July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Patriots top host Highland in OAC battle (01/29/05)
JCHS boys basketball
Patriots top host Highland in OAC battle (01/29/05)
By By RAY COONEY-
ANDERSON — The Patriots saw a double-digit, first-quarter lead disappear. Then most of a similar second-half lead went poof as well.
However, they weren’t about to let the home team pull off any late magic.
Jay County’s boys basketball team held strong in the closing minutes, scoring 11 of its final 16 points from the free throw line to defeat the Anderson Highland Scots 67-56.
“I really thought we were mentally tough,” said JCHS coach Craig Teagle. “That little run really wasn’t anything we could control at that point. You just have to continue to fight and battle. ... They had the confidence to continue to execute the game plan. They did a great job.
“I thought the kids came out and played great team basketball in the second half and that’s why they won the game.”
The Patriots (7-5, 1-1 Olympic Athletic Conference) had an early lead of 12 points as Trent Bailey scored 15 of his game-high 29 points on five first-quarter 3-pointers. But all of that advantage was gone in the second quarter.
They built another lead of 16 points early in the fourth period before a wild run knocked off most of it.
Gary McGhee, the Scots’ 6-foot-9 center, turned in a 3-point play and Jake Milikan followed with a 3-pointer to pull to withing 51-41. Jay County pushed the lead back to 14 points with just 1:55 to play when the craziness began.
Corey Comer was called for his fifth foul and then a technical foul for his reaction to the whistle. Jake Reynolds and Zach Erby combined to hit four free throws, and Erby added a 3-pointer to complete a seven-point play. Erby added a quick steal and another bucket, giving Highland nine points in a matter of 25 seconds.
But Jay County executed from that point on, getting two free throws each from Bailey and Tyler Rigby, and an easy hoop by John Retter off a great assist from Mark Kelly. Highland did not score in the final minute.
“They made a quick 9-0 run and coach called a timeout. We knew that if we played smart we still had the game — we still had a big enough lead that if we just played smart we had it,” said Bailey. “We just came out and played smart and did what we had to do.”
Although Highland (3-10, 0-3 OAC) got back into the game, Bailey keyed a ridiculously hot start for the Patriots.
He hit each of his first five field goal attempts, all of which came from 3-point range. He did it as Jay County scored on each of its first eight possessions, opening 7-of-7 from the field.
Bailey finished the game with eight 3-pointers, just one off the school record he set last season at Union City. He was also a perfect 5-of-5 from the free-throw line, leading Jay County to a 19-of-24 effort from the stripe.
Kelly was outstanding in the middle as he battled McGhee. He finished with a double-double, following Bailey with 11 points while adding a gamehigh 13 rebounds.
“Trent started us off really well ...” said Teagle, whose team had never beaten the Scots on their home floor until the 2002-03 season, but has now won their twice in a row and beaten Highland in four straight overall. “(He) played like a senior should play in a conference game on the road. He stepped up big.
“Mark Kelly came off the bench and really played well too. Those two guys as seniors I thought really stepped up.”
The senior duo was followed by sophomore point guard Scott Bruggeman with nine points. He also dished out three assists and had three blocks.
Highland was led by Erby’s 17 points.
McGhee added 15 points, but missed a bunch of shots in the paint and went just 5-of-15 from the line. He also had 13 rebounds and two blocks.
Corey Price added 10 points and six rebounds.
Junior varsity
Jay County made the big plays late, overcoming a four-point deficit in the final minutes for a 38-35 win over the Scots.
The Patriots erased their deficit and had a one-point lead as Anderson Highland took the ball with 29 seconds left. The Scots got a shot off, but Clint Muhlenkamp rejected it.
On the other end of the floor Casey Waters split a pair of free throws for a 37-35 advantage, and Luke McClung made another key play as he grabbed the offensive rebound.
Rhett Retter added 1-of-2 foul shots with seven seconds to go, and Cameron Johnson missed a final 3-point try for Highland at the buzzer.
Retter went wild in the first half, hitting five 3-pointers en route to his game-high 16 points. Waters added 13 points and Jon Wenger scored five.
