutes apart. And it wasn't until Cole hit one from foul-line range with 4:22 left to play that the TC score advanced again.
By that time, the Rams had built a 37-16 lead and were well on their way to their seventh win.
"We did a better job offensively in the second half," Fahle said. "We made a few shots and those allowed us to get into some of the defensive things we wanted to do. We got a couple turnovers out of them and got going a little.
"Our halfcourt defense was probably the best halfcourt defense we've had all year," he said. "We limited a team to 22 points. You do that and you're going to win a lot of ballgames. We just need to keep working at that and maybe do a little better job of rebounding."
Upper Sandusky had a 30-27 edge on the boards but supplemented that by inducing 27 Tornado turnovers.
"I don't think their pressure really bothered us that much," Fazekas said. "I was pleased when we ran the press offense, it worked fine. I thought we had some decent shots, but we shot poorly tonight. And we had to take care of the ball better, for sure.
"In all fairness, we've come out in a hole almost every game," she said. "We almost always are starting out slow and having to try to climb back into it.
Graboski, the Rams' 6-foot-1 junior post, led the winners with 12 points and five blocked shots. Allison Snyder had a 3-pointer on the way to nine points with a game-high nine rebounds and three assists. Jordan Born contributed six points.
Cole led the Tornadoes with 12 points, including a pair of 3-pointers. Smith added six points with nine rebounds.
"(Cole) is going to find ways to get points," Fazekas said. "She's a good shooter and she's put tons of work in. Payge played well tonight; she made some nice moves.
"The more of an offensive threat she becomes or an offensive threat anyone becomes, the more pressure it takes off Jocelyn," she said. "That would help us get going a little."
