Indians win title (03/02/2009)

WAPAKONETA, Ohio - The Minster Wildcats used stifling defense to defeat Fort Recovery in January. Saturday evening, the Indians returned the favor.

FRHS held the Wildcats to just eight first-half points and pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 44-34 victory in the first of two Division IV sectional championship games at Wapakoneta.

"It's great," said Indian coach Doug Bihn. "It's probably the best feeling in the world. I'm really happy for the kids. They worked hard and they deserve this."

Third-ranked New Bremen (21-1), which suffered its only loss this season to Fort Recovery, defeated Marion Local 48-45 in the second sectional title game Saturday. Both teams advance to the district semifinal round Thursday at Van Wert - the Indians versus No. 5 St. John's (19-3) at 6:15 p.m. and the Cardinals against No. 1 Crestview (21-0) at 8 p.m.

Defense was the calling card for Fort Recovery (16-5) Saturday against Minster (15-7), especially in the first half. The Wildcats managed just four points in each of the first two quarters, shooting just 28 percent in the first half.

The game marked the seventh time this year Minster had been held to fewer than 35 points.

"We played great defense tonight, up-tempo, got in their face," said Bihn, whose team lost 31-28 to Minster on Jan. 22. "We wanted to force the tempo a little bit in the game because we thought we were deeper than they were. I think it worked to our advantage. They were tired.

"This team got us in the regular season and we didn't feel like we had our best outing. ... The kids were hungry for this one. They really wanted a little revenge."

FRHS led by nine at halftime as the Wildcats also missed all of their five first-half free-throw attempts.

Minster still had a chance as it opened the second half with a 9-2 run to close the gap to 19-17 midway through the third quarter. But the Indians' offense responded.

"We got beat long on the press. Koesters went long," said Minster coach Nann Stechschulte, recalling the play that started a 17-4 run for Fort Recovery. "And then Snyder hit a three, and that was huge."

Snyder started the run as she grabbed a rebound and found Koesters with the long outlet pass, and added four more points after her 3-pointer.

Nicole Pottkotter had four points in the key stretch, which Koesters capped off after another assist from Snyder to give the Tribe a 36-21 lead with 5:30 remaining in the game.

Minster never got back within single digits.

Snyder's 12 points were the game-high as she hit two 3-pointers and made all of her four free throws for Fort Recovery, which won its third sectional title in the last four seasons. Koesters joined her in double figures with 10 points, and Pottkotter added nine.

Chelsea Leuthold grabbed seven rebounds, Kelsey Wuebker had six and Koesters finished with five.

Stechschulte said she felt the Tribe's 17-11 rebounding edge in the first half was a significant key to the game.

"It was very atypical of us," she said. "Normally we do a better job on the boards. We got knocked on our rear ends I don't know how many times in the first half. I mean, the shot would go up and my kids would be laying on the ground. They were just a lot more phsyical than us."

Erica Fullenkamp assisted on two of Minster first three baskets to start the second half and scored the final hoop of the 9-2 run as it pulled within two points. Her eight points and three assists were both team highs.

Delanie Wolf added six points, and Becca Steinemann finished with eight boards.

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