July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Patriots earn chance at repeat (02/14/04)
JCHS girls basketball
Patriots earn chance at repeat (02/14/04)
ELWOOD — Don’t try to figure it out. When it comes to the Jay County girls basketball team, just sit back and watch.
Just days after barely surviving against a three-win Mississinewa team the engimatic Patriots earned a berth in the sectional championship game with a 51-47 victory over the Delta Eagles Friday.
Jay County defeated Mississinewa by 44 points during the regular season and had a 16-point lead over the Indians with five minutes to play, but still needed a Lisa Weitzel buzzer-beater to force overtime in Tuesday’s win. The Patriots never led by more than seven against Delta, but held on despite missing the front end of three one-and-bonus attempts in the final 1:09.
They sealed the game when Felisha Parr did sink a couple of free throws with 10 seconds to go as they were aided by 13 second-half turnovers by the Eagles.
“I thought we really played as a team and really played together,” said Parr, who notched team highs of 16 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double. “We were ready after the other night. We were ready to play.”
“I think in crunch time tonight these kids didn’t crumble under pressure,” said Jay County coach Lea Selvey, whose team did make five of six free throws down the stretch including Parr’s pair.
This sectional road is becoming typical for the Patriots. They nearly lost to a one-win Peru team in their first game last year, but won the sectional championship the following night with a double-overtime triumph over Norwell.
This year’s mystery tour continues tonight when Jay County (13-8) will try to win its second straight sectional title as it plays the Tipton Blue Devils at Elwood at 7:30 p.m. Tipton (10-11) reached the championship game with a 45-40 win over the Blackford Bruins (8-12) in Friday’s second semifinal contest at Elwood.
The Patriot lead jumped as wide as 46-39 Friday as Parr and Sarah Dirksen each scored four points in a 10-3 run to open the fourth quarter.
The Eagles (8-13) pulled within one, scoring the next six points in a row as Jay County stumbled at the foul line. The lead was again one point at 48-47, but the rally died as three starters — Kelly Costello, Megan Grider and Elizabeth Capstick — fouled out in the final 45 seconds.
Delta also missed chances down the stretch as it turned the ball over and missed the front end of two one-and-bonus chances.
Eagle coach Joe Eden said he felt his team’s 22 turnovers along with key offensive rebounds by Jay County kept Delta from reaching the sectional finale.
“The coaches and I were talking about (our energy) most of the game,” said Eden. “We didn’t look like we were ready to play. That’s been a problem for us all year.”
Jamie Bruggeman joined Parr in double figures for the Patriots with 13 points. Sarah Dirksen had six points and eight boards, and Lindsay Friddle finished with five rebounds and three assists.
Leah Gasparovic came off the bench for eight points and seven rebounds, and Renae Laux had five points in a reserve role.
“I feel like we have eight starters,” said Selvey, who also got valuable minutes from Weitzel. “We have three kids coming off the bench and playing very well for us.”
Jay County and Delta took turns controlling the first three quarters of the game.
A 3-pointer at the first-quarter buzzer by the Eagles’ Whitney Gray tied the game at 14-14. The Patriots trailed 22-18 in the second period, but outscored Delta 9-0 in the final 1:58 of the first half for a five-point advantage at the intermission.
Jay County bumped the lead to 29-22 with the first hoop of the second half only to have Gray score eight points — including two 3-pointers — in a 12-0 Eagle run. The Patriots closed the third quarter on a 7-2 streak to tie the game at 36 apiece and took the win in the final period.
After coughing up the ball over 23 times against Mississnewa Tuesday, Jay County had just 12 turnovers in its semifinal win.
“We knew that’s what we had to do,” said Jamie Bruggeman. “We had to take care of the ball and play smart.
“We just came out with a lot of intensity and were ready to play. We played good solid defense.”
Amanda Downing finished with her second double-double in as many games against Jay County this year. She matched Gray with a team-high 16 points and also grabbed 12 rebounds.
