ACAC announces its all-conference teams

Two Patriots and a pair of Starfires were among the best in the conference.

The Allen County Athletic Conference released its all-conference girls basketball teams Monday, with Jay County and South Adams both having two representatives on the first team.

Shelby Caldwell, a JCHS junior, and senior Hanna Ault helped the Patriots to a 6-0 record in ACAC play to claim the regular season championship, its fourth since joining in 2014. Caldwell paced Jay County (16-9) with 15.1 points and 8.0 rebounds per game. Ault trailed her with 14.1 points per game and 4.6 rebounds per game.

Lexi Dellinger, a senior at South Adams, guided the Starfires (15-9, 5-1 ACAC) to the program’s first ACAC tournament title as they defeated Jay County to prevent the Patriots from a fourth straight tournament crown. Dellinger scored 15.5 points per game and averaged 3.8 assists per game. Classmate Madi Wurster was second on the team with 11.4 points per game and led the squad with 10.5 rebounds per game.

Earning second team honors for Jay County were sisters Kendra and Briana Muhlenkamp, who had 9.0 and 3.2 points per game respectively. Kendra Muhlenkamp also grabbed 4.1 rebounds per game and dished 3.3 assists. Briana Muhlenkamp had 3.5 rebounds per game and led the team in steals at just under three per game.

Sydney Pierce, a South Adams junior, also earned second-team honors, averaging 7.1 points and 3.0 rebounds per game.



Boys swimmers win

The Jay County middle school boys swim team picked up a 173-76 victory over Adams Central on Monday.

The girls fell 157-147.

Juan Pablo Wiggins, Damian Hicks and Ben Nichols each had individual wins for the boys team. Wiggins had a time of 28.64 seconds to win the 50-yard freestyle, Hicks was first in the 400 freestyle in 5 minutes, 42.34 seconds, and Nichols placed first in the 100 breaststroke in 1:20.19.

Josh Monroe, Konner Sommers, Wiggins and Hicks teamed to win the 200 medley relay. Kyle Sanders, Nico Minnich, Nichols and Sommers were first in the 200 freestyle relay, while Hicks, Sanders, Wiggins and Minnich combined to win the 300 freestyle relay. 

For the girls, Mara Bader was a dual-event winner, finishing first in the 200 freestyle (2:21.6) and 400 freestyle (4:55.98). Elayna Paro had the top spot in the 100 individual medley (1:15.82).

Emily Strausburg, Emily Dues, Bader and Paro teamed to finish first in the 200 medley relay, while Abby Johnson, Bader, Paro and Dues won the 300 freestyle relay.



East Jay boys split

East Jay’s sixth grade boys basketball teams split contests with RJ Baskett on Monday.

The A team picked up a 32-28 victory, while the B squad fell 18-14.

Sam Myers poured in 16 points to lead the A team, which also got seven points from Abraham Dirksen and three from Justin Dehoff. Zach McAbee, Ryne Goldsworthy and Simon Pryor tallied two points apiece.

In the B squad’s contest, Ricky Nava and Wesley Bihn both had four points. Keegan Hough and Goldsworthy recorded two points, and Cohen Henry had a single free throw.



Chiefs end perfect

GAS CITY — East Jay Middle School’s sixth grade girls basketball A team edged host RJ Baskett 26-25 Monday to complete its perfect season at 11-0.

The B team lost, 10-6.

Sophie Saxman led the A team with 14 points, and Bralee VanSkyock chipped in six points. Breanna Dirksen, Molly Muhlenkamp and Danielle May had two points each.

Joske Herndon, Maggie Dillon and Marissa Myers all had two points in the loss for the B team (4-4).