FR opens season Friday

One shot.

The Indians were one shot away from playing for a district championship last season.

That loss, a 57-54 defeat to eventual district champ Lima Perry, has been on the Tribe’s mind since then.

It’s been a constant motivation during the offseason for the Fort Recovery High School boys basketball team, which finally opens its season Friday after having two games postponed because of yet another deep football playoff run.

“We talked about that several times that we practice to beat the best teams,” Chris Guggenbiller, who begins his third year leading an Indian squad that was 16-7 last year, said. The Tribe scrimmaged Tuesday with Crestview and Defiance Ayersville, two teams coming off losses in the district final. “Scrimmage the other night is purposely scheduled because those two teams are very good teams.

“When we’re lagging behind and not too motivated, we use (Perry) as motivation to know where we want to get to.”

The biggest challenge for the Indians, however, will be replacing two of their top three scorers in Darien Sheffer (second) and Chase Bruns (third), who averaged 10.8 and 9.2 points per game respectively. Sheffer was also second on the team with 4.7 rebounds per game.

The key, Guggenbiller said, is developing the depth within the varsity squad behind a host of returning role players as well as some guys who were constant contributors at the junior varsity level.

“It’s not filling in with one guy particularly, but it’s going with three, four guys that can score six (or) eight points a night,” he said.

Sheffer and Bruns were both solid outside shooters who hit for 32.9 and 30.5 percent respectively from behind the 3-point line. Guggenbiller said he has many players capable of stepping back and shooting the long ball, but that will depend on how well the Indians can drive to the hoop and kick out to open shooters.

Micaiah Cox enters his senior season as the team’s leading scorer (14.4) and rebounder (8.3) from a year ago. As a junior he also led the team with a 56.5 percent shooting percentage and was 73.1 percent from the free-throw line, and the 6-foot, 4-inch forward will be expected to do much of the same.

“Just looking back to what he’s done sophomore and junior year it’s been a model of consistency,” Guggenbiller said. “You get that 14 (points), eight (rebounds) a night, solid on both offensive and defensive ends.

“We’ll continue to get that and I think he’ll continue to be a good, positive leader for us and really focus on getting everybody involved.”

Last season Brandon “Speedy” Schoen facilitated the offense with his ball-handling skills, quickness on and off the ball and shooting ability. As point guard, he averaged 4.9 points per game and had nearly as many assists (4.8).

Jason Roessner, who came off the bench to play in 22 of the Tribe’s 23 games last season and rarely scored, will take Schoen’s place this year, and Guggenbiller is pleased with what he’s seen out of the senior during the offseason.

“Jason has put in a lot of time in this summer improving and learning what we want him to do,” Guggenbiller said. “I think with Jason as well is he gives you an undeniable toughness factor. If a mistake does happen it’s not going to affect the next play.

“Not only physical toughness but mental toughness as well. Those are hard things to coach.”

Senior Matt Bihn will be the other guard with junior Travis Sutter and senior Caleb Martin as the other two forwards. Martin averaged 8.8 points and four rebounds per game, while Bihn had 7.4 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.

The first few players off the bench include junior Ryan Braun and sophomore Payton Jutte, who both stand 6-feet, 3-inches, tall. Cade Wendel, a 5-foot, 10-inch, junior guard, will also come off the bench.

While Schoen was critical in running the Tribe’s offense, he was equally as effective at stopping the opponent. Aptly nicknamed, Speedy had extreme lateral quickness, and often created difficulties for opposing offenses as part of Fort Recovery’s three-quarter court or full-court press. He led the team with 57 steals.

“My years of coaching I’ve never seen a kid able to defend the ball as he could,” said Guggenbiller, who noted he still intends to run a press but in a different manner.

Fort Recovery was 6-3 in Midwest Athletic Conference play last season and tied with Coldwater for third in the conference behind Versailles and St. Henry.

“We go in every year and getting a MAC title is the ultimate goal and I think that is a realistic goal for this team,” he said. “I like to think we fall in the top of the MAC but in order for us to do that there is a lot of work to be done.”