Patriots, Starfires to meet in Berne

Jay County Patriots
Portland, 10-3 (2-1 ACAC)
Coach: Craig Teagle, 17th year
Conference: Allen County Athletic
Saturday vs. Leo: Jay County turned the ball over on six straight possessions in the second quarter and saw its two-point deficit balloon into a 14-point hole in a lopsided, 59-42 loss in the ACAC?tournament title game to the Leo Lions. It was the second loss of the season to Leo. Jay Houck led the Patriots with 14 poiints and Adam Dirksen added nine in Jay County’s first year in the ACAC tournament.
Season leaders (per game): Points — Adam Dirksen 12.1, Jay Houck 10.9, Justin Dirksen 7.3. Rebounds — Adam Dirksen 5.2, Justin Dirksen 4.4. Assists — Zach Pryor 3.2.

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South Adams Starfires
Berne, 4-6?(0-3 ACAC)
Coach: Andy Brown, fourth year
Conference: Allen County Athletic
Saturday at Heritage: South Adams erased a nine point deficit in the fourth quarter to defeat Heritage 45-36 in the consolation game of the ACAC?tournament. Cole Myers led South?Adams with 15 points and?Derek?Wanner added 14. It was the first win for the Stars after dropping consecutive games to Leo by a combined margin of 40 points.
Season leaders (per game): Points — Cole Myers 13.6, Derek Wanner 10.6, Conner Sealscott 10.5. Rebounds — Sealscott 7.7, Wanner 6.6. Assists — Jared?Grabau 2.3.

Last season: Jay County capitalized on 18 South Adams turnovers, including 13 in the seocnd half, in a 61-32 home victory against the Starfires. JCHS senior Jared Schlosser led all players with 18 points and classmate Zach Fullenkamp added a dozen, including a fourth-quarter dunk over a South Adams defender. Derek Wanner paced the Starfires with 12 points.

Game notes: This is the 41st meeting between Jay County and South Adams, but the first as conference opponents. The?Patriots hold a 34-6 advantage in the series and have won the last 13 games against the Starfires. Each of the last five meetings have been decided by more than 21 points ... South Adams snapped a 21-game losing streak with its 55-39 victory Dec. 20 against Parkway, and has gone 3-2 since it recorded its first win of the season ... Jay County is No. 1 overall in the state in defensive average, surrendering fewer than 34 points per game ... The Starfire offense is scoring more than 58 points per game, while its defense is allowing more than 60 points each game.