Tribe trips in closing minutes (12/31/05)

VAN WERT, Ohio — With its first double-win weekend of the season in sight, the ball came crashing down on Fort Recovery a night early.

Up by five points Friday, just about 24 hours before the traditional New Year’s Eve “ball drop” in New York’s Times Square, the Indian boys went scoreless over the final three minutes as victory slipped away in a 49-47 loss the Lincolnview Lancers.

Fort Recovery (3-3) which had gone loss-win in each of its previous two double-game weekends, had a chance to take a pair of victories this time after defeating the Ansonia Tigers Thursday. But it could not hold on, even after a 3-pointer by Travis VanSkyock on an assist from Clint Tobe resulted in its largest lead of the game — a 47-42 advantage with 3:15 to go.

Sloppy offense — the Tribe had 19 turnovers after recording 21 against Ansonia — hurt the Indians as they gave the ball away three times in the final three minutes. They shot 0-for-2 from the field and missed the front end of a one-and-one free-throw try during the span.

Mitch Ringwald’s 3-pointer with two minutes to go pulled Lincolnview to within two points, and Kory Thatcher tied the score with a pair of free throws in the final minute. Ryan Miller missed a chance to give the Lancers the lead with five seconds to go, but Kaleb Baucom grabbed the rebound and scored the game-winning basket.

VanSkyock’s 3-point try at the buzzer was no good.

Baucom’s 12 points led the Lincolnview, which trailed for the previous 14 minutes before his put-back handed it the win. Todd Osting had 10 points, and Thatcher added seven points, five rebounds and four steals.

Fort Recovery trailed the entire first half, shooting just 6-of-21 (29 percent) before coming back to hit 12-of-20 (60 percent) after the break.

VanSkyock paced the Indians with 16 points and eight rebounds. Tobe added 11 points, four assists and four steals. Toby Metzger scored eight points, and Luke Bihn finished with seven rebounds.

Junior varsity

Fort Recovery also suffered a two-point loss in the reserve game, falling 44-42 to the Lancers in overtime.

Neither team led by more than three points at the end of any quarter, and the score was tied at 39 at the end of regulation. Lincolnview took the win by making each of its two field goal attempts in the extra session while the Indians hit 1-of-4.

Curt Heitkamp had 10 points and six assists for Fort Recovery, and Tyler Jutte finished with 10 points and six rebounds. Eric Lamm grabbed seven boards.

Corey Wolters totaled 14 points, five assists and four steals to pace Lincolnview.[[In-content Ad]]