With more efforts like she had Saturday, it will be sooner than later.

Stuckey scored a game-high 22 points, adding eight rebounds and four steals in leading Hiland past Fort Recovery 57-52 in the Saturday nightcap of Classic in the Country III.

"Lindsay Stuckey is a gamer.  And it has been that way since the seventh grade." said Hiland coach Dave Schlabach, whose team improved to 7-1.  "She's a special player and we expect those type of efforts out of her."

Fort Recovery (9-2), which was ranked 15th in the first Div. IV Associated Press poll and convincingly knocked off eighth-ranked New Knoxville Thursday night, matched second-ranked Hiland step for step.

Stuckey had scored seven consecutive points in a two minute and 15 second span bridging the third and fourth quarters.  The Hawks still led by just five (43-38) until Krista Beechy and Jena Stutzman extended the margin.

Beechy made her first career 3-pointer and only field goal of the game at the 6:46 mark of the fourth.  Stutzman followed with a steal and layin just 14 seconds later.  Hiland's lead was at 48-38 at that point, and with 5-of-6 free throw shooting in the final 2:54 it improved to 4-1 in three years of Classic play.

"A lot of people play us soft in that offensive spot, so we've been working with Krista on that shot," said Schlabach about the top-of-the key attempt.  "That was a big stretch there."

No bigger than the Hawks' domination of the glass in the first half.  Fort Recovery had outrebounded opponents by a margin of 11 per game, but the Hawks had 10 offensive boards in the first half alone and tallied nine second-chance points.  Hiland went on to a 34-26 edge in rebounding.

"To me, the keys to the game were no secret," Fort Recovery coach Jeff Roessner said.  "What they did to us on the offensive glass was without a question huge. ... The offensive rebound is the biggest play in basketball, because you get the ball right where you want it and the defense is out of position.  In fact, most of the time you even get a foul to go with it."

That was the case on two of the Hawks' putback hoops in the first half, as old-fashioned three-point plays were totaled.  Stuckey had one midway through the second period en route to a 10-point frame.

"Everyone came out with such a great mentality.  We were ready to do anything to win," said Stuckey, who finished 7-of-17 from the floor but 8-of-10 at the free throw line.  "We haven't played all that well the last couple weeks, but we're really starting to believe in each other and playing for each other."

Jena Stutzman hit four timely 3-pointers to add 16 points and five assists for the Hawks, while Beechy had seven rebounds.  They were both instrumental in Hiland's "Princeton-style offense" running smoothly.  The Hawks were successful on the backcuts and had at least 10 baskets that were finished with the left hand.

"At least this game gives us a tape that we can watch and put some new offenses in," Roessner joked, "Hiland's players aren't all-around bigger, stronger or faster, but they're better skilled at every position."

Tiffany Gaerke, a 6-foot junior forward, put forth a good counter argument.  She led Fort Recovery with 16 points and 10 rebounds.  The coach's daughter, Vicki Roessner (12 points), and Ciera Rammel (10) also scored in double figures.