Rebounds key for Wildcats

MINSTER - If you're going to miss critical free throws down the stretch, it helps to get the rebounds.

Minster snared two clutch offensive rebounds off missed free throws Friday night to grab the upper hand in overtime and outscored Fort Recovery 14-4 in the extra period to pull away for 64-54 win.

After missing three of four free throws in the last 90 seconds of regulation, the Wildcats would strike first in overtime on a driving layup by Jacob Stechschulte.

Following a Fort Recovery turnover, Minster's Matthew Trushaw was fouled. He missed the front end of a one-and-one, but teammate Josh Nixon got the rebound in the paint, scored and was fouled.

Nixon missed his free throw, but this time it was Trushaw with the rebound, and he was fouled in the act of shooting.

Trushaw made one of two free throws for a 55-50 lead, which proved to be all the points Minster needed in overtime.

After giving up a three-point shot to the Indians' Chase Bruns, Minster scored nine of the game's last 10 points to win.

"In any overtime situation you want to establish yourself, and that was kind of an unorthodox way to do it," Minster coach Mike Lee said. "The ironic thing was we have our best free throw shooters shooting in those situations and naturally they weren't going down. But give our kids credit, we stayed active on the glass and ultimately got a little bit of a cushion."

"I look at those possessions, and unfortunately, I think they cost us the game," Fort Recovery Coach Chris Guggenbiller said. "I told the kids afterward that when you're on the low block in a free throw situation, that's a man's position and you have to rebound like a man. You can't let up for a second or it will cost you."

Minster jumped out to double-digit leads in the second and third quarters, but each time the Indians came storming back.

The Wildcats scored 12 unanswered points spanning the first and second quarters to take a 26-12 lead, but Fort Recovery narrowed the gap to 30-26 at halftime with a 14-4 run of its own.

Minster opened the second half with a 9-2 run to take a 39-28 lead, but the Tribe rallied again to make it a four-point game going into the fourth quarter.

"We're up 10, 12, 14 points, and it seems like in a matter of three or four possessions we go stagnant offensively," Lee said. "They started getting good looks at the bucket and a 14-point lead goes to four or five in a hurry."

Guggenbiller was pleased with the way his team faced adversity.

"I thought we played a really solid game tonight," he said. "We battled back from some deficits, kept our composure and focus and forced the game into overtime."

Bruns scored with 30 seconds left to tie the game at 50. Minster played for the final shot, but a three-pointer by Gabe Goodwin was off mark. The Cats got the rebound and Trushaw had a chance at the buzzer but missed along the baseline.

Trushaw finished with 26 points and 16 rebounds to lead all scorers. Josh Nixon and Goodwin also hit double figures with 12 and 11 points respectively.

Minster was just 12-of-22 at the free throw line, but out-rebounded the Indians 38-26.

Micaiah Cox paced a balanced Fort Recovery attack with 15 points. Kyle Schroer and Darien Sheffer added nine each.

The Indians fall to 1-5 in the MAC and 4-13 overall and will host Mississinawa Valley tonight. The Wildcats, now 2-3 and 7-7, are home against Jackson Center tonight.