Jay rolls on road

MARION — Going on the road for the first time in three weeks proved to be no problem for the Patriots.
Jay County scored the first six points Friday, added a 10-0 run int eh second quarter and held the host Eastbrook Panthers to one second half field goal in a 58-24 victory.
After giving up more points in the first half (17) than they had in their previous game (15 to Blackford), the Patriots got back on track defensiviely after the break. They held Eastbrook without a field goal for the final 15 minutes and limited the home team to seven second-half points.
“We got split way to many times in the first half,” said JCHS coach Craig Teagle, whose team’s last road game was a 38-36 win on a last-second put-back by Scott Schwieterman at Connersville on Jan. 13. “They had 13 shots in the paint in the first half. Sometimes we go three games and they don’t have 13 shots (in the paint) total. … A lot of that was they spread us out and did a good jump their heads down and drove to the hole. …
“I think we gave up five paint shots in the second half, so that was much better.”
Despite the Panthers’ ability to put some points on the board in the first half, the game was never in doubt. Jay County (12-2) broke the game open with its 10 point run in the second quarter and led by double digits for the final 21 minutes.
Brock McFarland hit free throws for the final four points of the run that push the Patirots; lead to 29-10. He went on to shoot 5-of-6 from the field and the line for a game-high 15 points.
Kegan Comer followed with 12 points. Trey Teagle fell just short of double figures with nine points, and Tyler Back and Scott Schwieterman added eight apiece.
“We know we’ve got Kegan and Brock. They’ve been doing it all year,” said Teagle. “It’s nice to see Tyler step up there and then Trey. ...“Tonight they played a triangle-and-2 to start the game to try to stop Brock and Kegan, so those other guys have to find a way to score.”
In addition the the strong second-half defense and a well-distributed offensive attack, Jay County dominated on the glass. McFarland grabbed five of his game-high 11 rebounds in the opening quarter and led the Patriots to a 29-15 advantage.
Size inside from Scott Schwieterman (6 feet, 5 inches), Tyler Back (6 feet, 2 inches) and Stephen Scott (6 feet, 4 inches) also helped limit the Panthers to 17 percent shooting.
“They got into the paint, and even though they got so deep, our height changed their shots a little bit and then we were able to pull down the rebound,” said Teagle.
No Panthers reached double figures as Jacob Singer led his team with eight points. Shaun Dmyszewicz followed with five points.
It was the sixth straight game in which the Patriots held an opponent to fewer than 40 points, and marked the fifth time this season they have limited a team to fewer than 30. They continue to lead the state in defensive average at 33.4 points per game.
Jay County will be on the road again tonight, visiting a Yorktown squad that had won four in a row before falling 64-26 Friday to Pendleton Heights.
“They’re senior dominated and they shoot the heck out of it,” said Teagle of the Tigers (11-4). “They shoot the three really well. The Cook kid is one of the best  shooters we’ll see all year. … And they’re playing with confidence. … They’re believing in what they’re doing and playing really well.
“It’ll be a very tough road contest.”

Junior varsity
Jay County doubled up the Panthers in the opening quarter on the way to a 43-37 victory.
Jacob Schlosser scored six of his team-high eight points for the Patriots in the first half. Zach Pryor added seven points, and Zane Shreve and Justin Dirksen scored six apiece.
Justin Smith and Caleb Younger each scored eight points for Eastbrook.[[In-content Ad]]