December 16, 2016 at 4:40 a.m.
Defense pulls through for No. 22
Jay County wins 22nd straight game against ACAC opponents
Defense pulls through for No. 22
Stingy defense has been the calling card since Jay County joined the Allen County Athletic Conference.
It’s what had allowed the team to win 21 straight games against its new rivals prior to Thursday night.
The Heritage Patriots were the latest to experience difficulties on offense.
Jay County High School’s girls basketball team allowed one point in the opening eight minutes and forced 24 turnovers in a 61-19 thrashing of Heritage on Thursday.
“We just don’t want to let up,” said JCHS senior Taylor Homan, whose team is now 22-0 against ACAC opponents since joining the conference in 2014. “Don’t let up the intensity. Usually in games like that you get comfortable and you lay back, but we don’t want that — especially in conference games.”
Heritage (4-8, 0-3 ACAC) missed all six shots it took from the field in the opening quarter. Jay County (8-5, 3-0 ACAC) hauled in the rebound after each miss, which kept the visiting Patriots’ possessions short. Often, the home squad simply didn’t let the opponents get into its offense as Jay County forced seven turnovers in the first quarter.
With 1 minute, 21 seconds, remaining in the quarter, Heritage’s Rozlynn Everhart split a pair of free throws for the team’s only points of the frame. Britlyn Dues responded with two freebies and then a basket, and Kendra Muhlenkamp reached in for a steal and a fast-break bucket just before the quarter break.
Homan added a 3-pointer in each of the second and fourth quarters for five total on the one-year anniversary of the night then-senior Lyla Muhlenkamp obliterated the school record with a dozen threes.
“I was glad to see her knock down some shots,” Comer said of Homan. “She’s a really good shooter. I thought we played with a lot of confidence. You’re a lot better shooter when you’re shooting with confidence.”
Homan credited her teammates for finding her when she was open.
“If you’re a shooter you need to take your shots,” she said. “Our point guards do a really good job of getting us open. It’s all because of them. They get me shots.”
Jay County assisted on 15 of its 24 field goals, with Briana Muhlenkamp leading all players with four helpers. Dues chipped in three assists while Emily Muhlenkamp, Kendra Muhlenkamp and Ault had two apiece.
Five straight points from Homan — she had a game-high 17 — pushed the host Patriots’ lead to 27-1. Heritage finally made its first field goal 1:30 into the second quarter on a 3-pointer from Abby Sheehan. It was her only basket of the game.
The visiting Patriots went on a quick 7-1 run thanks to consecutive buckets by Bree Dossen, but hoops by Gwen Omstead, Audrey Shreve and Dues made it 35-8 Jay County, which led by 30 at half.
Dues, a senior, was second for Jay County with 14 points, and Omstead contributed eight points, all of which were in the paint during the first half. Homan, Emily Muhlenkamp and Kendra Muhlenkamp each drove to the hoop to draw a pair of defenders and dished the ball to Omstead for easy layups.
“She’s getting better and better,” Comer said of Omstead, a sophomore who has seen an increase in playing time with the season-ending knee injury to classmate Shelby Caldwell. Omstead had a game-high six rebounds too. “She just needs to continue getting stronger with the ball when she gets in traffic.
“I thought Gwen did a really good job rebounding the ball also.”
Ault hit two 3-pointers and finished with seven points while Claire Dirksen and Hanna Dillon both set career-highs with six and five points respectively.
Junior varsity
Jay County kept Heritage off the scoreboard for more than two quarters in a 36-9 victory.
The host Patriots (12-1) led 13-1 after the first quarter, and didn’t allow another point until the fourth. They scored another dozen in the second for a 25-1 advantage at half, then tacked on eight more in the third for a 33-1 lead heading into the final quarter.
Hanna Dillon led all players with 11 points, and Kendal Garringer was second for Jay County with eight points. Sam Twigg chipped in five points, Hallie Fields contributed four.
It’s what had allowed the team to win 21 straight games against its new rivals prior to Thursday night.
