JCHS defeats Devils (02/16/2009)

RICHMOND - The Patriots found their offense.

Scoring as many points as it had in its two previous games combined, the Jay County High School boys basketball team got back on the winning track Saturday afternoon with a 66-62 triumph over the Richmond Red Devils.

In consecutive losses to Anderson Highland and Delta, the Patriots had scored just 27 and 35 points respectively. The outside shooting had been a particular problems, as they hit just 3-of-29 (10 percent) in those two contests combined.

But the outside shooting troubles went away against the Red Devils as JCHS buried eight 3-pointers, four each by Billy Wellman and Adam Garringer, and shot 40 percent from behind the arc. After hitting less than 40 percent of its overall field-goal attempts versus Highland and Delta, Jay County bounced back to go 25-of-47 (53 percent) to beat Richmond.

Wellman shot 8-of-15 from the field as he scored 20 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead the Patriots, who built a 13-point lead through the first three quarters and led by as many as 16 in the fourth. Eric Homan also had a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Adam Garringer followed Wellman with 18 points, and Kyle Simmons also reached double figures with 10. Simmons added six assists, and Jacobs Westlake totaled six points, four assists and three steals.

Richmond (5-12) tried to rally in the final eight minutes as Ryan Jones hit for 14 of his eight points in the fourth quarter. But Jay County was able to hold on and defeat the Red Devils for the first time in a decade.

The Patriots (12-5), who last played Richmond during the 2002-03 season, had lost six straight in the series. Their last victory came in coach Craig Teagle's first season at JCHS (1998-99) by a 70-61 score in triple overtime.

Junior varsity

Scoring balance carried the Patriots to another win as they improved to 16-1 by defeating Richmond 35-25.

Jay County's lead was just two points at the close of the third quarter, but they pulled away with 14 points in the fourth. The Red Devils hit just two field goals in the final period.

Brad Horn scored six of his eight points in the fourth quarter, and Drew Houck and Garrett Krieg also totaled eight points. Josh Beaty followed with seven points.[[In-content Ad]]