Muhlenkamp leads JCHS over Indians

Twenty-five years ago this week, Stacie Muhlenkamp came up big in the fourth quarter to lift the Patriots over their state line rival.

The Dec. 16, 1998, edition of The Commercial Review featured coverage of the Jay County High School girls basketball team’s 55-48 victory over the host Fort Recovery Indians.

Muhlenkamp broke a 41-41 tie to start a run of three consecutive baskets that put the Patriots in the lead for good with just over two minutes left in the game. The hoops accounted for six of her season-high 17 points.

“I always look forward to playing Fort Recovery,” said Muhlenkamp. “A lot of my family lives here. I know a lot of people here. We know a lot of players on their team.”

She stepped up in the game she relished, making every shot she attempted — seven from inside the arc and one 3-pointer. Teammate Cassie Golden added 15 points.

It was a rough-and-tumble game, with the teams combining for almost 50 turnovers. FRHS coach Lynn Bihn said she felt her team’s inability to handle the Patriots’ full-court press cost it the game.

“I think they got flustered,” she said. “It didn’t bother us until the last three or four minutes. We started forcing passes. We were only down two points with three minutes left. We shouldn’t have lost by seven.”

Jay County coach Lea Selvey credited his team’s poise under pressure.

“We’ve got two kind of young teams out there and I think our kids had a little bit more composure out there,” he said. “I think we’ve been helped by our competition. When you play Richmond and Anderson Highland, those are the games that help you win these kind of games.”

Jullie Keller and Angie Staugler each had 13 points to lead Fort Recovery.