July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Jay rolls to fourth straight road victory (11/21/07)
JCHS girls basketball
Jay rolls to fourth straight road victory (11/21/07)
By By RAY COONEY-
GAS CITY - In the spirit of the coming holiday, the Patriots were more than happy to share the wealth Wednesday night.
Leading by just three points after the opening quarter, the Jay County High School girls basketball team turned into a model of offensive execution over the course of the final 24 minutes. It scored 25 consecutive points in the second quarter, and racked up assists on seven consecutive baskets to start the third in a 70-18 shellacking of the host Mississinewa Indians.
"In the first quarter we were taking shots we could have gotten any time instead of working for a good shot," said JCHS coach Kirk Comer, whose team responded with a 45-4 run over the course of the next 15 minutes.
The Patriots shot mostly lay-ups during the final three quarters as they pushed to their fifth straight win of 25 points or more over Mississinewa. Eight players scored five or more points in the share-and-share-alike offense, which totaled 15 assists compared to just two for the Indians.
"This team is the most unselfish ... it doesn't matter who scores, they just want to win," said Comer. "They all have one common goal right now.
"We expect to win every game. The kids are playing with a lot of confidence."
That singular focus has put four straight Ws in the record book for Jay County - all on the road - after opening with a tough 62-58 loss to then-state-ranked Fort Wayne South Side in the season opener.
In addition to the win over Mississinewa, the Patriots (4-1) have topped Muncie Southside, Bellmont and Winchester, another team that was state-ranked at the time. Tuesday's win marked the second time this season they have posted 70 points or more - they are averaging 66 and have scored at least 58 points in every game - and was their second victory of 50 points or more.
Jay County had just the three-point lead following a hoop from Jennifer McCoin of the Indians (1-3) late in the opening period before imposing its will the rest of the way.
Amber Edmundson scored inside to kick off the run of 25 consecutive points, in which seven different Patriots scored at least two.
On the other end, JCHS dominated. Despite dropping back and playing entirely half-court defense, the Patriots forced 28 turnovers, resulting in twice as many field goal attempts than Mississinewa.
And they held the Indians without a basket in the second quarter until McCoin finally converted off a Victoria Cottrell assist with just 34 seconds left before halftime.
"I thought we started out slow. We didn't have the same intensity as at Winchester. Our help wasn't very good in the first quarter," said Comer. "We did a lot better (after that). They were in the right spots more."
It was more of the same to start the second half, with Jay County taking smart shots and showing just how unselfish it could be as a team. Each of the first seven baskets came with assists, including a stretch of three straight by Kaelee Keller, who finished with a game-high six.
"She did an good job with Dana (Horn) out at the point tonight," said Comer of Keller after Horn sat out the game with a leg injury. "She spread the ball around and got it to the post players when they were there ... then they're coming through."
Four of the seven assists to open the second half went to Lindsey Wellman underneath. After being held in single digits for the first time this year at Winchester Saturday - she was also scoreless in the first quarter against Mississinewa - she hit 9-of-13 from the field and punished the Indians for 19 points over the course of the final three quarters.
Edmundson was one of three Patriot players who followed Wellman with eight points, and Sharon Dirksen scored a career-high seven. Edmundson had a team-best five rebounds, and Dirksen and Abby Loy each added four.
"I thought Amber and Sharon Dirksen both had a good game inside," said Comer. "They continue to grow in confidence."
Cassandra Huelskamp added two more 3-pointers as she and Keller also scored eight points. Pazia Speed followed with six points, Abby Loy recorded her five points on back-to-back possessions during the second-quarter run and Mackenzie Loy also scored five points.
Mississinewa, which also went without a field goal for the first seven minutes of the third period, shot just 6-of-28 from the field. It finished with just four two-point baskets - the Patriots had 25 to go along with four 3-pointers - as McCoin led the team with seven points and a game-best eight rebounds.
Nicole Kilgore added three points and six rebounds, and Victoria Cottrell also scored three points.
Junior varsity
Jay County extended its perfect record to 5-0, allowing just three Indian points in the first half of a 40-17 victory.
The Patriots went up 7-2 after the opening quarter. They held Mississinewa without a field goal in the second period for an 11-point lead at the half and rolled to the win.
Brittany Muhlenkamp led the JCHS victory with eight points. Mackenzie Loy added six points, and Erin Hunt scored five.
