Patriots fall to Oak Hill

CONVERSE — After roaring all the way back from a 28-point deficit Thursday, the Jay County High School wrestling team fell 37-32 to the host Oak Hill Golden Eagles.
The Patriots won the opening heavyweight match with a 4-1 victory from Matt Shrack, but proceeded to drop every contest from 103 through 135 points. Trailing 31-3, JCHS came roaring back with six straight wins for a one-point lead, only to drop the final match of the night.
Drake Meska, the No. 10 ranked wrestler in the state at 145 pounds, dropped down to 140 against Oak Hill as he ran his season record to 19-1. He started the Patriots’ comeback with a 4-0 victory over Bo Ketring.
Sophomore Kyle Garringer (189) turned in the fastest pin of the evening for Jay County, which is now 11-9, finishing off Brodie O’Banion in 1 minute, 5 seconds. Dyllan Derrickson  (160) and Zach Metcalf (171) each ended their matches with pins in the second period.
Kyle Davidson (145) and Nick Leonhard (152) each won by major decision by scores of 12-3 over Chris Cunningham and 13-1 over Aaron Hiles respectively.

EJ girls roll
PONETO — The East Jay Middle School girls basketball teams each limited the Southern Wells Raiders to fewer than 15 points Thursday, with the seventh graders turning in a 20-11 victory and the eighth grade team winning 28-12.
Breanne McIntire scored 10 points to lead the Chief eighth graders, who outscored Southern Wells 14-4 in the third quarter. Malarie Houck added nine points.
Gabby Hart’s eight points led the EJMS seventh grade squad, which shut out the Raiders in the second quarter. Cheyenne Loy and Ava Kunkler each scored four points.
 
Chief boys rally
East Jay’s eighth grade boys basketball team fought back from a double-digit deficit Thursday to knock off visiting Southern Wells 52-51. The seventh graders lost, 36-29.
The Chief eighth graders trailed by 14 points in the fourth quarter, but fought back to within  a point in the final minute. Justin Dirksen came up with a steal with six seconds remaining and passed to Zach Pryor, who hit the winning basket just before time expired.
Pryor finished with a team-high 17 points, and Jalen Ryder added 12.
Bryce Hensley, Isaac Alfont and Bowen Runyon each tallied eight points for the EJMS seventh graders, who led by three at the half.

WJ 8th wins
DUNKIRK — Kay Morgan came up big for the West Jay eighth grade girls basketball team in a 16-9 loss to the visiting Winchester Golden Falcons. The seventh grade squad lost 18-16.
Morgan racked up nine points for the Eagle eighth graders, who are now 2-4. Breea Holdcroft scored four points.
Emilie Walker matched Morgan with nine points for the seventh grade team (1-5).
Serrena McCaffery added three points.

Grimes places 1st
Parker Grimes was the winner in the youngest age group at the Portland Elks’ Hoop Shoot contest.
Grimes finished first in the 8-9-year-old boys division, and Noah Arbuckle placed second.
Winners in the 9-10-year-old division were Noah Hummel for the boys and Sydnee Lee for the girls, with Ryan Schlechty and Klarisa Hemmelgarn as the runners-up.
Mitch Bruggeman and Andy Kohler finished first and second in the 12-13-year-old boys division, and Gabby Hart and Kelli Morningstar went one-two in the 12-13-year-old girls division.[[In-content Ad]]