Thursday, January 11th, 2007

State-ranked teams square off at the Fort

By Gary R. Rasberry
Photo by Mark Pummell/The Daily Standard

Fort Recovery's Aaron Kahlig has been a key cog to the successful start for the Indians this season. Fort Recovery gets a big challenge in hosting undefeated and state-ranked New Knoxville on Friday at Fort Site Fieldhouse.

Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry
As conference basketball play is back to full speed after the holidays, the Midwest Athletic Conference title chase brings up some big matchups.
One of the bigger confrontations will take place at Fort Site Fieldhouse in Fort Recovery, as the Indians host a New Knoxville team that's playing some of the best basketball in the state.
Dan Hegemier's Rangers come in as the third-ranked team in Division IV in the first Associated Press basketball poll of the season. New Knoxville went to 9-0 on Tuesday with a 67-28 win at Jackson Center.
The mix of offense and defense has been the key to the squad. Only once this season has New Knoxville allowed more than 50 points, that coming in an 84-66 win over a tough Spencerville squad in December. On the season, the Rangers are giving up an average of 41.1 points per game.
Offensively, the team has hit 90 or higher twice and is running at a 70.7 points per game clip. The gaudy numbers aren't that much of a surprise to those who follow the MAC closely as the Rangers have most of their nucleus back from a year ago.
Leading the way for New Knoxville is 6-4 junior Ross Stienecker, who leads the team in scoring at 21.3 points per game.
Junior Josh Niemeyer (6-0) is solid at guard for the Rangers averaging 13.2 points per game while backcourt mate Tony Meyer (5-9, sophomore) is averaging eight points per game after a solid freshman campaign.
Adding to the inside game is 6-3 Marcus Henschen, who is just under double digits in scoring on the season at nine points per game.
The Indians come into the game 6-3 and ranked 11th in the first state poll. After starting out 6-1 with big wins over Versailles, Coldwater, Arcanum and St. Marys, Brian Patch's squad has hit a bump, losing to Minster last Friday in MAC play before suffering a 16-point loss to Houston on Saturday.
Six-four junior Clint Tobe has been the big go-to scorer for the Indians thus far, averaging 14.8 points per game. Despite being the tallest player for the Indians, Tobe works off a wing, which could give the Rangers some matchup issues.
Senior Aaron Kahlig has waited three years to make an impact on the varsity level and is doing well this year, averaging 11.6 points per game while hitting on 56 percent of his shots. Sharpshooter Bobby Rammel has been solid as well, hitting 18 three-pointers on the way to averaging 7.3 points per game.
Point guard Toby Metzger has matured greatly in his sophomore season after trying to adjust to varsity play his freshman year. Metzger is just under double digits at 9.3 points per game and his 3.9 assists per game average is among the best in the area.
Off the bench, Fort Recovery stays young. Freshman Greg Kahlig is averaging 21.1 minutes per game and 9.2 points per game.
Just like New Knoxville, both teams like to go up-tempo, so expect the scoring to be high as Fort Recovery averages 62.1 points per game.
Additional online stories on this date
Mercer County commissioners approved a financial assistance request Tuesday to purchase tuberculosis medication for a high risk county resident.
Un [More]
The condition of a St. Marys man has improved following a crash Sunday on U.S. 33 that sent three people to a Lima hospital.
Jason R. Ballenger, 34, of St. Marys, was upgraded from critical to serious condition, according to a spokeswoman at St. Rita's Medical Center. [More]
Subscriber and paid stories on this date
Celina city officials still are studying whether to buy a downtown bank building to house utilities and administration offices.
Officials expect to
ST. MARYS - Board of education members approved 2007 budget appropriations of $22.7 million, which includes a 2006 carryover of $372,547.
"Between
New Bremen village councilors Tuesday night discussed the need to update zoning regulations and place a time limit on building permits.
Village Administrator Wayne York indicated updates are needed in 12 to 15 sections of zoning code enacted in 1969. He cited three of them as major concerns.
Fort Recovery Village Council has offered a police officer position to Brandon Wyerick of Celina.
Councilors emerged from executive session Wednesday night and voted to hire Wyerick. Council had held several sessions to interview candidates.
ST. HENRY - The village will save 10 percent in insurance costs this year, due to a switch in providers, Village Administrator Don Hess told council members this week.
ST. HENRY - Village council members this week went over the first reading of the 2007 appropriations that sets aside $3.9 million for various village funds.
ST. HENRY - The village will probably receive within the next week a temporary approval to begin filling the new fourth lagoon at the wastewater treatment plant, Village Administrator Don Hess said.
The Rev. Joseph Pax, a resident of St. Charles Center near Carthagena, remains in critical condition following a Monday afternoon traffic accident at the intersection of Burkettsville-St. Henry Road and state Routes 29 and 118, west of Celina.
6:30 p.m. Friday - Panther Gymnasium
Tip-Off: Two teams that had hopes for big seasons have been mired in some slumps early in the season.
The Redskins have lost four straight, with the biggest coming after leading New Bremen by 11 points in the fourth quarter before giving up the lead and losing in overtime.
6:30 p.m. Friday - Cardinals Gymnasium
Tip-Off: After starting out 4-0, the Flyers hit a pocket of turbulence, losing to Spencerville on Saturday and scoring just 10 points in the first half against Versailles in Tuesday's conference loss.
6:30 p.m. Friday - Wapak High School
Tip-Off: St. Marys started a tough stretch of games on Tuesday with a close loss to LCC. Looking ahead, the Roughriders have county rival Wapak, WBL co-leaders Ottawa-Glandorf and Van Wert along with St. John's in the next few weeks.
6:30 p.m. Friday - The Palace
Tip-Off: The Wildcats will look to restart a winning streak after seeing its five-game win streak stopped by a very tough Ottoville squad on Saturday. On Friday, Minster went to 2-0 in the MAC with a second-half charge to beat Fort Recovery.
6:30 p.m. Friday - Tiger Gymnasium
Tip-Off: St. John's comes in having lost two straight and things won't be easier this weekend as two of the hottest teams in the area are foes for the Blue Jays. After Friday's game at Versailles, the Blue Jays host LCC in the annual Sunday matchup between the teams.
6:30 p.m. Friday - Lappin Gymnasium
Tip-Off: The Bulldogs rebounded from a tough Friday loss to unbeaten Van Wert to get their third win of the season in beating Toledo Rogers on Hall of Fame Night at the Fieldhouse.
Tropical honeymoon destinations apparently run in the family, at least where the Buschurs from St. Henry are concerned.
Two brothers and a sister planned their weddings all within 13 months, with the happy couples heading to picturesque resorts in Aruba, Hawaii and Mexico.