July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Comer boards big for Patriots (02/28/04)
JCHS boys basketball
Comer boards big for Patriots (02/28/04)
COLDWATER, Ohio — Senior Heath Williams was the last-second hero Tuesday night. On Friday, he and junior scoring leader Trent Bailey got some help from a freshman in the final minute.
Corey Comer grabbed a pair of key offensive rebounds off of missed free throws by Williams and Bailey to help preserve a 61-57 Jay County Patriot victory over the Coldwater Cavaliers.
“I boxed out,” said Comer, who stepped in from the left side of the lane to grab both of his big boards. “I just went in, jumped up and got the rebound. I was just right there.”
Williams went to the line for the first time with Jay County leading 56-55 and 56 seconds left on the clock. He made the first shot, but missed the second.
However, Comer grabbed the board and handed it back to the senior point guard, who darted through the defense to run off another six seconds before he was fouled again.
Williams made both foul shots on his second trip, pushing the Patriot lead to 59-55.
When Coldwater’s Jay Miller missed a short jumper on the other end, the Cavaliers were forced to foul Bailey. The junior missed the front end of his one-and-bonus try, but Comer was ready again.
He grabbed another rebound, and Jay County coach Craig Teagle alertly called timeout before Coldwater could foul any of his players. Bailey found Williams flying toward the basket for an easy lay-up on the ensuing inbound play to seal the victory.
“The two offensive rebounds off missed free throws are just huge,” said Teagle. “Those are game makers because we missed a chance to score, but we got the ball back, ran some time off the clock and then got to go back to the free-throw line. (They were) huge plays.”
Comer’s boards, along with a well-balanced offensive attack led by Bailey and Dustin Overton, allowed the Patriots to win a second straight tight game.
With two games to play in the regular season they had not won a game decided by four points or fewer. Now they have won two in a row as they take a 12-8 record into the sectional tournament.
Jay County will meet the Tipton Blue Devils (6-14) in first-round action at the Blackford sectional Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.
“That’s awesome,” said Comer of the two tight wins this week. “We’ve been needing the momentum for sectional. (Tipton has) got some big players, so this was a good test for Tuesday night.”
“I think it’s very important just for your confidence,” agreed Teagle. “Really, sectional games for the most part are going to be tightly contested.”
Friday night’s battle with Coldwater (8-12) was close as well, with the Cavaliers taking a 15-11 lead after one quarter before Jay County pulled even at 24-24 at halftime.
The Patriots (12-8) broke away with an 11-0 run at the end of the third quarter to pull ahead 44-37, but Coldwater came right back with an 8-0 run for a one-point lead. But, Trent Bailey ended the Cavaliers‘ rally with a 3-point on an assist from Williams with 6:10 to go in the third quarter and Jay County never trailed again.
The 3-pointer was one of four for Bailey on the night as he led the Patriots with 19 points. He also had four assists.
Overton scored 14 points on 6-of-10 shooting and grabbed four rebounds before fouling out with 1:25 to play. Mark Kelly finished with eight points and nine rebounds, and Comer added eight points and five boards.
Williams dished out nine assists as Jay County finished with 19 assists on 24 made baskets. He also scored five points and grabbed five rebounds.
Andy Pinkerton finished 2-for-2 from 3-point range and finished with seven points, as the Patriots went 7-of-16 (44 percent) from beyond the arc.
“I thought different players stepped up tonight at different times,” said Teagle. “Dustin and Trent stepped up when we needed scores. Andy Pinkerton’s 3-pointers were huge.”
Teagle also mentioned Mark Kelly’s defense and Heath Williams’ quickness. He said Coldwater has pressed most teams this season, but didn’t even try it with Williams running the point for the Patriots.
Craig Koesters had 15 points for the Cavaliers, but he and the rest of his teammates were ice cold from long range. He finished 1-of-6 on 3-pointers and Jeff Grieshop was 0-for-4 as Coldwater finished 3-of-17 (18 percent) overall.
Craig Wellman, Brandon Bettinger and Miller each had eight points. Miller added a team-high nine rebounds.
Junior varsity
Jay County’s junior varsity boys basketball team couldn’t overcome a cold third quarter in a 53-45 loss to Coldwater in junior varsity action Friday.
The Patriots (11-9) trailed by just two points at halftime, but turned the ball over five times in the third quarter. Trailing by eight with six minutes to play they tried to make a run, but could not come all the way back.
Randy Evans paced Jay County with 14 points, 12 of which came on 3-pointers. Zac Green had 12 points, and Scott “Scooter” Bruggeman finished with 11.
