Tribe takes fifth straight

DELPHOS, Ohio — The Indians closed out 2019 by keeping their hot streak intact.

Fort Recovery High School’s boys basketball team won its fifth straight game Saturday, knocking off the host Jefferson Wildcats 56-50.

The Indians (6-1) dropped their second game of the season by eight points to Versailles but have since run off victories over Jay County, Parkway, Crestview, Ansonia and Jefferson.

FRHS was up by just one at the half Saturday, but limited the Wildcats to seven points in the third quarter to push ahead 45-39. The Indians held that six-point margin, as Brian Bihn and Ryne Post scored all of their fourth-quarter points.

Bihn was consistent throughout, racking up a career-high 24 points to lead Fort Recovery. Post followed with 13 points, six of which came in the final quarter, and Grant Knapke added 11.



Jay loses big

HUNTINGTON — Jay County’s boys basketball team suffered its largest margin of defeat in school history Saturday, falling 91-31 to the Merrillville Pirates in the consolation game of the Huntington North Holiday Tournament.

The Patriots lost 68-49 to Leo and 63-50 to the host Vikings in pool play on the opening day of the tournament Friday.

The 60-point defeat was the largest in school history, surpassing a 102-46 loss to Muncie Northside in 1977.

Jay County (2-7), which has now dropped seven in a row, fell behind by 14 in the opening quarter. It was outscored 29-9 in the second quarter and then gave up 32 points in the third en route to the loss.

Keon Thompson paced Merrillville (4-6) with 36 points.

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Gavin Muhlenkamp’s eight points were the team-high for the Patriots.

FR wins at Wish

CANTON, Ohio — The Fort Recovery girls basketball team rolled to a post-Christmas victory Saturday as it topped the Southeast (Ravenna) Pirates 49-34 in the Wishes Can Happen Holiday Classic hosted by GlenOak.

The Indians (6-2) had the much longer drive — 220 miles compared to less than 30 for Southeast — but made it worth while as they pulled away following halftime. After leading by eight at the intermission, they outscored the Pirates 18-9 in the third quarter to take firm control.

Fort Recovery, which has won four in a row since its Dec. 7 loss at Jay County, got 13 points from Val Muhlenkamp in the win. Whitley Rammel and Kierra Wendel added nine points apiece.