July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Excellent execution (01/27/07)
JCHS boys basketball
Excellent execution (01/27/07)
By By RAY COONEY-
ANDERSON - "We came out and executed the game plan."
It couldn't have been more simple than that. But senior Corey Comer's statement after the game was right on target.
The Jay County boys basketball team used two, three and occasionally four people to surround Gary McGhee, the Anderson Highland Scots 6-foot-10-inch post player, limiting him to just three field goals. Mostly, they kept the ball out of his hands completely.
And on the offensive end they were patient, running their motion offense especially well after the break.
The execution on both ends added up to the Patriots scoring more points in the second half (42) than Highland had in the entire game in a 55-39 Olympic Athletic Conference victory.
JCHS coach Craig Teagle said there were still a few hiccups on the offensive end, but "when we were fundamentally sound and did what we teach we were awfully good," he said. "Defensively, I really have no qualms about anything we did. They followed the game plan ...
"Any time you go on the road and win it's a big plus. But now this is a conference road game and a win, so I'm proud of the kids for that."
Jay County (10-3) had never won at Highland in its first 25 years of existence, but has now come away with victories in its last three trips to Anderson.
McGhee, who led the Scots to a comeback win a year ago, wasn't nearly as big a factor this season. Although he did score on a put-back dunk in the opening quarter - it was the only basket for Highland in the first eight minutes - he went just 2-of-7 from the field the rest of the way and finished with 12 points.
"The big game plan was keeping McGhee out of the paint," said Comer. "We really didn't keep him out of the paint very well, but we just surrounded him and kept the ball out of his hands. There was a lot of great help from the guards."
The rest of the Scots provided little help as Jay County denied inside game. Highland missed all of its seven 3-point tries in the opening half and went just 2-of-12 (17 percent) for the game.
"If you don't knock down any outside shots you're not going to pull any defenders off of him," said Highland coach Phil Spoljaric, whose team dropped to 8-7 overall and 1-2 in the OAC. "And I thought (McGhee) could have been more aggressive too. He sees a triple team every night, night in and night out.
"He's got to be more aggressive and we've got to be more confident and knock down shots."
The Patriots earned a 13-12 advantage after a first half that was obviously a defensive struggle. Then they kept the defense rolling and found their groove on the opposite end.
Scott "Scooter" Bruggeman and Billy Wellman score the first four points of the second half for Jay County, which used a series of shot spurts to increase its advantage. The largest one came when Rhett Retter hit a 3-pointer off a Comer assist, then Comer followed with a pair of free throws to end the third quarter and a drive to the bucket to open the fourth.
Jay County shot 45 percent for the game compared to just 28 percent for the Scots, and lit up the nets in the second half to the tune of 14-of-24 (58 percent).
Comer led the effort with another outstanding game. After putting up 19 points a week ago against Winchester, the senior forward totaled a game-high 18 in the win over Highland. He also had seven rebounds, and was one of seven Patriots to finish with at least one assist.
"Corey was phenomenal," said Teagle. "I'll tell you what, Corey has really stepped up his game as of late. It's almost like he's thinking, 'I'm a senior and this is my last go-around.' I thought he played exceptional. He's just such a battler inside.
"For 6-1, he is a real presence. And now he's stepping out and hitting that (3-point) shot and that's really opening things up for him."
Wellman followed with 14 points and seven rebounds, and Bruggeman had 10 points, eight rebounds and two blocks.
McGhee was joined in double figures by Jay Mohr, who finished with team highs of 13 points and nine rebounds for the Scots. McGhee grabbed eight boards.
Junior varsity
After trailing by double digits early in the second half, the Patriots rallied to within two in the closing seconds but fell short in a 35-31 loss to Highland.
Adam Garringer hit a 3-pointer after a Jay County timeout, pulling the visiting team to within 33-31 with 16 seconds to go. But Kaleb Ogden stepped to the line and hit both free throws at the 12-second mark to complete his game-high, 18-point effort and put the Scots back up by four.
Jordan Worley scored six of his eight points in the final period for Highland, and Charles McGrady also scored eight points.
