JC blasts Burris for first win

Win No. 1 is out of the way.

Jay County High School’s boys basketball team used a strong second quarter and had two players eclipse 20 points in a 74-30 victory over the Burris Owls on Tuesday.

It was the home opener for the Patriots, who had started the year 0-3.

“It feels great to finally get this win to start off my senior year,” said Jason Schlosser, who had a career-high 20 points after three straight games scoring 10. His previous high point total was 11 on Nov. 28, 2015, at home against Lakewood Park. “Jay (Houck), Spencer (Calvert) and I were all saying on the bus rides home after a tough loss, saying how we don’t want our senior year to be like this.

“So it’s always great to get a (win) after a few losses and also at your home opener.”

Jay County (1-3) had a 19-12 lead over Burris (1-4) after eight minutes, and Schlosser tallied six of the first eight points for the Patriots in the second quarter. He drove the baseline for a basket, hit a pair of free throws and converted an assist from Jay Houck, who finished with a game-high 24 points.

Burris hit a pair of 3-pointers in the first quarter, and JCHS coach Chris Krieg told his team to play tighter defense. As a result, the Owls scored just four points in the second quarter on 1-of-8 shooting with a pair of free throws. Burris finished the game 7-for-36 from the field. Jay County also had a 12-1 advantage in rebounds during the second quarter.

“I said play them a little tighter,” said Krieg, whose team hosts Yorktown on Tuesday. “I thought we did a great job of boxing out and going and getting the ball, not just blocking out and hoping someone else would go get it.”

The Patriots had a commanding edge on the glass over the Owls, 39-12. Houck led the way with nine rebounds and Schlosser added seven. Cole Stigleman, who also had six points, followed with five rebounds.

“That’s huge,” Krieg said. “You have to go get those rebounds.”

A 24-point outburst in the second quarter helped Jay County to a 43-16 lead at halftime. Houck had seven points in the second quarter and went into the locker room with 18. The Owls had no match for him, as he was able to score in a variety of ways. He got to the hoop easily in the paint, nearly had a dunk on fast break, tipped a rebound in for a basket and added a reverse layup just before intermission.

He also stepped back and hit one of the Patriots’ two 3-pointers in the first quarter.

Houck moved into sixth on the Patriots’ career-scoring list, passing five players in the process. His 854 points puts him ahead of Trent Bailey (853), Andrew Michael (849), Corey Comer (846), Tony Overton (846) and Kegan Comer (842). He is 60 points shy Mark Hardwick for fifth all time.

But while Houck and Schlosser were effective as the two leading players offensively for Jay County, seven others reached the scoresheet. Michael Schlechty tallied six points, Max Moser and Calvert both added five, Ryan Schlechty tallied four and Holton Hill had two. Wyatt Geesaman also had a bucket in the fourth quarter for his first career points.

Moser set a new career-best point total, while Ryan Schlechty and Hill tied their previous career highs.

“I challenged the team other than Jay and Jason,” Krieg said, noting that Houck and Schlosser hadn’t been getting the support they needed through the team’s first three games. “They looked to score more, which made them a threat.

“If you don’t shoot the basketball you’re not a threat.”



Junior varsity

Similar to their varsity counterparts, Jay County limited Burris during the second quarter en route to a 45-20 victory.

After doubling up the Owls in the opening frame, 16-8, the Patriots (2-2) outscored the Owls 17-2 for a 33-10 lead headed at halftime. Both teams were nearly even through the rest of the contest, as the Patriots kept the same margin heading into the fourth.

Parker Grimes paced Jay County with a game-high 13 points. Korbin Auker followed with nine points, and Jordan Stultz chipped in eight points. Elijah Corwin and Wyatt Geesaman tallied four points apiece as every JCHS player who touched the court scored.