Thunderbirds spoil Fort Recovery home finale (02/25/06)

FORT RECOVERY — Surges late in the first and second quarters gave Lima Central Catholic the lead.

Runs early in the third and fourth gave the Thunderbirds the victory.

Host Fort Recovery, which handled most of its non-conference opponents this season, didn’t have an answer Friday as visiting LCC scored a 56-39 win.

The host Indians, who close out the regular season with a 7-13 record (0-9 in the Midwest Athletic Conference; 7-4 outside the MAC), were outscored in every quarter of Friday’s game.

But it was the closing two minutes of the first and second quarters — and the opening three minutes of the third and fourth — that made the difference.

LCC was led by Eric Stolly’s game-high 15 points. Dominic Brenner added 14 for the Thunderbirds, who connected on 48 percent of their shots (23-for-48) from the floor.

Fort Recovery, which will open sectional play Tuesday at Coldwater against Marion Local (6:15 p.m.), managed to stay within striking distance for much of Friday’s game despite shooting just 36 percent and committing 22 turnovers to LCC’s 14.

Ryan Staugler and Travis VanSkyock scored 10 points each for the Indians.

Staugler, who was 3-for-3 from the field and 4-for-4 from the line, also had three assists Friday, while Toby Metzger, Luke Bihn and VanSkyock had five rebounds each.

LCC also won Friday’s junior varsity game by a 47-45 margin.

Fort Recovery (7-13) got 16 points from Aaron Kahlig and 11 from Robby Rammel. Tyler Jutte and Kahlig each had six rebounds for the Indians. LCC was paced by Drew Kirkman’s 12 points.[[In-content Ad]]