JCHS tops Fort

Several factors helped swing Saturday's game in Jay County's favor.

One was the Patriots' effort on the glass. Another was Fort Recovery's overall poor shooting night.

But for coach Doug Bihn of the Indians, one thing stood out.

"We couldn't guard Pazia Speed," he said. "That's the difference in the ball game. End of story."

Speed poured in 23 points, including a pair of free throws with 1:20 left to give her team the lead for good, in leading Jay County to a 46-42 victory over the visiting Tribe.

The Patriot senior didn't have her best shooting night as she finished 9-of-22 (41 percent), but came through when her team needed it most. Ten of her points came in the final six minutes as JCHS fought off a fourth-quarter rally by the Indians (4-2).

"And doing it without coming out of the game, against a very tough press defense ... she was just great tonight," said Jay County coach Luke Cummings of Speed, who also had three assists. "We kept the ball in her hands."

The game seemed to be in the Patriots' hands after a Speed three-point play with 6.3 seconds left in the third quarter gave them an eight-point lead. But Fort Recovery wouldn't go away quietly.

The Indians pushed the ball down the floor, and Alyssa Brackman found Kendra Brunswick on the right wing. She buried a 3-pointer at the third-quarter buzzer to ignite her team's outside shooting.

Each of the next four Fort Recovery field goals were 3-pointers - one more by Brunswick, one by Nicole Dilworth and two from senior Nicole Pottkotter. The second of Pottkotter's triples pulled the Tribe to within 39-38 with 3:08 to play, and Holly Brunswick eventually tied the game with a pair of free throws at the 1:56 mark.

Speed hit her free throws with 1:20 left to reclaim the lead for JCHS, and Danielle Link blocked Holly Brunswick's shot on the next Indian possession. Fort Recovery went without a field goal in the final three minutes, and Katie Butcher added a pair of free throws for the Patriots for the final margin.

"We're not used to that happening," said Cummings of the 3-point barrage by Fort Recovery. "But we continued to take care of the basketball, and I think we trusted and had some pride in what we do defensively to make sure we didn't give up another one. We're to the point where we trust what we're doing, and we trust that we're going to get stops."

The Indians struggled from the field for much of the game before rallying with the run of 3-pointers. They shot just 10-of-34 (29 percent) with only Dilworth (2-for-3) shooting better than 40 percent individually.

Jay County also owned a 28-20 advantage on the glass, with Mariah Hornaday grabbing a game-high eight rebounds. Danielle Link and Butcher each added seven.

"It was just like the (Wapakoneta) game," said Bihn of his squad's shooting difficulties. "You're not going to win many ball games (like that) ... If we can't shoot in the 40s, we're going to be in trouble.

"We got out-rebounded all game. We gave them too many second chances. They had 12 offensive boards, and that's entirely too many. I know they're bigger than us, but we didn't rebound. If we don't rebound, we're not going to beat hardly anybody."

Cummings, whose team has won six straight games and is now 10-2, said his team's work on the offensive glass that kept it ahead in the first half.

"Against a team like this, it's hard to get the ball inside to them because their guards put so much pressure on you," said Cummings, whose Patriots had a 19-17 lead at the intermission thanks to a late put-back hoop from Hornaday (13 points). "If we don't offensive rebound in the first half, we're down at halftime and then we're in trouble. Those offensive rebounds were big for us. They kept us in control of the game."

Pottkotter was the only Indian in double figures as she finished with 11 points. She also had team highs of six rebounds and three assists.

Twin sisters Holly and Kendra Brunswick added eight points apiece, with Kendra's entire total coming from 3-point range.

Junior varsity

The Indians outscored Jay County 25-6 in the second and third quarters and rolled to their 32nd straight win, 45-25.

Ericka Lennartz had 12 points and four rebounds for the Tribe (6-0), who had an 11-point lead at the half. Kelly Nietfeld had 12 points and three rebounds, and Kylie Kahlig added nine points and four assists.

Mollie May led Jay County with nine points and five rebounds. Kassi Hemmelgarn and Rachelle Jackson each added four points.[[In-content Ad]]