FR grounds Flyers in first tourney step (02/26/07)

NEW BREMEN, Ohio - Don't get them wrong, the Indians were happy to win their second straight sectional title. But their goals are much bigger.

Top-seeded Fort Recovery took the first step toward the Division IV state title Saturday, defeating the Marion Local Flyers 40-27 in the first of two sectional championship games at New Bremen.

But after clipping down the nets at the home of the Cardinals for the second straight year, coach Jeff Roessner talked about wanting 15 more days of practice to get better. His team could earn those extra days by making it to the state finals. Then the Division IV No. 6 Indians would have the chance to cut down the nets they really desire - the ones hanging from the rims at Value City Arena.

"I want to be in state finals," said senior Holly Stein, who returned after missing three games with a foot injury to lead the Indians with 13 points and six rebounds against Marion Local. "That's the goal we've been working on since I was a freshman and it's about time for us to do it. We've just got to be determined and work hard every day."

The Tribe (18-3) will get at least three more days to practice before meeting Midwest Athletic Conference rival New Bremen (12-10) in the first of two district semifinal games Thursday at Coldwater at 6:15 p.m. New Knoxville (17-4), which defeated Minster 40-26 in Saturday's second sectional title game at New Bremen, will play Upper Scioto Valley in Thursday's second district semifinal game with the winners to meet Saturday at 7 p.m.

Finally healthy again, the Indians' previous week of practice was focused on getting back to playing the type of defense which allowed 40 points just once in the first nine games of the season.

They accomplished the mission against Marion Local, limiting the Flyers to just 23 percent shooting and a mere seven field goals for the game. They went more than 12 minutes without a field goal, including the entire second quarter, and had two other droughts longer than four minutes.

"I felt like we were able to pressure the ball a little better than the first time we played them," said Fortkamp, who, along with fellow guard Vicki Roessner, was hobbled by an ankle injury during Fort Recovery's regular-season win over the Flyers. "Overall, we're getting back to where we were (defensively). We're not quite there, but we're getting better."

"We had our best defensive practice since Christmas on Wednesday," added Jeff Roessner, whose team allowed just 31 percent shooting for the season. "For the first time, I had everybody at practice - nobody was hurt, nobody was injured and we got after it. I knew if we played like that we would be fine. ... I was pleased with the effort."

The game marked the eighth time this season the Tribe has held an opponent to 30 or fewer points.

Nearly half of that production came from Marion Local's 20 trips to the foul line, an issue Stein said the team will address.

"It was a very good effort, but how they scored their points was making their way to the free-throw line," she said. "We definitely have to cut back on that. Coach always says, 'Good teams don't foul.'"

Fort Recovery, which had lost seven straight meetings - three in the tournament - to the Flyers before this season, never trailed. It led 20-12 at halftime and took control by scoring the first nine points in the second half.

Vicki Roessner started the run with a 3-pointer off a Sara Fortkamp assist, and Holly Stein pushed the Tribe lead to 25-12. Stein added a pair of free throws - she shot 4-of-4 from the line in the game - after a Marion Local time-out, and Tiff Gaerke converted from a Roessner assist for a 17-point advantage. The Flyers never got closer than 12 points the rest of the way.

Fortkamp shot 4-of-8 to follow Stein with nine points, and Roessner hit a pair of 3-pointers en route to an eight-point evening. Abby Niekamp grabbed five rebounds, and Fortkamp, Roessner and Joanna Snyder each had two assists.

Marion Local, which turned the ball over 21 times, got seven points and five rebounds from Jodi Huelsman and six points and eight boards from Megan Barhorst.

"We've struggled all year in the turnover department," said Treva Fortkamp. "We did get some good lucks, we just never really got in the flow of the game. ... You can credit Fort Recovery's defense for that. They were everywhere.

"We didn't take care of the basketball. And when you don't take care of the basketball, you lose that many possessions to shoot, and it all adds up."[[In-content Ad]]