Brian Brunswick had 15 points for the Cavaliers, and Brady Geier finished with 14.[[In-content Ad]]
Corey Comer grabbed a pair of key offensive rebounds off of missed free throws by Williams and Bailey to help preserve a 61-57 Jay County Patriot victory over the Coldwater Cavaliers.
“I boxed out,” said Comer, who stepped in from the left side of the lane to grab both of his big boards. “I just went in, jumped up and got the rebound. I was just right there.”
Williams went to the line for the first time with Jay County leading 56-55 and 56 seconds left on the clock. He made the first shot, but missed the second.
However, Comer grabbed the board and handed it back to the senior point guard, who darted through the defense to run off another six seconds before he was fouled again.
Williams made both foul shots on his second trip, pushing the Patriot lead to 59-55.
When Coldwater’s Jay Miller missed a short jumper on the other end, the Cavaliers were forced to foul Bailey. The junior missed the front end of his one-and-bonus try, but Comer was ready again.
He grabbed another rebound, and Jay County coach Craig Teagle alertly called timeout before Coldwater could foul any of his players. Bailey found Williams flying toward the basket for an easy lay-up on the ensuing inbound play to seal the victory.
“The two offensive rebounds off missed free throws are just huge,” said Teagle. “Those are game makers because we missed a chance to score, but we got the ball back, ran some time off the clock and then got to go back to the free-throw line. (They were) huge plays.”
Comer’s boards, along with a well-balanced offensive attack led by Bailey and Dustin Overton, allowed the Patriots to win a second straight tight game.
With two games to play in the regular season they had not won a game decided by four points or fewer. Now they have won two in a row as they take a 12-8 record into the sectional tournament.
Jay County will meet the Tipton Blue Devils (6-14) in first-round action at the Blackford sectional Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.
“That’s awesome,” said Comer of the two tight wins this week. “We’ve been needing the momentum for sectional. (Tipton has) got some big players, so this was a good test for Tuesday night.”
“I think it’s very important just for your confidence,” agreed Teagle. “Really, sectional games for the most part are going to be tightly contested.”
Friday night’s battle with Coldwater (8-12) was close as well, with the Cavaliers taking a 15-11 lead after one quarter before Jay County pulled even at 24-24 at halftime.
The Patriots (12-8) broke away with an 11-0 run at the end of the third quarter to pull ahead 44-37, but Coldwater came right back with an 8-0 run for a one-point lead. But, Trent Bailey ended the Cavaliers‘ rally with a 3-point on an assist from Williams with 6:10 to go in the third quarter and Jay County never trailed again.
The 3-pointer was one of four for Bailey on the night as he led the Patriots with 19 points. He also had four assists.
Overton scored 14 points on 6-of-10 shooting and grabbed four rebounds before fouling out with 1:25 to play. Mark Kelly finished with eight points and nine rebounds, and Comer added eight points and five boards.
Williams dished out nine assists as Jay County finished with 19 assists on 24 made baskets. He also scored five points and grabbed five rebounds.
Andy Pinkerton finished 2-for-2 from 3-point range and finished with seven points, as the Patriots went 7-of-16 (44 percent) from beyond the arc.
“I thought different players stepped up tonight at different times,” said Teagle. “Dustin and Trent stepped up when we needed scores. Andy Pinkerton’s 3-pointers were huge.”
Teagle also mentioned Mark Kelly’s defense and Heath Williams’ quickness. He said Coldwater has pressed most teams this season, but didn’t even try it with Williams running the point for the Patriots.
Craig Koesters had 15 points for the Cavaliers, but he and the rest of his teammates were ice cold from long range. He finished 1-of-6 on 3-pointers and Jeff Grieshop was 0-for-4 as Coldwater finished 3-of-17 (18 percent) overall.
Craig Wellman, Brandon Bettinger and Miller each had eight points. Miller added a team-high nine rebounds.
Junior varsity
Jay County’s junior varsity boys basketball team couldn’t overcome a cold third quarter in a 53-45 loss to Coldwater in junior varsity action Friday.
The Patriots (11-9) trailed by just two points at halftime, but turned the ball over five times in the third quarter. Trailing by eight with six minutes to play they tried to make a run, but could not come all the way back.
Randy Evans paced Jay County with 14 points, 12 of which came on 3-pointers. Zac Green had 12 points, and Scott “Scooter” Bruggeman finished with 11.
Brian Brunswick had 15 points for the Cavaliers, and Brady Geier finished with 14.[[In-content Ad]]
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