Defense leads Indians to win

FORT RECOVERY - After a strong offensive first half that saw his team holding a 33-31 lead on St. Marys, Fort Recovery girls basketball coach Brian Patch knew his team needed to increase the defensive intensity in the second half.

The Indians responded by holding the Roughriders to three points over the span of 12 1/2 minutes in the second half and improved to 14-2 with a 60-43 win in Saturday matinee action at Fort Site Fieldhouse.

The teams had their offense in high gear in the first half. Both teams shot over 50 percent from the floor. The big key for St. Marys was sisters Lindi and Sydney Cisco getting open for three-pointers. The pair combined for four of the six treys made in the first half with Erika Angstmann adding the other. The lead changed hands four times with three ties.

"(Assistant) coach (Jeff) Vaughn and I were talking about (how the first half) reminded me of the boys game (Friday night against Coldwater)," Patch said. "It was back-and-forth and the teams were making shot after shot, even tough shots. It had the feel if one team could step up and play a little better defense, that was the team that was going to win it."

The second half started out slow as Jocelyn Kaiser hit free throws 30 seconds into the half to make it 35-31 Fort Recovery and Whitney Will hit a bucket to push it to 37-31. Shania Taylor, who had 11 points in the first half for St. Marys, scored on a stickback with six minutes to go.

That proved to be the last points for nearly a quarter as St. Marys turned the ball over on five of its next six possessions. Kaiser, Will and Kiah Wendel made the most of the cold spell to put the Indians up 45-33 with 2:43 left in the third to force Roughriders coach Nikki Miars to call timeout.

"You can't score two points in a quarter and win any ballgame," Miars said.

The Roughriders finally snapped the cold streak with 5:28 left in the game when Quincy Rable hit a free throw. However, St. Marys needed two more minutes before Angstmann hit a three-pointer for the team's first field goal in over 12 1/2 minutes. By that time, Fort Recovery was up 51-37 and cruising to the finish.

"The first half, our shots were falling and I don't think (Fort Recovery) was guarding the three too well," Miars said. "They were guarding the three a little better in the second half.

Kaiser led the Indians with 18 points. Will finished with 12, Grace Thien added 12 and Carley Stone scored eight.

"(Jocelyn) stepped up and had a huge game for us," Patch said of Kaiser. "Talking to her afterwards, she said 'Man, this feels good.' We know she can play and do a lot of things. Today was the day where she finally did it."

Taylor led St. Marys with 17 points and nine rebounds. Angstmann added 11.

Fort Recovery is off until Thursday when the Indians travel to Minster for a battle for first place in the MAC. St. Marys is home tonight hosting St. Henry in another MAC vs. WBL showdown.