Jay Co. proves ability

Richmond is good.
How good?
The Red Devils are 14th overall in Indiana in the Sagarin Ratings. They boast a 9-1 record. And their only loss is to Class 4A No. 4 Brownsburg.
Remember all of that. And then remember this: Jay County trailed them by one in the final minute Saturday.
Expectations weren’t particularly high for this year’s Patriot boys basketball team, which lost three college players and another three-year starter to graduation.
So with Richmond coming to JCHS, confidence was lacking.
“Honestly, no, we didn’t think we could (compete against the Red Devils),” said senior Kyle Selvey.
But the Patriots did compete.
Jay County was able to have a chance to win against the Red Devils because it did not panic. The coaches and players didn’t throw the game plan out the window when Richmond’s lead grew to double digits.
The Patriots stayed calm. They made adjustments on the defensive end. They kept working for their shots — good looks coming off of strong screens — and, eventually, started making them.
“We just played as a team,” said Selvey, who hit three fourth-quarter 3-pointers. “We were screening well, doing what we were supposed to do. … It was all because of teamwork.”
Yes, they ended up losing the game. And no coach, no player, ever likes to lose.
But losses can teach important lessons. Saturday’s taught Jay County a lot.
The numbers say Richmond is the best team the Patriots will play this year. And they were within a point in the final minute, even having a chance to tie the game before the Red Devils sealed the win with some late free throws.
Jay County proved when it executes the game plan — playing strong team defense, controlling the pace and taking smart shots — it can stand toe-to-toe with even the best teams in the state.
It’s something the Patriots may not have believed prior to Saturday. But now, they know it’s true.
“It gives us confidence,” said Schlosser. “It lets us know that we can compete against good teams and that we’re always in a game …”
That knowledge, combined with a lot of hard work, could make the next 14-plus games a lot of fun.[[In-content Ad]]