Jay Co. boys win ACAC

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Jay County needed to be perfect.

There was little margin for error against Heritage.

While Heritage had played one more game, both teams had the same number of losses in conference play.

Zero.

It’s also how many points Heritage had for the first 12 minutes on Friday.

The Jay County High School boys basketball team scored the first 15 points of the game, didn’t allow a point until past the middle of the second quarter and was at its best on defense in a 42-26 win over the visiting Heritage Patriots.

“It was a very good night defensively,” said JCHS senior Cole Stigleman, who tied junior Michael Schlechty for the team-high in scoring with nine points. “They got a little frustrated with us … Everything just clicked for us.”

The victory secures the Allen County Athletic Conference championship for Jay County, which moves to 5-0 in ACAC play and hosts Woodlan Feb. 20. Heritage dipped to 5-1.

Beginning this season, the ACAC no longer has conference co-champions. That means even if Jay County loses to Woodlan — which lost Friday to Southern Wells — it holds the tiebreaker over Heritage.

Friday’s battle of the Patriots was completely different from when the two teams met on Jan. 13 in Berne.

Jay County (12-6) was ahead by three heading into the fourth quarter. This time, it had a 30-14 advantage over Heritage (13-3).

“Last time we played them we were up a couple. We were feeling good then we lost,” Stigleman said. “This was completely different. We were in total control tonight. It was just a very good night for us.”

Being in control late was a result of the solid start at both ends of the court. Stigleman began the scoring 20 seconds into the contest, and two minutes later Jay County went ahead 4-0. The slow pace continued as Jay County pushed the lead to 8-0 with 3:35 to play, went up 10-0 with 1:45 left and ended the period out front 13-0.

Jay County shot 6-of-8 (75 percent) in the first quarter and 3-of-6 in the second as it was 64.3 percent from the field in the first half. Heritage, on the other hand, missed the first 11 shots it took and was a mere 4-of-17 (23.5 percent) in the first 16 minutes.

Parker Grimes put back a Max Moser miss with 5:14 remaining in the half as Jay County was out front 15-0. After lengthy possessions by both teams — resulting in missed 3- pointers — Heritage finally got on the scoreboard as Abram Beard grabbed an offensive rebound for a layup with 3:26 before intermission.

“That was big,” Stigleman said of holding Heritage without a point for so long. “It gives us a lot of confidence. It puts them down. When we have a lead like that we feel more comfortable there.”

Jay County led 22-8 at half and extended the lead to 30-14 after three quarters.

Heritage just had a difficult time executing its slow, methodical offense because of the stingy host Patriots on defense. Whether Heritage had the ball at the perimeter, at the elbows or either block, Jay County bottled up any easy looks toward the basket.

“I thought, since I’ve been the boys basketball coach, that is the best we’ve played for 21 minutes,” said JCHS coach Chris Krieg, whose team travels to Leo today. “Honest to God, on both ends of the floor.

“Our defense was the best I’ve ever seen it. We had everything covered up for 90 percent of the game and that’s why we won the game.”

Heritage finished a measly 29.4 percent from the field, including a 3-of-17 (17.6 percent) effort from behind the 3-point line.

“Our goal was to just play hard, play good defense and make some buckets,” Stigleman said.

“I’m very proud of our kids,” Krieg said. “We did a really good job on both ends of the floor.”



Junior varsity

A 3-point barrage in the third quarter was too much to overcome for Jay County in a 48-36 loss to Heritage. The host Patriots (10-5) were ahead 15-14 at halftime before Heritage exploded for 20 points in the third period, led by Jaydon Harris’ four 3- pointers. He hit six triples in all on his way to a gamehigh 22 points.

Gabe Faulkner led Jay County with eight points. Gavin Randall and Gabe Link totaled seven points each, and Korbin Auker contributed six points.



C team

Jay County improved to 4-9 on the season with a 31- 28 victory over Heritage.

The home team was out front 10-4 after the first quarter and led 16-7 at intermission. Heritage had a 10-8 edge during the third quarter but trailed 24-17 into the fourth, and Jay County hung on for the victory.

Brian Williams led Jay County with seven points, while Jaron Alexander was second with six points. Peyton Nichols tallied four points, as Conner Tout and Sheldon Upp finished with three points apiece.