No. 6 JC improves to 14-0 (01/19/2009)

Trailing at the half is not a familiar position for an undefeated team that wins its games by an average of more than 20 points. But that's just where the Patriots found themselves Saturday.

It didn't faze them.

Jay County High School's Class 4A No. 6 girls basketball team bounced back from a three-point halftime deficit to lead by as many as nine in the fourth quarter of its 56-53 victory Saturday over the visiting Connersville Spartans.

"I'm really proud of the girls, the way they gutted it out," said JCHS coach Kirk Comer, whose team improved to 14-0 and secured its second Olympic Athletic Conference championship in his five-year tenure. "With Lindsey Wellman not even able to shoot the ball yesterday to come out and play the way that she did today, she was in tremendous pain and just gutted it out.

"Brittany Mann hit some big shots ...

"Everybody who went in really just did their job. And that's what we expect them to do. It was a great team effort."

The lead changed seven times in the first half, with Connersville earning the halftime advantage thanks to a late 3-pointer by Justice Gwin. But it was the Patriots' long-distance shooting that became the key in the third quarter, and their rebounding and free throws that made the difference in the fourth.

After giving up the first four points of the second half to trail by seven, Jay County fought back on two triples by Gina Muhlenkamp and one from Mann to tie the game at 32. Wellman hit a fourth 3-pointer at the buzzer to give JCHS a one-point lead it would never relinquish.

The Patriot lead was just two points with four minutes to play, but Brittany Mann got a second-chance bucket, and Cara Garringer, Kaelee Keller and Pazia Speed combined for five free throws for a 53-44 lead with just 58 seconds to play. Connersville hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer for the final margin, which is the closest game JCHS has played all year.

"It's nothing to hang our heads about at all," said Spartans coach Michael Thompson, whose team dropped to 11-7. "They're ranked sixth in the state, they're undefeated, we're on their home floor. But at the same time we're just disappointed ... because we want to win."

Speed turned in her second straight double-double to lead the Patriots with 14 points and 10 rebounds, which held JCHS to a 36-22 advantage on the glass. She also shared the team-high of three assists with Kaelee Keller.

After missing most of the second half Tuesday with a shoulder injury, Wellman came back to total nine points and eight rebounds.

Mann had nine points and seven boards, Gina Muhlenkamp scored eight points and Kaelee Keller added eight points.

The well-balanced offensive effort included eight 3-pointers for JCHS, which shot 53 percent from long distance. Three of those came from Muhlenkamp.

"Gina hit some big three's for us," said Comer. "One thing about Gina is she gets overlooked for her defense. She's really improved on her defense and she had some tough assignments today."

Two more big triples came at the end of quarters.

Keller buried a 3-pointer at the close of the first quarter off of an assist from Garringer to give JCHS a 13-12 lead. And then Wellman scored off an inbound play at the end of the third, again putting the Patriots up by one.

"If you have the basketball obviously you want to try to get the momentum going into the next quarter," said Comer. "Both Kaelee and Lindsey hit some big shots.

"The one there at the end of the third quarter with Lindsey, she called that herself. She knew we needed a bucket. I said 'no', and she said 'yes', and we ran it, and it was a great call. That just shows what type of player she is. And that's what you expect out of your leaders."

Laura Richards totaled 19 points, 10 rebounds and three assists for Connersville. Amanda McDivitt hit three 3-pointers and finished with 16 points, and Hannah Gobin added eight points and five rebounds.

Junior varsity

Jay County controlled the first quarter and stayed kept the lead throughout in a 36-23 victory over the Spartans.

Kassi Hemmelgarn and Katie Butcher each scored 10 points for the Patriots, who led 8-2 after the opening period. Maria Murphy followed with six points.

Morgan Stamper totaled eight points for Connersville.

Freshman

The Patriots dominated the first and third quarters en route to a 40-13 victory over Connersville.

Jay County was ahead 12-2 after the opening period, and outscored the Spartans 13-0 in the third. LeAnn Horn led the effort with 11 points, and Mariah Hornaday added 10.

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