Garringer put in nine points to lead the Patriots. Kyle Simmons and Dexter Shreve each added seven points.[[In-content Ad]]
It couldn't have been more simple than that. But senior Corey Comer's statement after the game was right on target.
The Jay County boys basketball team used two, three and occasionally four people to surround Gary McGhee, the Anderson Highland Scots 6-foot-10-inch post player, limiting him to just three field goals. Mostly, they kept the ball out of his hands completely.
And on the offensive end they were patient, running their motion offense especially well after the break.
The execution on both ends added up to the Patriots scoring more points in the second half (42) than Highland had in the entire game in a 55-39 Olympic Athletic Conference victory.
JCHS coach Craig Teagle said there were still a few hiccups on the offensive end, but "when we were fundamentally sound and did what we teach we were awfully good," he said. "Defensively, I really have no qualms about anything we did. They followed the game plan ...
"Any time you go on the road and win it's a big plus. But now this is a conference road game and a win, so I'm proud of the kids for that."
Jay County (10-3) had never won at Highland in its first 25 years of existence, but has now come away with victories in its last three trips to Anderson.
McGhee, who led the Scots to a comeback win a year ago, wasn't nearly as big a factor this season. Although he did score on a put-back dunk in the opening quarter - it was the only basket for Highland in the first eight minutes - he went just 2-of-7 from the field the rest of the way and finished with 12 points.
"The big game plan was keeping McGhee out of the paint," said Comer. "We really didn't keep him out of the paint very well, but we just surrounded him and kept the ball out of his hands. There was a lot of great help from the guards."
The rest of the Scots provided little help as Jay County denied inside game. Highland missed all of its seven 3-point tries in the opening half and went just 2-of-12 (17 percent) for the game.
"If you don't knock down any outside shots you're not going to pull any defenders off of him," said Highland coach Phil Spoljaric, whose team dropped to 8-7 overall and 1-2 in the OAC. "And I thought (McGhee) could have been more aggressive too. He sees a triple team every night, night in and night out.
"He's got to be more aggressive and we've got to be more confident and knock down shots."
The Patriots earned a 13-12 advantage after a first half that was obviously a defensive struggle. Then they kept the defense rolling and found their groove on the opposite end.
Scott "Scooter" Bruggeman and Billy Wellman score the first four points of the second half for Jay County, which used a series of shot spurts to increase its advantage. The largest one came when Rhett Retter hit a 3-pointer off a Comer assist, then Comer followed with a pair of free throws to end the third quarter and a drive to the bucket to open the fourth.
Jay County shot 45 percent for the game compared to just 28 percent for the Scots, and lit up the nets in the second half to the tune of 14-of-24 (58 percent).
Comer led the effort with another outstanding game. After putting up 19 points a week ago against Winchester, the senior forward totaled a game-high 18 in the win over Highland. He also had seven rebounds, and was one of seven Patriots to finish with at least one assist.
"Corey was phenomenal," said Teagle. "I'll tell you what, Corey has really stepped up his game as of late. It's almost like he's thinking, 'I'm a senior and this is my last go-around.' I thought he played exceptional. He's just such a battler inside.
"For 6-1, he is a real presence. And now he's stepping out and hitting that (3-point) shot and that's really opening things up for him."
Wellman followed with 14 points and seven rebounds, and Bruggeman had 10 points, eight rebounds and two blocks.
McGhee was joined in double figures by Jay Mohr, who finished with team highs of 13 points and nine rebounds for the Scots. McGhee grabbed eight boards.
Junior varsity
After trailing by double digits early in the second half, the Patriots rallied to within two in the closing seconds but fell short in a 35-31 loss to Highland.
Adam Garringer hit a 3-pointer after a Jay County timeout, pulling the visiting team to within 33-31 with 16 seconds to go. But Kaleb Ogden stepped to the line and hit both free throws at the 12-second mark to complete his game-high, 18-point effort and put the Scots back up by four.
Jordan Worley scored six of his eight points in the final period for Highland, and Charles McGrady also scored eight points.
Garringer put in nine points to lead the Patriots. Kyle Simmons and Dexter Shreve each added seven points.[[In-content Ad]]
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