Welcome back Jay (03/01/08)

MARION - This Class 4A experience proved to be a lot more fun.

In its previous 4A stint, Jay County lost every tournament game by at least 15 points. Friday night, the Patriots won their school-record 14th straight game, running away in the fourth quarter for a 60-38 semifinal victory over Huntington North.

"I'm really proud of the kids," said JCHS coach Craig Teagle, whose team is now 17-4. "They put themselves in a sixth straight sectional championship game. There's not a whole lot of programs probably in the state that can boast that."

Jay County has won four sectional titles during that span, but will have the No. 8 host Giants (20-4) in their way when they return to Bill Green Athletic Arena Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. Marion disposed of Fort Wayne North Side (10-11) by a 74-47 count in Friday's first semifinal game.

The second game was close most of the way, with the Patriots up just 40-36 with 4:30 to play in the game. But Jay County caught fire.

First Clint Muhlenkamp, the Patriots' biggest player, drove the lane all the way from the top of the key for a lay-up. He left the rest to the outside shooters, who were more than happy to put the game away.

Billy Wellman buried a 3-pointer at the 3:30 mark, forcing a Viking timeout as they faced a nine-point deficit. Kevin Fisher pulled them back within seven with a pair of free throws, but Wellman immediately answered with another triple. Adam Garringer followed with a third straight 3-pointer, and Huntington North never scored again as Jay County buried 9-of-10 free throws to finish the game on a 15-0 run.

"We're not very good guarding the ball out on the perimeter, so that's why we do our 1-3-1," said Huntington North coach Eric Foister. "Give Wellman credit, he hit two dagger threes there, and then Garringer hit one. That kind of opened it up."

Kyle Simmons hit three of the Patriots' late free throws, finishing off an 18-point night in which he did most of his work in the opening 16 minutes. He scored 15 of Jay County's 26 first-half points and finished 5-of-6 from the field and 5-of-6 from the foul line.

Garringer added 12 points, and Wellman scored 11.

"He shot the ball extremely well. And we've known all year he's a good shooter," said Teagle of Simmons, who is shooting 64 percent from the field this season. "For a guard, that's incredible. And then obviously he's a great free-throw shooter.

"And then every time Billy shoots it or Adam shoots it, you think it's going in too. And they got the hot hand late."

Huntington North (5-16) had the hot hand early, jumping out to a 6-0 lead. But, the Patriots pulled even again at nine and a seesaw battle waged for the remainder of the half.

Jay County was up 21-20 with just over a minute to play in the half when a big swing turned the game in its favor for good. Luke Goetz was fouled on a drive to the basket, and Foister was hit with a technical foul for arguing the call.

Goetz hit 1-of-2 free throws, Simmons converted both technical foul shots and Garringer made it a five-point play with a baseline jumper. Wellman scored the opening hoop of the second half for the Patriots, and Huntington North never reclaimed the lead.

JCHS also drew three charges - including back-to-back plays by Muhlenkamp and Goetz in the first half - and won the battle of the boards despite a decided height disadvantage.

"We always talk about big plays - charges, loose balls and knock aways. Those are plays we have to make," said Teagle. "That's just the type of team we have to be, and I saw a lot of that tonight. ...

"I thought Clint had two or three great offensive rebounds," he added of Muhlenkamp, who grabbed a game-high eight boards. "We did a lot of those little things that we have to do if we're going to be successful."

To earn a third straight regional berth, the Patriots will have to handle a Marion team that has a pair of 15-plus point per game scorers. The Giants have winning streaks of seven and eight games this season.

"We have great respect for (the Patriots) and what they're capable of doing," said Marion coach Joe Luce after his team's victory Friday. "They're going to have great possessions. They're going to defend. They're a team that's not going to beat themselves."

The teams have three common opponents on the year in Muncie Central, Huntington North and Bellmont. The Giants lost to Central by won, but defeated Huntington North by 26 and Bellmont by 27. Jay County topped Central by five and Huntington North by 22 Friday, and lost to Bellmont by six in the season opener.

"Wow. They're not only big, they're athletic, they're quick," said Teagle of Marion's dismantling of North Side Friday. "If they shoot the ball like they did tonight, we're in a world of trouble. I'm not sure how you defend the 'M' out there. ... We're just going to have to try to build a wall around the 3-point line and get those shots contested. And if they beat us, make them hit 10 or 15 of those, but don't let them get to the basket and don't let them get second shot opportunities ...

"And then on the offensive end ... we're going to have to dictate tempo ... If the game's in the 40s, we have a great chance to win the basketball game ..."

[[In-content Ad]]