Capstick had 10 rebounds, and Gray added eight to go along with four assists. Costello was next with eight points and six boards.[[In-content Ad]]
Just days after barely surviving against a three-win Mississinewa team the engimatic Patriots earned a berth in the sectional championship game with a 51-47 victory over the Delta Eagles Friday.
Jay County defeated Mississinewa by 44 points during the regular season and had a 16-point lead over the Indians with five minutes to play, but still needed a Lisa Weitzel buzzer-beater to force overtime in Tuesday’s win. The Patriots never led by more than seven against Delta, but held on despite missing the front end of three one-and-bonus attempts in the final 1:09.
They sealed the game when Felisha Parr did sink a couple of free throws with 10 seconds to go as they were aided by 13 second-half turnovers by the Eagles.
“I thought we really played as a team and really played together,” said Parr, who notched team highs of 16 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double. “We were ready after the other night. We were ready to play.”
“I think in crunch time tonight these kids didn’t crumble under pressure,” said Jay County coach Lea Selvey, whose team did make five of six free throws down the stretch including Parr’s pair.
This sectional road is becoming typical for the Patriots. They nearly lost to a one-win Peru team in their first game last year, but won the sectional championship the following night with a double-overtime triumph over Norwell.
This year’s mystery tour continues tonight when Jay County (13-8) will try to win its second straight sectional title as it plays the Tipton Blue Devils at Elwood at 7:30 p.m. Tipton (10-11) reached the championship game with a 45-40 win over the Blackford Bruins (8-12) in Friday’s second semifinal contest at Elwood.
The Patriot lead jumped as wide as 46-39 Friday as Parr and Sarah Dirksen each scored four points in a 10-3 run to open the fourth quarter.
The Eagles (8-13) pulled within one, scoring the next six points in a row as Jay County stumbled at the foul line. The lead was again one point at 48-47, but the rally died as three starters — Kelly Costello, Megan Grider and Elizabeth Capstick — fouled out in the final 45 seconds.
Delta also missed chances down the stretch as it turned the ball over and missed the front end of two one-and-bonus chances.
Eagle coach Joe Eden said he felt his team’s 22 turnovers along with key offensive rebounds by Jay County kept Delta from reaching the sectional finale.
“The coaches and I were talking about (our energy) most of the game,” said Eden. “We didn’t look like we were ready to play. That’s been a problem for us all year.”
Jamie Bruggeman joined Parr in double figures for the Patriots with 13 points. Sarah Dirksen had six points and eight boards, and Lindsay Friddle finished with five rebounds and three assists.
Leah Gasparovic came off the bench for eight points and seven rebounds, and Renae Laux had five points in a reserve role.
“I feel like we have eight starters,” said Selvey, who also got valuable minutes from Weitzel. “We have three kids coming off the bench and playing very well for us.”
Jay County and Delta took turns controlling the first three quarters of the game.
A 3-pointer at the first-quarter buzzer by the Eagles’ Whitney Gray tied the game at 14-14. The Patriots trailed 22-18 in the second period, but outscored Delta 9-0 in the final 1:58 of the first half for a five-point advantage at the intermission.
Jay County bumped the lead to 29-22 with the first hoop of the second half only to have Gray score eight points — including two 3-pointers — in a 12-0 Eagle run. The Patriots closed the third quarter on a 7-2 streak to tie the game at 36 apiece and took the win in the final period.
After coughing up the ball over 23 times against Mississnewa Tuesday, Jay County had just 12 turnovers in its semifinal win.
“We knew that’s what we had to do,” said Jamie Bruggeman. “We had to take care of the ball and play smart.
“We just came out with a lot of intensity and were ready to play. We played good solid defense.”
Amanda Downing finished with her second double-double in as many games against Jay County this year. She matched Gray with a team-high 16 points and also grabbed 12 rebounds.
Capstick had 10 rebounds, and Gray added eight to go along with four assists. Costello was next with eight points and six boards.[[In-content Ad]]
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