BIG FINISH (03/07/2009)

COLDWATER, Ohio - Senior Toby Metzger made sure New Bremen's fans knew which team was No. 1.

After chucking a 30-foot prayer at the buzzer that clinched the sectional title for Fort Recovery, Metzger turned toward the New Bremen fans and held up a single finger to signify the championship he stole away in a thrilling 46-44 win.

After a timeout with just four seconds on the clock, Metzger got the ball well outside the 3-point line and threw up the game-winner from about 30 feet out to steal the sectional championship for his team.

After leading nearly the entire game, the Indians fell behind 39-38 after Justin Ellermen hit two free throws with 4:40 remaining in the game. New Bremen inflated its lead to four with just over four minutes to go.

Junior Greg Kahlig brought the Indians within one but missed his second free throw with 2:11 to go as a scoring drought gripped the game until a steal and ensuing foul which put Fort's Brent Faller on the line with 37 seconds to go. Faller hit both to put the Tribe up by one.

The Cardinals bounced back as Ellerman gave his team the go ahead bucket to 44-43 on a jumper with 11 seconds on the clock, setting the stage for Metzger's game-ending shot.

The Indians (14-7) clinched their second consecutive sectional title and will play in the district tournament on Tuesday. The Indians fell in the district tourney last year to state-ranked No. 1 and eventual state champion New Knoxville.

The Indians may have to face undefeated New Knoxville (21-0) again this year after the Rangers cruised to their own sectional victory earlier in the evening.

It was a payback game for Fort Recovery after losing to New Bremen 48-46 in the regular season finale on Feb. 27. The difference this time around? Indians' star Greg Kahlig was back in the lineup.

Kahlig, the Tribe's leading scorer at nearly 24 points a game, sat out the regular season matchup against New Bremen after tweaking his ankle. With the conference title out of reach, the coaching staff wanted to rest Kahlig for the sectional.

The rest apparently paid off.

Kahlig had 18 points to lead all scorers Friday and asserted his presence early as he drained eight of his team's first 10 points on the evening, including two nothing-but-net 3-balls.

The Indians jumped out to a 10-3 lead fueled by Kahlig's shooting, sparking a lead which they carried almost the entire way, except for a quick lead change in the third and the rollercoaster ending.

Fort Recovery went into the half with a 21-17 lead and held the four-point buffer going into the fourth. The Cardinals clawed back as Ellerman, a 6-foot-7 junior, shouldered the load as he scored New Bremen's final 10 points of the game, almost enough except for Metzger's bomb.

Metzger finished with only five points - though none bigger than his last three - and grabbed ten rebounds. Faller added 11 points for the Indians, while Frank Thien and Craig Tobe dished five and four assists, respectively.

Ellerman led the Cardinals with 17 points and nine rebounds and Spencer Rohr contributed 14 points in the losing effort.[[In-content Ad]]