Huelskamp, Homan led FR past Starfires

BERNE — The Tribe has struggled with one thing or another over the past 22 days.

But when they crossed the border, everything went right for them.

Fort Recovery High School’s girls basketball team crossed over into Indiana to beat the South Adams Starfires 45-38 on Tuesday.

The win snapped a three-game skid for the Tribe (3-12). The Indians fell behind early as Ana Lehman, who finished with 19 points to lead the Starfires (5-13), found the hoop four times. FRHS came back strong in the second quarter to claim a 23-18 lead heading into the half.

Makenna Huelskamp led the Tribe with 20 points. The junior hit two threes in the second quarter and another in the fourth. She found the hoop in the first and third as well while going 5-of-6 from the charity stripe.

Bridget Homan didn’t score in the first quarter, but the FRHS center got going in the second half to finish with 14 points.

Maddy Schoenlein hit a pair of threes in the second quarter, Cameron Muhlenkamp had four points in the first half and Kayla Gaerke split a pair of free throws in the opening period.

Jay drops

OSSIAN — The Jay County girls basketball team couldn’t handle the Class 4A No. 8 Norwell Knights on Tuesday, resulting in an 88-48 loss.

Hallie and Karsyn Schwieterman combined for 24 first-half points, but the Patriots (12-7) couldn’t slow down Norwell’s duo of Macie Saalfrank and Vanessa Rosswurm. They combined for 29 points, while the rest of the Knights (17-4) added 24 as well.

Karsyn Schwieterman scored a game-high 21 points, while Hallie Schwieterman followed with 20. The other three starters combined for just seven points as Natalie May made a pair of free throws in the third quarter, Elizabeth Brunswick found the basket in the fourth and Raylah Newton hit a triple in the final period.

Rosswurm led Norwell with 20 points, while Saalfrank finished with 19.

Jada Dale and Ashley Waldman also scored in double figures with 13 and 12 points, respectively. Six more Knights scored for a combined 24 points.

Still perfect

The Jay County Junior/Senior High School eighth-grade boys basketball team remained unbeaten in dominant fashion, overwhelming St. Henry Middle School 50-26 on Tuesday.

Finn Hemmelgarn was the top scorer for the Patriots (15-0), posting 15 points.

He was joined in double figures by Abram Lee, who contributed 11.

Six other Patriots found their way onto the scoresheet, with Job Dirksen (nine points), Jaylen Brown (five), Roman Clamme (three), Bentley Comer (three), Eli Homan (two) and Jenson Edwards (two) also scoring for Jay County.

The Patriots have just two games left on their regular-season schedule and will seek to complete their quest for perfection with wins over South Adams and Adams Central. 

The Allen County Athletic Conference tournament begins on Jan. 26.

Seventh thwarted

The seventh-grade Jay County boys were unable to capture the success of their older counterparts, falling 42-28 to St. Henry.

Sawyer Smitley was the Patriots’ top scorer with nine points.

He was followed by Carter May and Beckham Hough, who tallied five apiece.

Cruz Darby (three points), Parker Wasson (two), Ryker Price (two) and Henry Teeter (two) also contributed to Jay County (8-7) in the scoring column.

Towell stars

The Jay County eighth-grade girls basketball team steamrolled Heritage 36-8 on Tuesday.

Boo Towell put fear into Heritage with a game-high 15 points.

Arabella Link (eight points) and Brenna Weitzel (six) were next up for the Patriots (10-4).

Kinze Homan’s four points and Kyla Sims’ three rounded out Jay County’s total.

Team effort

Eight different Patriots scored for the seventh-grade Patriot girls as they handled Heritage by a 42-7 score.

Haley Comer amassed 10 points and was the only Jay County player in double figures.

She was followed closely by Gretchen Petro (nine points) and Remi LeMaster (six).

The Patriots (13-1) also got solid outings from Makenna Wellman (five points), Remi Saint (four), Kendall Farr (four).

Evie Skirvin (two points) and Adalee Rigby (two) also scored for the Patriots.

Kenzie Farr tacked on a pair of assists.