Pumped up

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Indians spent the season on a journey they hoped would lead them to the Schoettenstein Center. Now, they’re on what they hope will be a three-day trip culminating in a state championship celebration back at Fort Site Fieldhouse.
The Fort Recovery High School girls basketball team’s final day of preparation Thursday included a final practice at Fort Site Fieldhouse, a send-off parade, a visit to the Schottenstein Center and a little team bonding watching a specially-selected DVD.
“The whole thing was awesome, to see all of our fans outside,” said Tribe senior and leading scorer Holly Brunswick. “And then to come to Columbus and get to watch a game, get a feel for everything. And then to hang out with the team together, I thought it was good the night before a game.”
The Indians boarded a bus about 2:45 p.m. Thursday and began their trek through the village. Outside the elemen-tary/middle school, students cheered, rushing the bus to give high fives to players reach-
ing  out the windows.
Some of those same students had already made signs that were decorating the inside of the bus — “I smell something called victory”, “Indians knock out Rockets!!! HARD” and, of course, “MAKE SHOTS.”
As the good luck parade continued there a fan waived pompoms, and the players’ classmates cheered them along as the bus drove past the high school and on toward St. Henry.
A few hours later the Indians were sitting in Value City Arena at The Ohio State University’s James Schoettenstein Center, watching a Division IV state semifinal game between Fort Loramie and Shadyside. Today they were to be on that same court, taking on the third-ranked Anna Rockets with a berth in the state championship game on the line.
The mindset of the Fort Recovery seniors — Holly Brunswick, Kendra Brunswick, Olivia Thien, Nicole Dilworth and Abby Huelskamp — became clear as they watched Fort Loramie, a team they beat during the regular season, throttle Shadyside 72-28. Their faces were serious, eyes focused on the court.
“We were not joking around,” said Holly Brunswick. “I’ve been thinking about it all day … this whole week that’s all that’s been on our minds.”
Dinner and a movie — Fort Recovery’s victory over McDonald in the 1991 Division IV state title game — followed, and Indians had a variety of reactions as they watched their counterparts from 20 years ago.
They giggled as they saw one of their teachers, Bob Perkeybile, announced as part of the ’91 coaching staff. They referred to two-time state champion coach Diane McClung, another of their teachers, as ”cute”.
They were awed at Lynn Bihn’s effort as she scored 43 points in the overtime victory, a number that still stands as a state finals record, cheering even though they already knew the outcome of the game. And they asked questions about Bihn’s career at Xavier, and about many of the other players on that Fort Recovery squad.
The players appreciated the crowd’s reaction after Bihn sent the game to overtime on a hoop with just seconds left, wondering what it would be like today when they look up into the stands to find them filled with purple shirts.
“It’s awesome,” said Huelskamp. “I think our fans are really important to us. They support us, and it makes us know that they believe in us too and gives us confidence.”
And finally the Indians laughed at athletics director Barb Sautbine’s wild reaction on the end of the bench after Bihn hit a pair of free throws to help seal the game.
FRHS coach Doug Bihn, Lynn’s brother, shared some advice from his sister and her former teammate Kate (Schoenherr) Jutte, both of whom played on the 1990 and ’91 state championship teams.
“Enjoy it,” he said. “This doesn’t happen every day. … The destination is the journey. … Savor the moments.
“They’ll tell you, it feels like just yesterday when they did this. And it was 20 years ago.
“My sister told me this is the third most important thing to ever happen in her life. Her kids and her husband are number one and number two.”
Bihn said he felt the day was a productive one. He was happy his team got a chance to get into the arena and experience the atmosphere.
He said he hoped, and believed, his players took a lot away from watching another Fort Recovery team win a state title. And he especially hoped they were set to send the Rockets home, earn another day in Columbus and give themselves the opportunity to play for the school’s third state title.
“I think (we’re ready),” said Bihn, whose team was headed for a shoot-around at Capital University before today’s game. “Hopefully there are no nerves. We’re just trying to keep them relaxed and calm, and go out and play the best we can play.”
One thing is for sure, the Indians believe.
“I think it was a good lead-up to what we’re going to accomplish tomorrow,” said Dilworth of watching the 1991 game. “It got us pumped up.”[[In-content Ad]]