Jay to visit Alexandria

Jay County Patriots
Portland, 16-4
Coach: Craig Teagle, 17th year
Conference: Allen County Athletic
Saturday vs. Wayne: Jay County limited Wayne to a mere two points in the second quarter and finished the game 53 percent from the field in a 35-17 victory against the Generals. Adam Dirksen (13 points, 12 rebounds)?and Jay Houck (10 points, 11 rebounds)?both had double-doubles for JCHS.
Season leaders (per game): Points — Adam Dirksen 11.9, Houck 11.2, Justin Dirksen 7.9. Rebounds — Adam Dirksen 5.1, Houck 4.4. Assists —Zach Pryor 3.6.

Alexandria Tigers
Alexandria, 10-9
Coach: Dean Morehead, first year
Conference: Central Indiana
Thursday at Muncie Burris: Alexandria used a big second quarter take a 23-point lead into halftime and put the game out of reach in the third quarter, beating the Owls 82-52 in Muncie. The victory put the Tigers above .500 for the first time this season after they went 3-7 through the first 10 games.
Season leaders (per game): Points — Braden Waren 17.6, Blaize Kelly 13, Jake Thurston 8. Rebounds — Kelly 5.5, Waren 5, Thurston 4.5.

Last season: Jay County freshman Jay Houck tied the game at 51 with five seconds to play, but the Patriots let Alexandria’s Evan Hodges run the length of the court for the game-winning bucket at the buzzer. The Tigers had shot 9-of-14 from behind the 3-point line, and Jay County overcame a 12-point deficit in the second half.

Game notes: This is the seventh meeting between Alexandria and Jay County, with the series tied at three games apiece. The Patriots had won the previous three games before losing at the buzzer last season ... Jay County leads the state in defensive average, allowing fewer than 32?points per game. The 17 points the Patriots allowed to Wayne was the fewest points they’ve given up all season, one point better than the previous season-low of 18 to Randolph Southern on?Dec. 20 ... The Tigers are riding a six game win streak, including three straight victories against conference foes. It is their only winning streak of the season.