Fit to be five (12/19/06)

Forget the top 10. Jay County is now in a more exclusive group.

The Patriot boys basketball team moved up one position in this week's Class 3A poll by The Associated Press, joining the top five.

Jay County, which stayed perfect at 6-0 with a thrilling comeback win over Muncie Southside Friday, earned 130 poll points and is ranked fifth. It finished 18 points ahead of No. 6 Wawasee, which it defeated for the regional championship last year, and 24 behind No. 4 Vincennes Lincoln.

New Castle, the 2006 state champion which stayed perfect at 7-0 with an 11-point win over Muncie Central Friday, remained No. 1 with 218 of a possible 220 points. The Patriots visit Centerville tonight before hosting Class 4A Central (5-1) Friday.

Against Southside, Jay County trailed by as many as 12 points and was still down by 10 with six minutes to play. But, it held the Rebels scoreless for the remainder of regulation and took a 58-53 overtime win.

For the complete Class 3A listing, see Sports on tap.

JC edges Tigers

YORKTOWN - Jay County's freshman boys basketball team improved to 8-2 Monday with a 50-45 victory over the host Yorktown Tigers.

Eric Homan scored 15 points to lead the Patriots, who racked up 30 points in the second half. Josh Beaty scored nine points, and Jacob Chenoweth finished with eight.

The team suffered just its second loss of the year Thursday by a 43-32 score to Muncie Central. Homan also led the Patriots in that game with 11 points, and Chenoweth scored seven.

'Cats top Recovery

FORT RECOVERY - The Fort Recovery freshman boys basketball team fell to the visiting Minster Wildcats Monday, 33-23.

Cody Fiely led the Indians with 10 points, and Craig Tobe scored nine. The Tribe is now 2-4 on the year.[[In-content Ad]]