Johnson hit for 11 points for the Scots, and Jesse Reynolds had eight.[[In-content Ad]]
However, they weren’t about to let the home team pull off any late magic.
Jay County’s boys basketball team held strong in the closing minutes, scoring 11 of its final 16 points from the free throw line to defeat the Anderson Highland Scots 67-56.
“I really thought we were mentally tough,” said JCHS coach Craig Teagle. “That little run really wasn’t anything we could control at that point. You just have to continue to fight and battle. ... They had the confidence to continue to execute the game plan. They did a great job.
“I thought the kids came out and played great team basketball in the second half and that’s why they won the game.”
The Patriots (7-5, 1-1 Olympic Athletic Conference) had an early lead of 12 points as Trent Bailey scored 15 of his game-high 29 points on five first-quarter 3-pointers. But all of that advantage was gone in the second quarter.
They built another lead of 16 points early in the fourth period before a wild run knocked off most of it.
Gary McGhee, the Scots’ 6-foot-9 center, turned in a 3-point play and Jake Milikan followed with a 3-pointer to pull to withing 51-41. Jay County pushed the lead back to 14 points with just 1:55 to play when the craziness began.
Corey Comer was called for his fifth foul and then a technical foul for his reaction to the whistle. Jake Reynolds and Zach Erby combined to hit four free throws, and Erby added a 3-pointer to complete a seven-point play. Erby added a quick steal and another bucket, giving Highland nine points in a matter of 25 seconds.
But Jay County executed from that point on, getting two free throws each from Bailey and Tyler Rigby, and an easy hoop by John Retter off a great assist from Mark Kelly. Highland did not score in the final minute.
“They made a quick 9-0 run and coach called a timeout. We knew that if we played smart we still had the game — we still had a big enough lead that if we just played smart we had it,” said Bailey. “We just came out and played smart and did what we had to do.”
Although Highland (3-10, 0-3 OAC) got back into the game, Bailey keyed a ridiculously hot start for the Patriots.
He hit each of his first five field goal attempts, all of which came from 3-point range. He did it as Jay County scored on each of its first eight possessions, opening 7-of-7 from the field.
Bailey finished the game with eight 3-pointers, just one off the school record he set last season at Union City. He was also a perfect 5-of-5 from the free-throw line, leading Jay County to a 19-of-24 effort from the stripe.
Kelly was outstanding in the middle as he battled McGhee. He finished with a double-double, following Bailey with 11 points while adding a gamehigh 13 rebounds.
“Trent started us off really well ...” said Teagle, whose team had never beaten the Scots on their home floor until the 2002-03 season, but has now won their twice in a row and beaten Highland in four straight overall. “(He) played like a senior should play in a conference game on the road. He stepped up big.
“Mark Kelly came off the bench and really played well too. Those two guys as seniors I thought really stepped up.”
The senior duo was followed by sophomore point guard Scott Bruggeman with nine points. He also dished out three assists and had three blocks.
Highland was led by Erby’s 17 points.
McGhee added 15 points, but missed a bunch of shots in the paint and went just 5-of-15 from the line. He also had 13 rebounds and two blocks.
Corey Price added 10 points and six rebounds.
Junior varsity
Jay County made the big plays late, overcoming a four-point deficit in the final minutes for a 38-35 win over the Scots.
The Patriots erased their deficit and had a one-point lead as Anderson Highland took the ball with 29 seconds left. The Scots got a shot off, but Clint Muhlenkamp rejected it.
On the other end of the floor Casey Waters split a pair of free throws for a 37-35 advantage, and Luke McClung made another key play as he grabbed the offensive rebound.
Rhett Retter added 1-of-2 foul shots with seven seconds to go, and Cameron Johnson missed a final 3-point try for Highland at the buzzer.
Retter went wild in the first half, hitting five 3-pointers en route to his game-high 16 points. Waters added 13 points and Jon Wenger scored five.
Johnson hit for 11 points for the Scots, and Jesse Reynolds had eight.[[In-content Ad]]
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