Hot start keys JC

DECATUR — The Patriots had made a habit of starting slowly in their first three games.
On Friday night, they solved that problem.
Jay County High School’s girls basketball team exploded for 21 first-quarter points against the host Bellmont Squaws, taking control early on the way to a 62-40 victory.
Senior Abby Wendel sparked the big first quarter for the Patriots, who improved to 4-0, scoring half of her game-high 18 points in the opening eight minutes. She, Hanna Ault and Lyla Muhlenkamp all connected on 3-pointers in the period.
After the Squaws (1-4) closed to within eight at the half, JCHS gradually pulled away as it led by 14 after three quarters and then doubled up the home team 16-8 in the fourth.
Wendel shot 8-of-13 from the field on the way to her game-high scoring total. She also led the Patriots with nine rebounds.
Ault was the only Jay County player to score in all four quarters as she followed Wendel with a season-best 13 points. Muhlenkamp buried a 3-pointer in each of the first three quarters as she notched 11 points to reach double figures for the second consecutive game.
Ava Kunkler added eight points and five rebounds, and Shelby Caldwell finished with seven points.
Bellmont, which picked up its only win 50-44 over Woodlan, got 12 points from Amanda Hunter. She scored 10 of those in the second quarter.
Ashley Hamrick followed with eight points, and Alyssa Selking scored seven.
Jay County will be back in action tonight as it travels to Winchester to take on the Golden Falcons.

Junior varsity
The Patriots pulled away in the third quarter to stay undefeated with a 45-35 victory over Bellmont.
Jay County led by five at the half before outscoring the Squaws 16-8 in the third quarter behind six points from Briana Muhlenkamp to take command. The win pushed the team to 4-0 on the year.
Gwen Omstead paced the Patriots with 11 points, eight of which came in the first half. Klarisa Hemmelgarn followed with nine points, Briana Muhlenkamp had eight and Audrey Shreve and Sam Twigg tallied five apiece.
Bellmont got nine points from Allyson McBride. Sarah Enterline and Samantha Sonnenberg each chipped in six.