Jay County boys basketball to play ACAC champions

Jay County Patriots

Portland, 5-6 (3-2)

Coach: Jerry Bomholt, fifth year (40th overall)

Conference: Allen County

Tuesday at South Adams: Jay County had yet another first half deficit prove to be too much to overcome in a 64-61 loss to the Starfires, ending the Patriots’ hopes for a conference championship. The Starfires hit nine 3-pointers in the first half. Ethan Dirksen led the Patriots with 20 points and Dusty Pearson ended with 18 points.

Season leaders (per game): Points — Ethan Dirksen 13.9, Bennett Weitzel 7.5, Josh?Dowlen 7.3. Rebounds (through 10 games) — Dusty Pearson 6.5, Ethan Dirksen 6.3. Assists (through 10 games) — Ethan Dirksen 3.4.



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Heritage Patriots

Monroeville, 8-7 (5-0)

Coach: Adam Gray, third year

Conference: Allen County

Saturday vs. Bluffton: Heritage benefitted from Bluffton not having its highest-scoring player in picking up a 65-40 victory to remain perfect in conference play. Heritage sophomore Luke Seylor scored 28 points, and Kiel Eldridge added 14 points.

Season leaders (per game): Points — Luke Saylor 18.7, Dalton Wasson 10.8, Kiel Eldridge 9.8. Rebounds — Kiel Eldridge 8.2, Luke Saylor 7.3. Assists — Luke Saylor 3.8.



Last season: Ethan Dirksen was a perfect 13-for-13 from the free-throw line in leading Jay County past Heritage 47-43. Jay County overcame a 13-point deficit in the third quarter and were down 31-29 heading into the fourth quarter. Luke Saylor led Heritage with 13 points, and Dalton Wasson chipped in a dozen points.

Game notes: This is the 10th meeting all time between Jay County and Heritage, with Jay County holding a 5-4 edge in the series, including wins in each of the last three meetings ... Jay County averages 47.5 points per game on offense and allows 48.8 points per game on defense, while Heritage scores 56.9 PPG?offensively and 56.8 on defense ... Heritage clinched the Allen County Athletic Conference championship with Jay County’s loss to South Adams on Tuesday ... Jay County has a Sagarin rating of 59.19, which is 70th in Class 3A and 240th overall. Heritage holds a 58.21 rating, good for 74th in Class 3A and 249th overall ... John Harrell’s website predicts Heritage to win, 53-52.