Fort tops Cavs (12/07/07)

FORT RECOVERY - The offensive rebounds were about even Thursday night. But it was Fort Recovery that took advantage.

Second-chance points keyed a 13-1 run for the Indians as they topped the Coldwater Cavaliers 54-39 Thursday in Midwest Athletic Conference girls basketball action.

Fort Recovery (3-2) also shot 55 percent in the first half, hit for 48 percent in the game and made 11-of-14 free throws (79 percent) in the victory.

"They shot extremely well," said Coldwater coach Nick Fisher, whose team dropped to 1-3 and 1-1 in the MAC. "The thing that killed us more than that was the rebounds. They got some second and third opportunities at bad times."

The Cavaliers actually had a 10-9 advantage on the offensive glass for the game, but Fort Recovery (3-2, 1-1 MAC) cashed in on key opportunities during the final three minutes of the third quarter.

Kinsey Wenning scored the first of the second-chance points for the Indians during the run, snagging a rebound and tossing back a 10-footer. Anne Koesters and Joanna Snyder also scored put-back baskets as Fort Recovery pushed from a tie game to a 42-30 lead.

Koesters scored more than half of the Tribe's points during the 13-1 run and had 11 of her game-high 17 in the second half. She finished 6-of-11 from the field and 5-of-6 from the line, while sharing the game-high in rebounds of six with Wenning.

"If we can just keep that kid out of foul trouble she's going to be a great player for us," said Bihn of Koesters, who also had two blocks and an assist. "That's the way we need to have her play every night."

While Koesters had the hot hand in the second half, Chelsey Leuthold was on fire in the first. She hit each of her first four field goal attempts and scored all of her 10 points before the intermission.

Snyder matched Leuthold with 10 points to go along with seven assists and four rebounds. Wenning added nine points as she returns to form after missing the first several games of the season.

"(Leuthold) really stepped up for us tonight," said Bihn. "We've been expecting that from her all year ...

"She played a tough game tonight for us."

"(Wenning is) coming back from that foot injury and is starting to come into form a little bit."

Fort Recovery hit the final two hoops of the first half, and then got a bucket from Koesters to open the second for a 29-22 lead.

The Cavaliers rallied back, using full-court pressure defense to create havoc for the Tribe. They went on a 7-0 run to even the score before a pair of Snyder free throws kicked off the key FRHS run.

"We've been working on putting in some new presses and trying to create a little bit of that tempo," said Fisher, whose team went nearly six minutes without a field goal as the Indians took command. "I just think we need a little bit more experience ..."

Betsy Fisher was the only player in double figures for Coldwater as she hit 5-of-6 free throws and scored 12 points. However, the Cavaliers missed 10 foul shots overall and went just 10-of-41 (24 percent) from the field.

Marla Hess added eight points, and Rachel Geier grabbed five rebounds.

Junior varsity

Kendra Brunswick reached double digits at the free-throw line and the Indians forced 37 turnovers to beat Coldwater 42-29.

Fort Recovery (5-0) opened the game on an 8-0 run, but the Cavaliers managed to pull within striking distance late in the third quarter. However, the Tribe's take-aways led to eight more field goal attempts and an 18-5 advantage at the foul line in the win.

Brunswick also shot 10-of-12 from the foul line as she scored a game-high 14 points. Erika Muhlenkamp scored eight points, and Olivia Thien added seven points, five rebounds and four steals.

Jessica Forstheofel's nine points were a team-high for the Cavaliers. Katie Lefeld added six points, and Kara Uhlenhake grabbed 11 rebounds.[[In-content Ad]]