Patriots hold off SAHS

The Patriots dominated the first half.

They needed the cushion to hold on for the win.

Jay County High School’s boys basketball team led by 15 at halftime Friday and was able to fight off the visiting South Adams Starfires for a 58-53 victory.

The Patriots (4-10) used a 17-6 advantage in the second quarter to build its lead. South Adams closed the gap in the third quarter and then scored 24 points in the fourth, but JCHS was able to do enough to keep the advantage.

Seniors Brayden Sprunger, Noah Arbuckle and Gavin Lambert led the way for Jay County with 12, 11 and 10 points, respectively. Bennett Weitzel, a freshman, added nine points, Ethan Dirksen scored eight and Gavin Muhlenkamp finished with seven.

Jay County’s junior varsity team won 42-39 over the Starfires behind 13 points from Crosby Heniser. Gavin Myers and Adrek Pogue each added seven.

The Patriot freshman team got nine points from Josh Dowlen as it held on for a 32-29 win.



EJ grapplers rally

MONROE — East Jay Middle School’s wrestling team roared back from an early deficit Thursday to top host Adams Central 54-30.

Tony Wood (110) kept his undefeated record intact with a win by pin to lead the Chiefs, who improved to 11-2. AJ Myers (150), who won by forfeit, also has a perfect 13-0 mark this year.

Also earning victories by way of pins Thursday were Cody Rowles (102), Carter Barton (125), Malachi Shaw (140), Conner Specht (195) and Ricky Nava (220). Sylas Wenk (75) and Landon Blowers (17) each picked up victories by decision, and Mallory Winner (132) got a forfeit victory.

East Jay’s JV team earned a 36-9 win with individual victories from Sylas Wenk, Griffin Byrum, Sean Bailey, Gage Sims, Layne Reidt and Bryce Wenk.