Indians surge past Cavaliers

FORT RECOVERY — The Indians struggled offensively in the first quarter.

Their defense made up for it in the second, and then they pulled away during the third.

Fort Recovery High School’s boys basketball team surged in the second quarter and overtook the Coldwater Cavaliers in the second half of a 45-37 victory Friday at Fort Site Fieldhouse.

Coldwater (7-9, 2-4 Midwest Athletic Conference) had a half dozen players hit the scoresheet in the first quarter to take a 15-7 lead after eight minutes of play. But the Indians (8-8, 4-2 MAC) allowed just one field goal and a pair of free throws defensively while scoring a dozen to tie the game at 19 at halftime.

In the third quarter, the Tribe took over. Cale Rammel and Brian Bihn each had six points in helping the Indians to an 18-point period; meanwhile, the Cavaliers scored just seven points.

Fort Recovery kept Coldwater in check during the final eight minutes, going 6-for-10 from the free-throw line despite being outscored 11-8 in the frame.

Rammel led the Indians with 14 points, while Bihn chipped in 10 points. Owen Jutte was one shy of giving the Tribe three players in double figures, and Dillan Evers was close behind with eight points in the balanced offensive effort.