Fort upset falls just short (03/03/07)

COLDWATER, Ohio - For the second straight year the Indians tried to knock off a highly-ranked MAC champion. And again they came close, only to stumble in the final minutes.

Fort Recovery had the Division IV No. 1 New Knoxville Rangers down by two with less than two minutes to play Friday, but failed to score another point in a 51-46 defeat in the first of two sectional championship games at Coldwater.

Marion Local defeated Minster in the second contest, 43-37. New Knoxville and Marion Local advance to the district tournament at Wapakoneta, where they will play separate semifinal games March 6.

The Indians (12-9), who also led No. 9 New Bremen in the final two minutes in the 2006 sectional finals before falling by nine, were up 46-44 against this season's Midwest Athletic Conference champions after a 3-point play by Greg Kahlig with 2:41 to go. They carried the same margin after MAC Player of the Year Ross Stienecker missed on a jumper with 1:48 to play.

But a Clint Tobe was no good on the other end, and New Knoxville (22-0) took advantage.

Marcus Henschen reclaimed the lead for his team with a 3-pointer with 59 seconds left, and Fort Recovery turned the ball over on the ensuing possession. A Josh Niemeyer jumper put the Rangers up by three, and a potential game-tying long ball from Toby Metzger missed the mark with 20 seconds left.

Henschen, who led New Knoxville with 18 points, added a pair of free throws for the final margin.

Joining Henschen in double figures was Stienecker with 13 points to go along with five rebounds. Niemeyer also grabbed five boards, and Tony Meyer had four assists.

Fort Recovery was up 15-10 after the first quarter, but gave up a 9-0 run to start the second and trailed by six at the half. An 8-0 run brought the Tribe back in the third quarter only to fade in the final two minutes.

Indian freshman Greg Kahlig led all scorers, shooting 7-of-9 and 4-of-4 from the line for 19 points.

Metzger followed with 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting. He added game highs of seven rebounds and four steals and a team-high three assists.

It was a rough night for Tobe, the team's leading scorer, who finished 0-for-9 and did not score.

Both teams hit 18 field goals and seven free throws in the game, but it was the Ranger 3-point shooting that made all the difference. Henschen went 4-of-6 from long distance, and New Knoxville buried eight total from beyond the arc.[[In-content Ad]]COLDWATER, Ohio - Two Indians picked up boys basketball honors.

Clint Tobe was named to the All-Midwest Athletic Conference first team when the awards were announced Friday. Greg Kahlig earned honorable mention.

Tobe, a junior, is Fort Recovery's leading scorer at 14.3 points per game. He also averages 4.8 rebounds, second on the team, to go along with 31 3-pointers, 34 steals, 30 assists and 18 blocks.

He was also named to the All-District 8 second team last week.

Kahlig is second on the Tribe roster at 10 points per game. He has hit 25 3-pointers in his freshman season.

Dan Hegemier of the undefeated and Division IV No. 1 New Knoxville Rangers was voted Coach of the Year, and his star, Ross Stienecker, was selected as Player of the Year.