December 6, 2019 at 5:45 p.m.
Trojans thwarted
Double-digit run lifts Jay County
Trojans thwarted
The Patriots saw their first double-digit lead slip away.
They didn’t allow it to happen again.
Jay County High School’s girls basketball team scored the first 12 points of the fourth quarter Thursday as it put an end to a four-game losing streak with a 64-54 victory over the visiting New Castle Trojans.
“I think we came out with more intensity than we have in past games,” said JCHS freshman Renna Schwieterman, who led the victory with 21 points. “I felt like we played a lot of good team ball, a lot of passing, got girls good, open shots.”
The Patriots (2-5) scored 15 straight points — a 3-pointer by Pacie Denney to close the opening quarter followed by the first 12 of the second — en route to an eight-point halftime lead. But New Castle (1-9) erased that advantage to forge a 40-40 tie at the end of the third quarter.
That’s when Jay County went to work again.
Senior Hallie Fields, who had also hit the final hoop of the third quarter, scored off an assist from Madison Dirksen and then Schwieterman hit the first two of her seven fourth-quarter free throws. Schwieterman dished out consecutive assists — the first to her sister Aubrie for a 3-pointer and the second to Gabi Bilbrey — before hitting a triple of her own as the Patriots pushed out to a 52-40 lead.
New Castle was never able to get closer than seven points the rest of the way.
“I pretty much only play six girls, mostly, so I know that that played a factor,” said New Castle coach Molly Swift. “We got tired. Our communication stopped.
“It’s a young team. They’ve got to learn, once you fix something don’t let something else break down. I think that’s what we did.”
While Jay County was cashing in on offense, Comer said it was the defense that led to that success. The Patriots shifted to a 1-2-2 half-court trap in the fourth quarter and held New Castle scoreless for the first three minutes.
“I thought the big key in the game was going to the half-court trap in the fourth quarter and putting Gabi (Bilbrey) on the point,” said Comer. “The girls really did a good job of getting into the trap, closing passing lanes.”
Schwieterman, a freshman, set the tone offensively for the Patriots, more with her passing than with her game-high scoring total. She consistently attacked the basket and found teammates for open looks, leading to a career-high nine assists to go along with her team-best eight rebounds.
“I’m really proud of Renna because after the last game we talked about she needs to learn when to take the ball to the basket and take the shot and when to give it up to one of her teammates,” said Comer. “We talked about when that right time is and when it’s not. And I thought she did a really good job tonight getting the ball to the open person when they were open.”
Madison Dirksen and Fields joined Schwieterman in double figures with 12 and 11 points, respectively. Denney added nine on three first-half 3-pointers.
It was the fifth straight loss for New Castle, which was led by Macayla McGowan’s 15 points and 11 rebounds. Cloie York hit four 3-pointers and followed with 14 points, and Karsen Morgan had 11 points.
The Patriots avoided a fifth straight defeat after consecutive losses to Bellmont (4-3), Class 3A No. 6 Winchester (8-0), Woodlan (6-2) and Northeastern (7-1). (Jay County also struggled early with a 2-6 start in 2018-19 before winning 14 of its final 15 regular-season games.)
“We’re learning,” said Comer. “What we’ve got to realize is that we’re gaining experience every game. And these girls have talent. And they’re going to really be a good team and fun to watch down the road.”
Junior varsity
Jay County shut down the Trojans after the opening quarter as it cruised to a 45-14 victory.
New Castle scored 10 points in the opening period before being shut out in the second as the Patriots built a 14-point halftime lead. They went on to outscore the visitors 21-4 after the intermission.
Gabi Bilbrey powered the Patriots in just two quarters of action, scoring 12 of her game-high 18 points in the first quarter. Taylor Brown added nine points.
The Trojans got five points from Chloe Vaughn.
They didn’t allow it to happen again.
Jay County High School’s girls basketball team scored the first 12 points of the fourth quarter Thursday as it put an end to a four-game losing streak with a 64-54 victory over the visiting New Castle Trojans.
“I think we came out with more intensity than we have in past games,” said JCHS freshman Renna Schwieterman, who led the victory with 21 points. “I felt like we played a lot of good team ball, a lot of passing, got girls good, open shots.”
The Patriots (2-5) scored 15 straight points — a 3-pointer by Pacie Denney to close the opening quarter followed by the first 12 of the second — en route to an eight-point halftime lead. But New Castle (1-9) erased that advantage to forge a 40-40 tie at the end of the third quarter.
That’s when Jay County went to work again.
Senior Hallie Fields, who had also hit the final hoop of the third quarter, scored off an assist from Madison Dirksen and then Schwieterman hit the first two of her seven fourth-quarter free throws. Schwieterman dished out consecutive assists — the first to her sister Aubrie for a 3-pointer and the second to Gabi Bilbrey — before hitting a triple of her own as the Patriots pushed out to a 52-40 lead.
New Castle was never able to get closer than seven points the rest of the way.
“I pretty much only play six girls, mostly, so I know that that played a factor,” said New Castle coach Molly Swift. “We got tired. Our communication stopped.
“It’s a young team. They’ve got to learn, once you fix something don’t let something else break down. I think that’s what we did.”
While Jay County was cashing in on offense, Comer said it was the defense that led to that success. The Patriots shifted to a 1-2-2 half-court trap in the fourth quarter and held New Castle scoreless for the first three minutes.
“I thought the big key in the game was going to the half-court trap in the fourth quarter and putting Gabi (Bilbrey) on the point,” said Comer. “The girls really did a good job of getting into the trap, closing passing lanes.”
Schwieterman, a freshman, set the tone offensively for the Patriots, more with her passing than with her game-high scoring total. She consistently attacked the basket and found teammates for open looks, leading to a career-high nine assists to go along with her team-best eight rebounds.
“I’m really proud of Renna because after the last game we talked about she needs to learn when to take the ball to the basket and take the shot and when to give it up to one of her teammates,” said Comer. “We talked about when that right time is and when it’s not. And I thought she did a really good job tonight getting the ball to the open person when they were open.”
Madison Dirksen and Fields joined Schwieterman in double figures with 12 and 11 points, respectively. Denney added nine on three first-half 3-pointers.
It was the fifth straight loss for New Castle, which was led by Macayla McGowan’s 15 points and 11 rebounds. Cloie York hit four 3-pointers and followed with 14 points, and Karsen Morgan had 11 points.
The Patriots avoided a fifth straight defeat after consecutive losses to Bellmont (4-3), Class 3A No. 6 Winchester (8-0), Woodlan (6-2) and Northeastern (7-1). (Jay County also struggled early with a 2-6 start in 2018-19 before winning 14 of its final 15 regular-season games.)
“We’re learning,” said Comer. “What we’ve got to realize is that we’re gaining experience every game. And these girls have talent. And they’re going to really be a good team and fun to watch down the road.”
Junior varsity
Jay County shut down the Trojans after the opening quarter as it cruised to a 45-14 victory.
New Castle scored 10 points in the opening period before being shut out in the second as the Patriots built a 14-point halftime lead. They went on to outscore the visitors 21-4 after the intermission.
Gabi Bilbrey powered the Patriots in just two quarters of action, scoring 12 of her game-high 18 points in the first quarter. Taylor Brown added nine points.
The Trojans got five points from Chloe Vaughn.
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