Spartans stopped

HUNTINGTON — Brock McFarland stood near the half-court line as the final 20 seconds disappeared, the ball tucked securely under his right arm. Before the buzzer sounded, sophomore Kegan Comer wrapped his arms around his classmate.
If the Patriots can play as well for 32 minutes tonight as they did Friday, they will have an excellent chance of celebrating again — with the sectional trophy.
Jay County extended its lead early in the second half, controlled the game and never faltered. It nailed 22-of-26 free throws in a 30-point fourth quarter, turning in decisive 58-45 victory over the Homestead Spartans in the semifinal round of the Class 4A Sectional 6 tournament at Huntington North.
“Coach Teagle always tells us during halftime to just come out and set the tempo in the first two or three minutes,” said Kegan Comer, who scored a game-high 17 points to lead the Patriots. “Once we had the tempo, we just held it for the rest of the game.”
After leading by just two at halftime, JCHS (16-6) got off to a great start to the third quarter.
Scott Schwieterman scored the opening hoop on a put-back of his own miss to kick off a 10-0 run. He scored six points during the run, which also included hoops from Brock McFarland and Comer, as the Patriots extended to a 26-14 advantage
Although Homestead (14-6) got back to within seven by the end of the third period, JCHS never lost control.
Stephen Scott opened the fourth quarter by hitting two foul shots — his only two points of the game — to start the Patriots’ free-throw spree. They shot 85 percent from the line in the final eight minutes, as Comer finished 10-of-10 from the line and Garrett Krieg (nine points) went 7-of-8.
“It’s a perfect example of playing with the lead,” said JCHS coach Craig Teagle. “We got the lead early, and we kept the lead. We’re just a better basketball team, and most are, with the lead.“When you shoot 77 percent from the foul line for the year, you want to play with the lead, because obviously at some point … they’re going to have to foul you.
“You try to keep it in the hands of your best shooters. Garrett and Kegan shoot it awfully well. They did a good job coming back to the ball and taking care of it.”
After winning just a single game in its first seven years of competition in the Class 4A tournament, a pair of victories this week have Jay County in position to play for a sectional title. The Patriots will take on the Fort Wayne South Side Archers in the championship game tonight at 7:30 p.m.
South Side is just 6-15, but earned its third victory this season over Fort Wayne North Side — 88-70 — in Friday’s other semifinal game. Rafeal Davis led the effort with 33 points.
McFarland, who left the game briefly because of an injured right shoulder, joined Comer and Schwieterman in double figures with 14 points. He shot 5-of-6 from the field, facilitated the JCHS offense with seven assists and grabbed five rebounds.
Schwieterman led JCHS with eight boards, and also blocked four shots.
“Even if he didn’t block it, he changed it,” said Teagle of Schwieterman’s effect on Homestead’s interior shots. “That makes a big difference. … Our defensive field-goal percentage was a lot better this year because of Scott. He did a terrific job.”
And while the Archers and Redskins ran up and down the floor in Friday’s second game, Jay County relied on its defense.
The Patriots limited Homestead to just 38 percent shooting for the game, including 31 percent in the first three quarters. And the Spartans went scoreless for the first 4:33 of the second half, going 0-for-5 with point guard Nick Gamble (11 points) turning the ball over twice on charging fouls.
Evan Rhoades hit four 3-pointers and led Homestead with 14 points, but his teammates finished a combined 1-for-12 from long distance.
“The kids did a great job,” said Teagle. “They battled, they fought, they made adjustments as the game went on. I’m happy for them, and I’m really gratified about the win, but I’m not satisfied. We’ve still got one more game to play, one more step to take.”[[In-content Ad]]