Ault powers Patriots to win

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Doctors didn’t know what was ailing her.

Hanna Ault, a Jay County High School senior, played last week through a bug with symptoms that included difficulty breathing and a mean cough.

Her performance on the court reflected it, as she managed just 17 points over two games even though she averaged 22.4 per game before the illness.

With only a minor cough and a raspy voice remaining, Ault was back to her normal self Tuesday as she powered the Patriot girls basketball team to a 79-45 win over Muncie Central.

“It means a lot, just because … I’m still not to my fullest, you can hear that,” she said through her hoarse voice. She then covered her mouth and coughed. “It means a lot knowing that I have it in me and I can still pull it out.”

Ault made a pair of her five 3-point attempts and finished 10-of-19 from the field for a game-high 27 points — four shy of her career high — and grabbed a dozen rebounds as Jay County beat its former sectional rival.

“I was glad to see Hanna come back,” said JCHS coach Kirk Comer, whose team snapped a three-game losing streak and travels to Monroe on Friday to meet the Adams Central Flying Jets in Allen County Athletic Conference play. “She is a leader for us and I thought she did a really good job, not just on offense but defensively.

“I thought she played hard on defense as well and showed really good leadership.”

Jay County (4-5), which never trailed Muncie Central (1-7), got on the Bearcats early to the tune of a 9-2 lead in the first two minutes of play. It was 17-10 after one quarter, and the Patriots simply put the game out of reach in the first four minutes of the second period.

JCHS already in the bonus in the second quarter, and Hannah Phillips made two shots from the free-throw line to kickstart a run of 11 straight points. Kendra Muhlenkamp, who finished with six points, eight rebounds and five assists, fed Shelby Caldwell and Ault on consecutive plays. The next trip down the court sophomore Mikele Suman swished the first of her two 3-pointers to make it 26-10.

After a Bearcat miss, Muhlenkamp drove the lane for a layup and a 28-10. Muncie Central stopped the run when Ayala Wilson split a pair of free throws.

“The first half was really good,” Ault said. Jay County led 46-15 at intermission. “We moved the ball pretty well. The second half we got off to a slow start but we picked it up.

“We’re really learning how to move the ball in and out. Once we kick it in then we push it out. It’s really working for us.”

Jay County was 9-of-19 from behind the 3-point line, with Ault, Caldwell and Suman making two triples apiece. Kendal Garringer, Hanna Dillon and Phillips also made shots form long range.

“I thought we did a good job of finding the open person,” said Comer, whose team recorded assists on 17 of its 29 made field-goal attempts. “We had time to set (our feet) and when we can set we’re pretty good shooters. It’s just when we hurry things we don’t shoot as well.”

Caldwell had a career-high 24 points to go with her nine rebounds. Together with Ault, they outscored Muncie Central 51-45 and out-rebounded the Bearcats 21-19 (Jay County had 47 rebounds).

“Each night she’s getting better and getting more confidence in her knee,” Comer said of Caldwell, whose returning from ACL surgery as a sophomore. “I think she’ll continue to get better.”



Junior varsity

Three players reached double figures as Jay County defeated Muncie Central 53-25.

Jay County (7-2) led 14-6 after the first quarter and pushed the advantage to 25-13 at halftime. The Patriot defense allowed just two points in the third quarter while the offense totaled a baker’s dozen, and in the final seven minutes Jay County pulled away for the win.

Freshman Grace Saxman led all players with 13 points. Aubrie Schwieterman and Pacie Denney contributed 10 points apiece, and Claire Dirksen added eight points. Macey Weitzel contributed eight points.