Forceful finish

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WINCHESTER — The third quarter has been problematic for the Patriots this season.

It was the case again Tuesday.

A big enough lead at halftime and a solid fourth quarter negated the troublesome third.

The Golden Falcons erased a 10-point deficit to tie the game late in the third period but the Jay County High School boys basketball team used a stretch of 10 straight points and a 14-3 margin in the final eight minutes on its way to a 48-33 victory over Winchester at Winchester Community Fieldhouse.

“It was a good win,” said JCHS coach Chris Krieg, whose team moves to 7-2 on the year after it was announced on Monday it received a forfeit from its Dec. 1 loss to South Side as the Archers, who beat the Patriots on the court 49-39, used an ineligible player.

It is the best start through nine games in Krieg’s three-plus seasons as the Patriots’ coach. The last time JCHS was 7-2 was in the 2014-15 campaign, the last under Craig Teagle.

“I felt like our fourth quarter was really good on the defensive end,” Krieg said. “Obviously, we held them to three points.”

Winchester (2-4) trailed 22-14 at halftime and was down 10 early in the third quarter before slowly trimming the margin. A Ryan Schlechty layup made it 28-19 with a minute gone in the half, and then the Golden Falcons scored 11 of the next 13 points, including six from Payton Sparks, the tallest player on the court at 6 feet, 8 inches.

All of Sparks’ baskets came on post moves at the left block, including two on consecutive Winchester possessions. Ross Culy had a layup and Brooks Burelison sank a 3-pointer from the right wing to bring the Golden Falcons within one possession, 30-28. Sparks then tied the game with 1:25 remaining.

“We didn’t shoot bad, they just shot better than we did,” said Krieg, whose team is off until it hosts Muncie Central on Dec. 29. Tuesday’s contest was the fourth in eight days for the Patriots.

Four players combined to score the next 10 points for Jay County, four of which came from Michael Schlechty on assists from brother Ryan. Noah Arbuckle had a put-back bucket, Landon Grimes laid in two points at the third-quarter buzzer and Wyatt Geesaman had yet another breakaway dunk with 4:40 left in the game.

“Felt good to just help the team out and help us get a win,” said Geesaman, who has four fast-break dunks this year. He led the Patriots with a season-high 15 points, a much-needed game after being held without a point three times this season. “I’m just looking forward to the next couple of games and keep this groove going.”

Michael Schlechty was second with 12 points and tied Geesaman for the game-high of seven rebounds. Parker Grimes tallied seven points, and Ryan Schlechty scored six to go with his eight-assist game.

“I’m proud of our kids,” Krieg said. Jay County had a season-low 10 turnovers, seven less than its season average. “Good Christmas gift; go into Christmas at 7-2.”

Wayde Sickels led Winchester with 15 points, and Sparks finished with 11 after entering the night averaging more than 17 points per game.

Burelison was held eight points below his average.



Junior varsity

Jay County trailed after each quarter but the last as it knocked off Winchester, 48-41.

The Patriots (8-1), who have won seven straight after being awarded the South Side forfeit, trailed by two points after one quarter of play and went into intermission down by three, 25-22.

Jay County trimmed the margin to just one point at the end of the third before taking the lead in the final period. Gavin Muhlenkamp made two free throws to make it a one-possession game with 25 seconds left.

Brinnin Wasson split a pair of foul shots, and Gavin Lambert added insurance points by putting back Wasson’s miss seconds before the buzzer.

Wasson led all players with 17 points, while Ethan Dirksen and Muhlenkamp had 10 points apiece.