Jay goes undefeated in ACAC

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The conference title was already in hand, but there was one game to play.

The Patriots wanted to ensure they were known as the top squad in the league.

Leading by four after the opening quarter, the Jay County High School boys basketball team scored the first eight points of the second period and dominated the rest of the game in a 62-32 victory Tuesday over the Woodlan Warriors.

“We wanted no doubt that we were the best team in the conference,” said JCHS coach Chris Krieg, whose team went 6-0 in Allen County Athletic Conference play for the first time in its four seasons as a member.

“I felt like the first quarter we had too many letdowns,” he said. “We left our feet. We didn’t block out too well.

“We were ahead by four at the end of the quarter then pretty much defense took over.”

Woodlan (9-12, 3-3 ACAC) missed its first eight shots of the second period, meanwhile Parker Grimes and the Patriots (14-8) scored on six of their first seven possessions.

Grimes split a pair of free throws following a Woodlan missed 3-pointer, and after yet another Warrior triple that was off the mark Cole Stigleman tipped in a Grimes miss.

Woodlan had three shots on its next possession but each failed to go through the basket, and Grimes got fouled as he made a layup at the other end. He completed the three-point play to give Jay County a 10-point lead before Wyatt Geesaman scored to complete the 8-0 run.

“The tough part with (Jay County) is it’s hard to score points,” said Woodlan coach David Randall, whose team has lost four of its last five games. “We’re a team, we kind of thrive on scoring. When we have to dig in and get stops, we’re just not there yet.”

“Physically we just don’t match up real well with them. They are a lot bigger than we are.”

Grimes, who stands at 6 feet, 5 inches, was a force in the paint, whether grabbing offensive rebounds or muscling his way to the basket to draw fouls.

The junior forward got sent to the line nine times and made seven of his charity tosses, including his final six and all four in the third quarter. He matched his jersey number as he finished with a team-high 13 points, the most of his career.

“Parker has played well the last three games,” Krieg said. Grimes scored 10 each in a pair of losses over the weekend to Norwell in Ossian and Homestead at home. “He’s averaging more than 10 points a game. That we need because it gives us another scoring option going into sectional play.”

Ryan Schlechty was the only other Patriot to score in double figures as he finished with 10 points. Wyatt Geesaman was next with nine points, including two monstrous dunks in the second half on fast breaks. The first he threw down with one had late in the third quarter, and then he opened the fourth with a two-handed flush that made it 52-25.

Michael Schlechty and Stigleman — one of four seniors playing on their home floor for the last time — were next with eight points apiece, as 10 of the 14 players who saw minutes for Jay County registered at least one point.

“That’s the scoring you have to have to win, especially starting next week (with sectional),” said Krieg, whose team set a new season high for points in a game. “We have to have this balanced scoring.

“I really feel like our kids are playing with a ton of confidence right now. We just have to keep playing defense and riding this as far as we can.”

Woodlan senior Aaron Hahn led all players with 17 points, nine of which came in the opening quarter and only six after halftime. He only had three field goal attempts in the second half.

“Aaron gets a lot of attention every game so if we have a couple guys who can step up and make shots we’re usually pretty good,” Randall said. “If we don’t we get nights like tonight.”

Junior varsity

Jay County had a solid offensive output in the second half for a 65-47 victory over Woodlan.

The Patriots (11-8) trailed by six after the first quarter and four at halftime. They caught fire in the third quarter, outscoring the Warriors 19-13 for a three-point lead heading into the final quarter. Jay County saved its best for last in racking up 20 points in the fourth period while holding Woodlan to just five points.

Matthew Franks scored 11 of his team-high 13 points in the second half. Noah Arbuckle was second on the team with nine points, while Brayden Mock, Korbin Auker and Gabe Link each had eight points.

Jack Stuckey led Woodlan with 13 points.



C team

A strong start defensively gave Jay County an early lead it never gave up in a 44-27 victory.

The Patriots (6-11) held the Warriors scoreless through the first quarter and led 14-8 at halftime. The advantage ballooned to 32-13 after three quarters before Jay County kept the game out of reach during the fourth.

Brinnin Wasson totaled 14 points for the Patriots, and Sheldon Upp scored 10 to join him in double figures. Peyton Nichols contributed five points while Logan Brown finished with four points.