July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Seniors shine in home finale (02/18/04)
JCHS boys basketball
Seniors shine in home finale (02/18/04)
PORTLAND — The Jay County boys basketball team finished its 8-2 home season just as it hoped it could. Its five seniors all saw the floor together for the first time, and in the fourth quarter coach Craig Teagle brought senior starters Heath Williams and Dustin Overton off the court for the final time to a standing ovation.
The departing Patriots got to finish their home careers in style thanks to a dominating 66-36 victory over the Randolph Southern Rebels Tuesday.
“That was our hope,” said Teagle as he praised his five seniors for their hard work and dedication. “You never know how a game is going to play out. Our goal before the game was to try to let our seniors all out on the floor together.”
That task became fairly easy as Jay County’s 30-18 halftime lead balooned to 19 points midway through the third quarter. And when the seniors got in together, they did not disappoint.
Andy Wellman, who Teagle called the best shooter in the program when he joined the team this year, hit all of his three 3-point attempts. He got the crowd hopping with eight straight Patriot points in the fourth quarter, and finished with a career-high 11 points.
“Everybody was pushing me all day,” said Wellman, who also had four rebounds and two assists. “I just had to do it.
“I do it every day in practice. I knew I could do it, I just had to show it.”
Teagle said he hoped an effort like Wellman’s, and the extended playing time for seniors Mike Alberson (seven points) and Drew Lloyd would give them more confidence when called on down the stretch and in the tournament.
Williams and Overton appropriately shared scoring honors for the Patriots with 12 points in their final home tilt.
Overton had seven of his points in the first quarter, and finished the first half with a put-back at the buzzer. He went 5-of-9 from the field, notched a team-high eight rebounds, and kept Randolph Southern shooters off-balance with four blocks.
His work on the glass led Jay County to a 30-21 rebounding advantage.
“It’s sad, real sad actually,” said Overton of his final home contest. “All day at school today I was thinking this would be my last game I played on this floor.”
Overton said its been the great home fans, and getting to team with former players such as Kevin Bruggeman, Matt Wendel and Ben Reinhart, that has made his high school career so special.
“It’s been an honor to play for coach Teagle,” he added. “It’s like a second family.”
That statement may be true for Williams more than anyone else in school history. The point guard has played in more games than anyone for Jay County — his total is now at 81 — only missing three games because of an ankle injury early this season.
Williams scored eight of his points Thursday in the third quarter, including five in a row to open the second half. He went 5-of-8 from the field and 2-of-3 from 3-point range to lead a 53-percent shooting effort by the Patriots.
He added four rebounds and a team-high three assists.
“It’s went too fast,” said Williams. “I can’t believe its time to move on already. It seems like just yesterday I started. It flew by. I can’t believe it’s over.
“I just wanted at the last home game to leave it all on the floor so the fans could remember me with a good game.”
Williams said his ankle is finally at 100 percent, which has allowed him to emerge as an offensive threat. He has reached double-figures in each of the last two contests.
Teagle said getting his floor general back to top scoring form will open things up for the rest of the team.
“Obviously what it means is players can’t try to pack back into the paint and take things away,” he said. “That was something that was going to come the more he played.”
Trent Bailey had seven points and Mark Kelly added six in support of the effort by the seniors. Kelly also grabbed six rebounds.
Randolph Southern had little success against the Jay County defense, hitting just 31 percent from the field. No Rebel player reached double figures, with Donnie Pruitt, Brock Mills and Steven Warren sharing the team high of eight points.
Victor Deatline had six rebounds, and Jordan Austin added five boards.
Jay County will close its regular season with four straight road contests, beginning at Union City (8-1) Friday at 6:30 p.m.
Junior varsity
The Jay County junior varsity boys basketball team finally pulled away from Randolph Southern in the fourth quarter Tuesday in a 42-31 victory.
The Patriots the by just three at halftime and four heading into the final quarter before putting the game away.
They scored the first seven points of the fourth quarter to finally take control. Tyler Dunnington hit for the first five points with a 3-point play and a driving lay-up, and John Retter followed with a second-chance score
Dunnington paced Jay County with 18 points. John Wenger had seven points, and Zac Green and Retter each added five.
