FRHS fights off the Rangers

FORT RECOVERY — Jalen Fullenkamp had the hot hand for New Knoxville.
So with the Rangers trailing Fort Recovery 63-62 in the final seconds Friday night, it was only fitting he would get the ball with a chance for a go-ahead shot.
Fullenkamp, who already had a game-high 27 points, wasn’t able to make it an even 30 as his potential game-winner missed the mark. The miss gave the Fort Recovery High School boys basketball a 63-62 victory and wins in back-to-back games for the third time this season.
The Tribe (6-13, 2-5 Midwest Athletic Conference) had a 12-point lead three minutes into the final quarter. But that’s when the Rangers started to claw their way back.
A 3-pointer by New Knoxville’s Adam Howe and a bucket by Andrew Arnett made it 56-49 Fort Recovery, which pushed the lead back to nine after Caleb Martin and Darien Sheffer each split a pair of free throws.
Shane Topp got the Rangers (6-12, 1-6 MAC) to within one possession, 61-59, with 24 seconds remaining until Sheffer sank a pair of free throws, pushing the lead to four.
Arnett hit a 3-pointer the next time down the court to cut the Ranger deficit to one before Brandon “Speedy” Schoen missed the front end of a one-and-one to set up Fullenkamp’s desperation attempt as time expired.
Sophomore Micaiah Cox had a team-high 18 points for Fort Recovery, which had a 33-24 lead at halftime. The Rangers rallied in the third quarter to make it 45-42 in favor of the Indians heading into the fourth.
Chase Bruns joined Cox in double figures with 12 points to go with his seven rebounds and five assists. Sheffer tallied nine points, and Kyle Schroer and Derek Backs had eight points apiece.
Arnett and Adam Howe had 16 and 10 points respectively for the Rangers.

Junior varsity
Fort Recovery dominated the second and third quarters en route to a 47-33 victory over the Rangers.
The Tribe trailed by two after the opening quarter, but grabbed a two-point lead at halftime. It then rolled to a 12-5 advantage in the third quarter to take control for good.
Ryan Braun was the only Indian to reach double figures as he posted 10 points. Cade Wendel and Kyle Knapke each had nine points. Wednel added five assists, and Knapke grabbed nine baords. Jason Roessner notched eight points.
Dylan Gable paced the New Knoxville with 14 points.