Second-half defense carries Tribe

BERNE — A slow start offensively for the Indians allowed the Starfires to take a lead at halftime.

Stout defense down the stretch helped the Tribe to a win.

Fort Recovery High School’s girls basketball team allowed just eight points in the second half Tuesday in a 39-33 win over the South Adams Starfires at Stardome.

It was the eighth straight victory for the Division IV No. 10 Indians (11-1), while the Starfires (12-8) had their five-game winning streak snapped.

South Adams jumped out to a 12-9 lead after the first quarter and pushed the advantage to 25-16 at halftime. Fort Recovery surrendered just two points in the third quarter, trimming the deficit to 27-26. A 13-6 margin in the final period allowed the Indians to return to Ohio with a win. 

Grace Thien had 12 points to lead the Indians, and Val Muhlenkamp joined her in double figures with 10 points. Muhlenkamp also had nine rebounds. Carley Stone followed with eight points, and Kiah Wendel contributed five points.

South Adams senior Lexi Dellinger led all players with 20 points, including a 12-for-12 effort from the free-throw line. Madi Wurster chipped in 10 points.

In junior varsity action, the Indians won 49-24. Hope Wendel and Alli Vaughn had 14 and 10 points respectively for Fort Recovery, while Lydia Loshe scored seven to lead the Starfires.