Wes Frame scored nine points to lead Randolph Southern, and Travis Bragg added seven.[[In-content Ad]]
The departing Patriots got to finish their home careers in style thanks to a dominating 66-36 victory over the Randolph Southern Rebels Tuesday.
“That was our hope,” said Teagle as he praised his five seniors for their hard work and dedication. “You never know how a game is going to play out. Our goal before the game was to try to let our seniors all out on the floor together.”
That task became fairly easy as Jay County’s 30-18 halftime lead balooned to 19 points midway through the third quarter. And when the seniors got in together, they did not disappoint.
Andy Wellman, who Teagle called the best shooter in the program when he joined the team this year, hit all of his three 3-point attempts. He got the crowd hopping with eight straight Patriot points in the fourth quarter, and finished with a career-high 11 points.
“Everybody was pushing me all day,” said Wellman, who also had four rebounds and two assists. “I just had to do it.
“I do it every day in practice. I knew I could do it, I just had to show it.”
Teagle said he hoped an effort like Wellman’s, and the extended playing time for seniors Mike Alberson (seven points) and Drew Lloyd would give them more confidence when called on down the stretch and in the tournament.
Williams and Overton appropriately shared scoring honors for the Patriots with 12 points in their final home tilt.
Overton had seven of his points in the first quarter, and finished the first half with a put-back at the buzzer. He went 5-of-9 from the field, notched a team-high eight rebounds, and kept Randolph Southern shooters off-balance with four blocks.
His work on the glass led Jay County to a 30-21 rebounding advantage.
“It’s sad, real sad actually,” said Overton of his final home contest. “All day at school today I was thinking this would be my last game I played on this floor.”
Overton said its been the great home fans, and getting to team with former players such as Kevin Bruggeman, Matt Wendel and Ben Reinhart, that has made his high school career so special.
“It’s been an honor to play for coach Teagle,” he added. “It’s like a second family.”
That statement may be true for Williams more than anyone else in school history. The point guard has played in more games than anyone for Jay County — his total is now at 81 — only missing three games because of an ankle injury early this season.
Williams scored eight of his points Thursday in the third quarter, including five in a row to open the second half. He went 5-of-8 from the field and 2-of-3 from 3-point range to lead a 53-percent shooting effort by the Patriots.
He added four rebounds and a team-high three assists.
“It’s went too fast,” said Williams. “I can’t believe its time to move on already. It seems like just yesterday I started. It flew by. I can’t believe it’s over.
“I just wanted at the last home game to leave it all on the floor so the fans could remember me with a good game.”
Williams said his ankle is finally at 100 percent, which has allowed him to emerge as an offensive threat. He has reached double-figures in each of the last two contests.
Teagle said getting his floor general back to top scoring form will open things up for the rest of the team.
“Obviously what it means is players can’t try to pack back into the paint and take things away,” he said. “That was something that was going to come the more he played.”
Trent Bailey had seven points and Mark Kelly added six in support of the effort by the seniors. Kelly also grabbed six rebounds.
Randolph Southern had little success against the Jay County defense, hitting just 31 percent from the field. No Rebel player reached double figures, with Donnie Pruitt, Brock Mills and Steven Warren sharing the team high of eight points.
Victor Deatline had six rebounds, and Jordan Austin added five boards.
Jay County will close its regular season with four straight road contests, beginning at Union City (8-1) Friday at 6:30 p.m.
Junior varsity
The Jay County junior varsity boys basketball team finally pulled away from Randolph Southern in the fourth quarter Tuesday in a 42-31 victory.
The Patriots the by just three at halftime and four heading into the final quarter before putting the game away.
They scored the first seven points of the fourth quarter to finally take control. Tyler Dunnington hit for the first five points with a 3-point play and a driving lay-up, and John Retter followed with a second-chance score
Dunnington paced Jay County with 18 points. John Wenger had seven points, and Zac Green and Retter each added five.
Wes Frame scored nine points to lead Randolph Southern, and Travis Bragg added seven.[[In-content Ad]]
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