The Heritage Patriots were the latest to experience difficulties on offense.
Jay County High School’s girls basketball team allowed one point in the opening eight minutes and forced 24 turnovers in a 61-19 thrashing of Heritage on Thursday.
“We just don’t want to let up,” said JCHS senior Taylor Homan, whose team is now 22-0 against ACAC opponents since joining the conference in 2014. “Don’t let up the intensity. Usually in games like that you get comfortable and you lay back, but we don’t want that — especially in conference games.”
Heritage (4-8, 0-3 ACAC) missed all six shots it took from the field in the opening quarter. Jay County (8-5, 3-0 ACAC) hauled in the rebound after each miss, which kept the visiting Patriots’ possessions short. Often, the home squad simply didn’t let the opponents get into its offense as Jay County forced seven turnovers in the first quarter.
“I thought defensively we were able to get in the passing lanes and get some steals that enabled us to get some easy baskets,” said JCHS coach Kirk Comer, whose team travels to Berne to take on South Adams on Saturday.
In the opening period, Homan knocked down a trio of 3-pointers, each from the right side of the court. Her first gave the Patriots a 7-0 lead before Hanna Ault followed with a triple of her own. Homan then sank back-to-back 3-pointers on assists from Briana Muhlenkamp for a 16-0 JCHS advantage.With 1 minute, 21 seconds, remaining in the quarter, Heritage’s Rozlynn Everhart split a pair of free throws for the team’s only points of the frame. Britlyn Dues responded with two freebies and then a basket, and Kendra Muhlenkamp reached in for a steal and a fast-break bucket just before the quarter break.
Homan added a 3-pointer in each of the second and fourth quarters for five total on the one-year anniversary of the night then-senior Lyla Muhlenkamp obliterated the school record with a dozen threes.
“I was glad to see her knock down some shots,” Comer said of Homan. “She’s a really good shooter. I thought we played with a lot of confidence. You’re a lot better shooter when you’re shooting with confidence.”
Homan credited her teammates for finding her when she was open.
“If you’re a shooter you need to take your shots,” she said. “Our point guards do a really good job of getting us open. It’s all because of them. They get me shots.”
Jay County assisted on 15 of its 24 field goals, with Briana Muhlenkamp leading all players with four helpers. Dues chipped in three assists while Emily Muhlenkamp, Kendra Muhlenkamp and Ault had two apiece.
Five straight points from Homan — she had a game-high 17 — pushed the host Patriots’ lead to 27-1. Heritage finally made its first field goal 1:30 into the second quarter on a 3-pointer from Abby Sheehan. It was her only basket of the game.
The visiting Patriots went on a quick 7-1 run thanks to consecutive buckets by Bree Dossen, but hoops by Gwen Omstead, Audrey Shreve and Dues made it 35-8 Jay County, which led by 30 at half.
Dues, a senior, was second for Jay County with 14 points, and Omstead contributed eight points, all of which were in the paint during the first half. Homan, Emily Muhlenkamp and Kendra Muhlenkamp each drove to the hoop to draw a pair of defenders and dished the ball to Omstead for easy layups.
“She’s getting better and better,” Comer said of Omstead, a sophomore who has seen an increase in playing time with the season-ending knee injury to classmate Shelby Caldwell. Omstead had a game-high six rebounds too. “She just needs to continue getting stronger with the ball when she gets in traffic.
“I thought Gwen did a really good job rebounding the ball also.”
Ault hit two 3-pointers and finished with seven points while Claire Dirksen and Hanna Dillon both set career-highs with six and five points respectively.
Junior varsity
Jay County kept Heritage off the scoreboard for more than two quarters in a 36-9 victory.
The host Patriots (12-1) led 13-1 after the first quarter, and didn’t allow another point until the fourth. They scored another dozen in the second for a 25-1 advantage at half, then tacked on eight more in the third for a 33-1 lead heading into the final quarter.
Hanna Dillon led all players with 11 points, and Kendal Garringer was second for Jay County with eight points. Sam Twigg chipped in five points, Hallie Fields contributed four.
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