Pats top Indians (12/31/07)

After back-to-back blowout wins, the Patriots needed a challenge as they head into their toughest stretch of the season. Fort Recovery provided that hurdle, but turned the ball over too many times to be able to stay close until the end.

Jay County scored the first 11 points of the final quarter and forced 30 turnovers for the game in a 51-35 victory over the visiting Indians.

"They picked up the intensity," said Comer of his squad's effort to close out the game. "We were trying from the beginning to get the game into a full-court game. ...

"I'm proud of our girls for stepping it up when they needed to step it up."

Comer credited Fort Recovery (5-4) with controlling the tempo in the opening half. But, the visitors couldn't keep the game at their pace long enough.

After Kinsey Wenning scored back-to-back hoops to pull the Indians within 27-26 midway through the third quarter, Jay County forced the issue.

Brittany Mann buried a pair of free throws, and a Fort Recovery turnover led immediately to a 3-pointer by Pazia Speed. The Tribe gave the ball away on a traveling call on the next possession, and Cassandra Huelskamp buried another triple off a Speed assist for a 35-26 JCHS lead.

Jay County (12-1) hit just 4-of-17 3-pointers for the game, but the back-to-back long balls were enough of a spark.

The Indians got back within five by the end of the fourth quarter, but then failed to score for the first 2:59 of the final period. That was all Jay County needed as it ran off 11 straight points to grab control for good.

Fort Recovery coach Doug Bihn was left to lament his team's 30 turnovers - the Patriots had just 10 - which helped the home team win despite shooting just 30 percent from the field.

"That's the story of the season for us," said Bihn, whose senior-less team had 25 turnovers Thursday in a loss to Fort Loramie. "Until we can get that corrected, we're not going to be a good team. The kids know that. We've got to get across that hump. That's what we've got to clean up.

"It's just unforced turnovers in the half court ... Really this team doesn't have a true point guard right now, and we know that. ... We're just not there yet. It's a learning process."

The Indians (5-4) got top ball-handler Nicole Pottkotter back from a knee injury, but only for nine minutes in the defeat. They never led in the final 27 minutes of the game, but stayed close until the fourth quarter thanks to a tremendous inside effort from Annie Koesters.

The junior controlled the paint, scoring a game-high 17 points with a 7-of-10 effort from the field. She also grabbed 15 rebounds as she led the Indians to a 43-29 advantage on the glass.

"She played a great game," said Bihn. "Annie's a true warrior in every sense of the word. She'll battle til the end."

Kinsey Wenning added nine points for the Indians, whose other big struggle was a 7-of-17 (41 percent) effort at the free-throw line, and Joanna Snyder had six points, six rebounds and two assists. Chelsey Leuthold (two points) was the only other Tribe player to score.

Lindsey Wellman scored six of her team-high 13 points for the Patriots in the fourth quarter. She and Kaelee Keller each grabbed five rebounds.

Abby Loy and Speed scored eight points apiece, and Keller had three assists.

It was the 12th straight win for the Patriots, whose only loss came by four points in the season opener to Class 4A No. 7 Fort Wayne South Side (12-2). They had won their previous two games by a combined 102 points, but got a stiff test from Fort Recovery as they began their toughest four-game stretch of the year.

Jay County will host New Castle (10-1) Thursday before traveling to Huntington North (7-6) and Connersville (10-2).

"I think coach Bihn does an excellent job," said Comer, whose squad could take a big step toward the school's single-season wins record of 20 with a successful run in that three-game stretch. "They're very young, I was very impressed with their JV, and they're going to be really good. They just continue to get better and better."

He said the challenge the Indians gave his squad was just what it needed after consecutive 50-point wins over Blackford and Mississinawa Valley.

"Hopefully it'll propel us to the next one," Comer said.

Junior varsity

The Indians stayed perfect at 9-0 on

the season as it controlled the final two minutes for a 43-40 victory over Jay County.

The Patriots led by two and had possession with just 1:30 to play, but got called for a five-second violation on an inbound play to give the ball back to Fort Recovery.

Nicole Dilworth promptly made them pay, scoring back-to-back hoops to give the Indians the lead.

Kendra Brunswick added a free throw, and Alyssa Brackman hit two more with 35.4 on the clock for a 42-37 Tribe advantage. Katie Butcher hit 1-of-2 free throws, rebounded her own miss and hit a lay-up to pull Jay County within two. Brunswick then split a pair of foul shots on the opposite end to leave the door open for the Patriots, but a 3-point attempt by Shelby Gierhart came up short and Holly Brunswick grabbed the board and was able to run out the clock.

Kendra Brunswick powered the Indians with 16 points, and Dilworth joined her in double figures with 12. Holly Brunswick chipped in five points.

Butcher was the high scorer for the Patriots with 11 points. Makenzie Loy added eight, and Gina Muhlenkamp had seven.[[In-content Ad]]