Carried by Corey (03/05/07)

HARTFORD CITY - The Jay County boys basketball team's run to the 2005-06 state finals was a great experience. It was also something which, the Patriots knew, would put a bulls-eye on their backs this year.

The Mississinewa Indians took dead aim at that target Saturday night, but composure and Corey Comer carried Jay County through.

Comer scored nearly half of his team's 52 points and made most of the key baskets down the stretch as the Class 3A No. 9 Patriots finished the game on a 10-2 run. His effort allowed the 2005-06 state runners-up to survive a stiff challenge from Mississinewa, 52-45, in the sectional championship at Blackford.

"It seems like every game I watch he makes big play after big play for them," said Mississinewa coach Chanse Young of Comer, who scored 14 of his 25 points in the final 6:05. "Tonight we wanted to play behind him and try to push him up the lane, but he's such a force inside. He knows how to finish. He just makes big plays. He's awful hard to handle."

Despite holding a big early lead, the Patriots (19-4) found themselves in a battle as Mississinewa rallied to tie the game at 31 after three quarters. The Indians scored the first four points of the final period, but Rhett Retter responded by burying his third 3-pointer of the game before turning the reigns over to Comer.

The senior forward hit a free-throw to tie the game with 6:04 to play, then proceeded to answer everything Mississinewa had to offer.

The Indians reclaimed leads of 38-35, 41-40 and 43-42, only to have Comer put Jay County back on top each time.

His score with 1:52 to go gave the Patriots a 44-43 lead, and he followed up his basket by drawing a charging foul on the opposite end. Mississinewa decided to foul on the next possession, but Justin Branock's hit on Clint Muhlenkamp was deemed a little too hard and he was called for an intentional foul.

Muhlenkamp made both free throws, and Scott "Scooter" Bruggeman added two more on the ensuing possession to put Jay County in command.

Comer added two foul shots with 31.9 seconds left, drew another charge, and then hit two more free throws for the final margin.

"He stepped up tremendously," said Bruggeman of Comer. "He just took the game in his hands and he refused to lose."

Teagle say the charges were what he had been looking for all game, as Mississinewa had resorted to a drive-and-kick offense.

"With Corey's senior leadership, he stepped over and made those plays. That's huge," Teagle said before turning his attention to Comer's offensive brilliance. "He wanted the ball. And if Corey wants the ball in the low post and he thinks he can dominate in there, we've got to get him the ball. ...

"Rhett (Retter) did a good job looking in and getting him the basketball inside out. I'm proud of those two. I thought Rhett stepped up and had a heck of a game today."

Retter had just a couple of assists, but his passes also led to many of Comer's trips to the free-throw line.

"Corey stepped up," said Retter. "He told me to get him the ball and I did exactly that and he did the rest. He manhandled them."

Thanks to that effort Jay County will play in Saturday's regional tournament at NorthWood, where they will play the Tippecanoe Valley Vikings in the semifinal round for the second straight season. Tippecanoe Valley earned its regional berth Saturday with a 63-39 victory over Norwell.

Jay County ran out to a 17-2 lead and was never challenged during its regular-season game against the Indians, and the sectional championship game looked to be headed in much the same direction. The Patriots had an 18-5 lead after a Retter 3-point to open the second quarter, but Mississinewa rallied back to within three at the half.

The Indians had the game tied by the mid-point of the third period only to have Comer lead Jay County to victory in the closing minutes.

Comer, who scored 10 straight Patriot points during a four-minute stretch of the final quarter, finished 9-of-10 from the field. His only miss was on a 3-point attempt, and he buried his final six free-throw tries for his game-high total.

"That goes out to the whole team - the assists, they were just getting me open the whole night," said Comer. "It's just this team. Everybody on this team is amazing. And in a clutch situation I think anybody could have gotten it done."

Bruggeman went 4-for-4 from the line as he added 11 points and four assists. Retter scored all of his nine points from long distance.

Mississinewa got a balanced effort, led by 12 points and four assist from senior Cory Powell. Branock, also a senior, added 11 points, and senior Jordan Masters scored nine.

"Their effort was just outstanding," said Young, whose team is now 0-7 all-time against Jay County and has lost to the Patriots in the sectional tournament in three consecutive seasons. "Certainly we didn't get off to a great start, but battling back was just unbelievable ... I told coach Teagle I have so much respect for his kids and they way they play and the way he does things. They have such a quality program."[[In-content Ad]]