Classic slugfest

MARIA STEIN - Marion Local boys basketball coach Kurt Goettemoeller had the perfect word to describe the Flyers' game against Fort Recovery on Friday night.

"It was a slugfest of a game, and I knew it was going to be," said Goettemoeller after his team held off the Indians 43-35 on Friday night at the Hangar. "The referees let us play and that's how I like it."

The Flyers improved to 8-2 on the season and 2-1 in Midwest Athletic Conference play. The Indians drop their second straight game to go to 8-4 and 2-2 in MAC action.

Both teams came up with stellar defensive efforts, holding each other under their respective defensive averages. Marion came in giving up 42.2 points per game with Fort Recovery allowing just 44.1 points per contest.

Both teams kept the pressure on. Marion ran a man-to-man defense for the most part while Fort Recovery utilized several zones, including a triangle-and-2 to try and kept Marion from dominating inside or getting big outside shots.

The teams combined for 23 personal fouls - the majority in the second half - and play was physical throughout.

"There were fouls that didn't get called underneath, and that's fine," said Goettemoeller. "We wanted a physical game because we are a football school and we have tough kids."

Fort Recovery coach Jim Melton agreed.

"I would give Marion more credit with their defensive scheme in what they were doing," said Melton. "They were very physical. That was one of the more physical games I've been part of."

Marion had a 7-5 lead after the first quarter before Fort Recovery took its only lead of the night with 3:15 remaining in the second quarter. Cale Rammel got a hoop-and-harm 3-point play to make it 10-9, but Peyton Otte quickly put the game back in the Flyers' pocket with a big 3-pointer. From there, Fort Recovery never got closer than a point away, but every time Marion tried to put some distance between them, Fort Recovery fought back to make it interesting.

The Flyers led 18-14 at the half and held the Indians scoreless for the first 3 1/2 minutes of the third quarter, but Landon Post knocked down a trey to cut it to 22-17. Marion worked the lead up to 10 at 27-17, but Fort Recovery whittled it back down to 28-21 going to the fourth quarter.

Post added another trey to help get the Indians to within three at 28-25 with under 6 1/2 minutes to play, but the Flyers would not yield, pushing the lead back up to 38-29 with 1:44 to play with Brady Ronnebaum hitting big free throws late to put the game on ice.

"Peyton had two big shots when (the Indians) were going triangle-and-2," said Goettemoeller. "Our other guys, Jadyn (Mescher) got free once, Brady hit a big shot. We did enough and spread our scoring out."

Fort Recovery shot just 27.9% from the floor compared to Marion's 43.8% clip.

"They were in rhythm and we weren't," said Melton. "That was the difference. They hit their open looks and we weren't able to. Bottom line, that's what I thought it came down to."

Ronnebaum led the balanced scoring attack for Marion with 11 points. Jack Knapke added nine points and 12 rebounds.

Rammel finished with 13 before fouling out late in the game. Post chipped in with 11 points.

Marion is back in action on Sunday at the MLK Classic in Fort Loramie, facing Grandview Heights at 4 p.m. Fort Recovery is off until next Friday when St. Henry comes to Fort Site Fieldhouse.