Tribe falls in semifinal

COLDWATER, Ohio — The Indians trailed the Cardinals the entire first half Wednesday.
It included a 16-point hole early in the second quarter.
But the Fort Recovery High School boys basketball team found itself tied with New Bremen midway through the third.
Moments later, the Tribe had a 40-37 lead.
Then the Cardinals went on an 8-1 run to close the third quarter, and put the game away in the fourth by going 14-of-20 from the free-throw line for a 64-55 victory in the Division IV sectional semifinal at Coldwater.
“We did have a lead there at a point in the third quarter,” said first-year FRHS coach Chris Guggenbiller. “At that point though, we’ve expended a lot of energy. To keep that rolling is tough.
“Hats off to my guys for continuing to fight.”
Trailing 27-11 in the second quarter, Fort Recovery (7-16) went on a 15-3 run highlighted by back-to-back 3-pointers by Chase Bruns. His triples cut the deficit to 27-20, forcing a New Bremen time out, and then the Indians scored four straight points out of the break on buckets by Micaiah Cox and a pair of free throws by Kyle Schroer.
Nate Herriott of New Bremen (12-10) nailed a 3-pointer from the left wing to stop the Indians’ stretch of 10 consecutive points, but Wes Wenning hit two bonus freebies and Darien Sheffer drilled a wide open trey from the top of the key to make it 30-26 New Bremen at half.
After three quick points by the Cardinals to start the third, Caleb Martin and Sheffer combined for seven straight Fort Recovery points to tie the score at 33 apiece. New Bremen nabbed a 37-35 lead until Bruns hit his team-high third 3-pointer to give the Indians a 36-35 advantage, its first of the game.
It’s next trip down the court, Cox connected on a pass from Brandon “Speedy” Schoen and the Indians led by three.
But six straight points — two by Nolan Fox and four consecutive by Carson Manger — gave the Cardinals back the lead, which they would not give up the remainder of the game.

Fort Recovery High School boys basketball coach Chris Guggenbiller gives an earful to an official as he disputes a foul call during the second half of the Division IV sectional semifinal Wednesday at The Palace in Coldwater. The Indians were whistled for 19 fouls in the second half in a 64-55 loss to the New Bremen Cardinals.