Patriot boys open with bye

INDIANAPOLIS — The Patriots will have to wait for a sectional opponent.

In the IHSAA boys basketball sectional tournament draw held Sunday, Jay County High School received a bye to the semifinal.

The Patriots (6-14), who return to Class 3A for the first time since the 2006-07 season, open Sectional 24 play at New Castle at 6 p.m. March 6 against either the Hamilton Heights Huskies (14-7) and host New Castle Trojans (9-11). The Huskies and Trojans meet in the opening round at 6 p.m. March 3.

The Burris Owls (4-16) and Yorktown Tigers (10-11) square off at 7:30 p.m. March 3, and the winner takes on the defending sectional champion Delta Eagles (16-4) in the second semifinal at 7:30 p.m. March 6.

The championship game is slated for 7:30 p.m. March 7.



FR hangs on for title

LIMA — The Fort Recovery girls basketball team hung on to win its fourth sectional title in five seasons by beating the St.?Henry Redskins 36-34 Saturday at Bath.

The top-seeded Indians (17-5) advance to the district semifinal against New Knoxville, which beat New Bremen 44-36, at 6:15 p.m. Thursday at Wapakoneta.

After trailing 18-17 at half, Fort Recovery doubled its score to go out front 34-26 with eight minutes to play. But the Redskins, a Midwest Athletic Conference rival of the Indians, had a 12-2 edge in the fourth quarter but their comeback attempt fell short.

Val Muhlenkamp scored 13 points to lead all players, while Olivia Patch chipped in six points. Kierra Wendel and Brooke Kahlig scored five points each, as Alli?Vaughn and Paige Fortkamp finished with four and three points respectively.



Tribe rolls

FORT RECOVERY — A strong defensive effort in the second quarter carried the Fort Recovery boys basketball team past the Van Buren Black Knights 61-39 Saturday for senior day at Fort Site Fieldhouse.

The Indians (16-6) led 15-11 after the first quarter before holding the Black Knights (12-10) to just two points in the second period for a 27-13 lead at half.

Fort Recovery outpaced Van Buren 34-26 in the final two quarters.

Brian Bihn led all players with 18 points, while Clay Schmitz and Derek Jutte contributed 11 and 10 points, respectively. Schmitz hauled in 11 rebounds for a double-double.



Tickets on sale Tuesday

Tickets for the Fort Recovery girls basketball district semifinal Thursday will go on sale Tuesday.

They will be available from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday in the high school office, 8 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in the middle school office and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. the same day in the high school office, and from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday in the high school office.

Pre-sale tickets are $4 for students and $6 for adults, while all tickets at the gate are $7.

The Indian girls meet Midwest Athletic Conference rival New Knoxville at 6:15 p.m. Thursday at Wapakoneta.



Chiefs runner-up

CARMEL — The East Jay Middle School wrestling team finished second Sunday in the Indiana State Wrestling Association Middle School State Duals at Carmel High School.

After going 3-0 in pool competition with wins against Edgewood (54-27), Carmel (57-34) and Franklin Township (55-35), the Chiefs defeated Hamilton Southeastern 55-33 in the semifinal before falling to Center Grove in the championship match, 69-28. Center Grove reached the final with a win over Brownsburg.

Cody Rowles (102 pounds), Tony Wood (110), Cameron Clark (132), AJ Myers (150) and Bryce Wenk (175) were all 5-0 on the day.



Eagles drop three

RICHMOND — West Jay’s wrestling team went 0-3 Thursday in a quad meet at Richmond.

The Eagles fell to Union City (58-12), Winchester Driver (52-6) and Richmond (54-18).

Caleb Weesner, a 95-pounder, was 3-0 on the day. Aiden Stephens (110), Caleb Dollar (117) and Brayden Witt (150) were all 1-2.