Tribe loses lead in fourth

FINDLAY, Ohio — The Indians were ahead for three quarters.

They trailed when it mattered.

Fort Recovery High School’s boys basketball team got outscored 18-10 in the fourth quarter on Saturday in a 46-42 loss to the Van Buren Black Knights at University of Findlay’s Croy Gymnasium in the regular season finale for both teams.

The Indians (10-11) were out front 11-9 after the first quarter and had the same margin at halftime. A 12-10 edge after intermission gave the Tribe a four-point lead, 32-28, but the Black Knights, led by 2003 FRHS graduate Tyler Niekamp, took the lead in the fourth quarter and kept the Indians at bay the rest of the way.

Clay Schmitz led the Indians in scoring with 10 points, six of which came in the fourth quarter. Derek Jutte and Blayne Tobe were second with eight points apiece, and Grant Knapke chipped in seven points.

The Indians open Division IV Wapakoneta District against Waynesfield-Goshen at 8 p.m. Tuesday at Coldwater. 

Fort Recovery’s junior varsity team ended its year 18-2 with a 55-28 drubbing of the Black Knights.