Big ten (12/12/07)

The Patriots won their 10th game in a row Tuesday, and nearly held the Blackford Bruins under 10 points in the process.

Jay County stayed back in half-court defense and generally kept the pace under control, but still put up its fifth win of 35 or more points. The 63-11 beating of the Bruins marked the third JCHS win by 50-plus points, and the fifth game in a row in which it has scored at least 60.

"We worked on some things that we needed to work on - our half-court defense, taking care of the basketball, working the ball around to get a good shot," said JCHS coach Kirk Comer. "Rather than the first good shot, we were being more patient in the second half. Those were things we needed to work on."

The results on those points were excellent.

Blackford (1-8) struggled to find any open shots as the Patriots packed in the defense. The visiting team went without a field goal in the second and third quarters, shot just 4-of-29 (14 percent) overall and became the third JCHS opponent to finish with fewer than 20 points.

Jay County finished with just nine turnovers compared to 20 for the Bruins. And in looking for good shots after the break, the Patriots hit 8-of-12 (67 percent) in the third quarter en route to a 25-of-46 (54 percent) effort overall.

They were on target from the free throw line as well as Cassandra Huelskamp and Amber Edmundson each hit three foul shots, and Lindsey Wellman and Brittany Mann made two apiece for a 10-for-10 evening.

"The concentration was there and the intensity was there," said Comer. "After Saturday's game (a 60-58 victory over Anderson Highland), I didn't think we played at our highest level. I thought we bounced back really well tonight."

In that situation, Blackford never really had a chance.

Jay County scored the first six points of the game, and had two mammoth runs later as the Bruins struggled. A 16-0 Patriot run bridged the first and second quarters, and then they posted the final seven points of the half before turning in a 21-0 third quarter for 28 consecutive points.

After Blackford hit two first-quarter field goals, it missed all of its 12 attempts in the second and third quarters. It went about 26 minutes without a field goal - its only points between the 5:00 mark of the first period and the 2:46 mark of the fourth came on free throws by Kelsi Reed and Jenna Thomas - before scoring on consecutive possessions late in the game.

With 10 straight victories, Jay County (10-1) has surpassed the nine-game win streak set during the 2004-05 season. The current squad looks to have a chance to make a run at the best record in school history, a 20-3 mark in 1985-86.

The Patriots, whose lone loss came against Class 4A No. 10 Fort Wayne South Side, have yet to get votes in the state coaches poll, but are 16th in the Class 4A Sagarin Ratings.

"We're not counting them," said Comer of the 10 consecutive wins. "We're just trying to get better each night.

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"I think the girls have, for the most part, gotten better.

"We're in a tough sectional, and we just want to be playing our best basketball at the end."

Keller led a balanced JCHS effort with 11 points. Huelskamp, Wellman, Mann, Pazia Speed and Sharon Dirksen each added eight.

Huelskamp followed up her 10-rebound effort at Highland by grabbing eight caroms versus the Bruins.

"Cassandra, again, was huge on the boards," said Comer of the 5-foot-8-inch senior. "In a game that didn't dictate a lot of shots from her she was able to do other things."

Kolby Coy scored five points for Blackford, and Thomas had five rebounds. The Bruins have won just twice in their last 30 games.

Junior varsity

Jay County outscored the Bruins 18-0 in both the first and third quarters of its 58-11 victory.

Shelby Gierhart led a trio of Patriots in double figures with 11 points. Cara Garringer and Mackenzie Loy each scored 10 points as JCHS improved to 10-1.

Kirby Glancy was the top scorer for Blackford with three points.[[In-content Ad]]