Janelle May was the top scorer in the game, leading the Indians with 10 points. Amy Jackson chipped in three points.[[In-content Ad]]
Leading by just three points after the opening quarter, the Jay County High School girls basketball team turned into a model of offensive execution over the course of the final 24 minutes. It scored 25 consecutive points in the second quarter, and racked up assists on seven consecutive baskets to start the third in a 70-18 shellacking of the host Mississinewa Indians.
"In the first quarter we were taking shots we could have gotten any time instead of working for a good shot," said JCHS coach Kirk Comer, whose team responded with a 45-4 run over the course of the next 15 minutes.
The Patriots shot mostly lay-ups during the final three quarters as they pushed to their fifth straight win of 25 points or more over Mississinewa. Eight players scored five or more points in the share-and-share-alike offense, which totaled 15 assists compared to just two for the Indians.
"This team is the most unselfish ... it doesn't matter who scores, they just want to win," said Comer. "They all have one common goal right now.
"We expect to win every game. The kids are playing with a lot of confidence."
That singular focus has put four straight Ws in the record book for Jay County - all on the road - after opening with a tough 62-58 loss to then-state-ranked Fort Wayne South Side in the season opener.
In addition to the win over Mississinewa, the Patriots (4-1) have topped Muncie Southside, Bellmont and Winchester, another team that was state-ranked at the time. Tuesday's win marked the second time this season they have posted 70 points or more - they are averaging 66 and have scored at least 58 points in every game - and was their second victory of 50 points or more.
Jay County had just the three-point lead following a hoop from Jennifer McCoin of the Indians (1-3) late in the opening period before imposing its will the rest of the way.
Amber Edmundson scored inside to kick off the run of 25 consecutive points, in which seven different Patriots scored at least two.
On the other end, JCHS dominated. Despite dropping back and playing entirely half-court defense, the Patriots forced 28 turnovers, resulting in twice as many field goal attempts than Mississinewa.
And they held the Indians without a basket in the second quarter until McCoin finally converted off a Victoria Cottrell assist with just 34 seconds left before halftime.
"I thought we started out slow. We didn't have the same intensity as at Winchester. Our help wasn't very good in the first quarter," said Comer. "We did a lot better (after that). They were in the right spots more."
It was more of the same to start the second half, with Jay County taking smart shots and showing just how unselfish it could be as a team. Each of the first seven baskets came with assists, including a stretch of three straight by Kaelee Keller, who finished with a game-high six.
"She did an good job with Dana (Horn) out at the point tonight," said Comer of Keller after Horn sat out the game with a leg injury. "She spread the ball around and got it to the post players when they were there ... then they're coming through."
Four of the seven assists to open the second half went to Lindsey Wellman underneath. After being held in single digits for the first time this year at Winchester Saturday - she was also scoreless in the first quarter against Mississinewa - she hit 9-of-13 from the field and punished the Indians for 19 points over the course of the final three quarters.
Edmundson was one of three Patriot players who followed Wellman with eight points, and Sharon Dirksen scored a career-high seven. Edmundson had a team-best five rebounds, and Dirksen and Abby Loy each added four.
"I thought Amber and Sharon Dirksen both had a good game inside," said Comer. "They continue to grow in confidence."
Cassandra Huelskamp added two more 3-pointers as she and Keller also scored eight points. Pazia Speed followed with six points, Abby Loy recorded her five points on back-to-back possessions during the second-quarter run and Mackenzie Loy also scored five points.
Mississinewa, which also went without a field goal for the first seven minutes of the third period, shot just 6-of-28 from the field. It finished with just four two-point baskets - the Patriots had 25 to go along with four 3-pointers - as McCoin led the team with seven points and a game-best eight rebounds.
Nicole Kilgore added three points and six rebounds, and Victoria Cottrell also scored three points.
Junior varsity
Jay County extended its perfect record to 5-0, allowing just three Indian points in the first half of a 40-17 victory.
The Patriots went up 7-2 after the opening quarter. They held Mississinewa without a field goal in the second period for an 11-point lead at the half and rolled to the win.
Brittany Muhlenkamp led the JCHS victory with eight points. Mackenzie Loy added six points, and Erin Hunt scored five.
Janelle May was the top scorer in the game, leading the Indians with 10 points. Amy Jackson chipped in three points.[[In-content Ad]]
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