CELINA - Mercer County's 2017 general fund appropriations are 4 percent higher than last year's due to increased expenses for public defenders, a new full-time county employee and additional money for escalating children services costs.

FORT RECOVERY - Roscoe really is a teacher's pet.

The blonde monkey puppet has entertained and helped teach many young students over the years in Judie Braun's classrooms.

CELINA - Defiance went into halftime red hot and came out of the locker room on fire.

As a result, the visiting Bulldogs beat Celina 59-45 in a Western Buckeye League battle Friday night at the Fieldhouse.

MINSTER - Minster jumped out to a solid lead on New Bremen in the first half and then used timely free throw shooting in the fourth quarter to hold off a Cardinal charge and pick up a 48-37 win in MAC boys basketball action at Wildcat Gymnasium on Friday night in the Battle of Route 66. [More]

FORT RECOVERY - Championship teams know how to finish games.

On Friday night, defending MAC champion Versailles returned to the unfriendly confines of Fort Site Fieldhouse, where the Tigers had not won since Dec. 9, 2005.

Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry

Elida outscored St. Marys 18-5 in the fourth quarter to come back and beat the Roughriders 52-42 in WBL action at Murotech Court.

Compiled by Colin Foster and
Gary R. Rasberry

St. Henry outscored New Knoxville 15-3 in the first quarter and coasted to a 61-51 victory on Friday night at Ranger Gymnasium.