Record season

DECATUR — In 37 years, no group of Patriots has ever been better.
Jay County got off to a slow start in its quest for school history, trailing by seven early in the second quarter. But its trademark defense came alive, limiting the host Bellmont Braves to nine points over the final 22-plus minutes in a 49-24 victory.
The win improved the Patriots to 17-3 on the year, breaking the JCHS record for regular-season winning percentage.
“A lot of credit goes to the kids,” said JCHS coach Craig Teagle, whose team has now had 11 straight winning seasons. “It’s been a very good season for these guys.
“I told them in (the locker room), they’ve been one of my most committed groups. I’ve had certain kids that have been really, totally committed to what we were doing, but as a group, as a team, this may be the most committed I’ve ever had. … I think this is the payoff.”
Jay County tied the school record for wins in a regular season, matching the 1987-88 squad that went 17-5. It surpassed the mark for winning percentage set by back-to-back teams that went 16-4 in 2006-07 and 2007-08.
Junior leading scorers Brock McFarland and Kegan Comer both said they were happy, but not satisfied, with the record-breaking season.
“It feels great, but I think we could have easily been 19-1 or 20-0,” said McFarland. “I think we could have actually broke the (wins) record.
“It was a tough loss (Tuesday at Norwell). That was a big game.
“Hopefully next year we’ll break our own record.”
JCHS, which will open tournament play at Huntington North against New Haven on Tuesday at 6 p.m., would tie the school’s overall record for wins in a season if it can win its second straight sectional championship. The record of 20 was set by the 2005-06 squad that went 14-6 in the regular season before winning six games in the tournament on the way to the Class 3A state championship game.
Bellmont (4-16) put some pressure on the Patriots Friday, using a 9-0 run for a 15-8 lead early in the second quarter.
But JCHS got its shooting touch back, and its trademark defense shut down the Squaws.
After giving up 15 points in just over a quarter, the Patriots allowed just nine over the final 21:43 of the game. They bounced back from shooting 33 percent in the first period to make 18-of-26 (69 percent) over the course of the final three.
“They’re not going to get rattled,” said Bellmont coach John Baker, whose team lost its final five of the regular season. “Teams like that that have good solid guard play and good coaching, they’re not going to get rattled to the point that they’re going to be out of their game. … Once they started hitting, the avalanche started and just kind of went from there.
“They’re 17-3. That’s not by mistake. They’re a good team. They’re well-coached. They’re sound defensively.”
Jay County responded to its seven–point deficit by finishing the first half on a 17-2 run capped by a Comer baseline jumper at the buzzer. It opened the second half on a 12-2 run, and then limited the Braves to just one fourth-quarter field goal.
Bellmont became the eighth team the Patriots have held to 30 or fewer points this year.
“I wasn’t very happy at halftime with our defense,” said Teagle, whose team’s defensive average of 34.1 points per game is by far the best in the state. “I thought we gave up way too many back cuts. I think we gave up 13 shots in the paint. Our defense is all about not giving anybody a shot in the paint. …
“We did a much better job in the second half keeping them in front of us, contesting shots, foot-faking and helping early and recovering. That’s more like Jay County defense.”
Comer, McFarland and Trey Teagle led Jay County’s strong shooting effort over the final three quarters as they each finished in double figures.
Comer led the Patriots with 18 points. McFarland followed with 15, and Teagle shot 3-of-4 from long distance on the way to scoring 11 points.
It was a bounce-back night for Comer and Teagle, who were a combined 2-of-17 In Tuesday’s loss at Norwell.
“When (Teagle) hit his first shot it gave him a lot of confidence, so he just kept shooting,” said Comer. “At the beginning I was struggling … but once I found it I just kept shooting. We were both feeling it.”
Payton Selking was the lone Brave in double figures with 10 points. Matt Chronister added eight.
Junior varsity
Jay County limited the Braves to three points in the second and fourth quarters, cruising to a 43-22 victory.
Justin Dirksen and Zach Pryor each scored eight points to lead the Patriots, who were up by 16 at the half. Jacob Schlosser added six points.
Josh Brune and Zack Macklin tallied six points for Bellmont.[[In-content Ad]]