Spartans end Jay's season

FORT WAYNE — The Spartans were nearly on fire from the start.

Once the Patriots found their groove, it was a little too late.

The Jay County High School girls basketball team put together a fourth-quarter run but was outmatched by host Homestead Spartans on Tuesday in an 81-59 loss in the Class 4A Sectional 6 quarterfinal.

“Awfully good basketball team,” said JCHS coach Kirk Comer, whose team ends the year 16-8 after its loss to the second-ranked Spartans. “They are just a very good basketball team. I am really proud of the kids for playing 32 minutes and not quitting.”

Homestead (22-2), which advances to the second semifinal Friday against Fort Wayne South Side, scored the first 13 points of the game thanks to seven points from Madisen Parker, four from Jazmyne Geist and two points by Haley Swing.

“We really like to get out to a quick start in the first quarter,” said Homestead coach Rod Parker, whose team has ended the Patriots’ season in three consecutive years. “Make teams play at our tempo and keep up.

“The other big emphasis is the big third quarter; the first four minutes of the third quarter. Tonight was one of those, I think a handful of games we didn’t come out and gain control of the third quarter. Fortunately we held on to get the win and we’re moving on.”

Audrey Shreve hit a 3-pointer from the right corner with 2:05 to play in the opening period for Jay County’s first points of the game. She added two more shots from long distance and scored all 11 points for the Patriots as they trailed 22-11 after the first quarter.

After leading 42-23 at half, the Spartans went nearly toe-to-toe with the Patriots during the third quarter, only holding a 20-18 advantage for the period. Senior Taylor Homan scored six of her 13 points in the frame.

Back-to-back 3-pointers — one each from Homan and Hanna Ault — cut the Patriots’ deficit to 66-53 with five minutes left in the game.

“We gave them a scare at least,” Comer said. . “I’m just really proud of the way the girls competed. They could have folded up tent but they didn’t.

“We didn’t get the win but it was a good night.”

Ault, who scored a career-high 21 points, made three of her four 3-pointers during the fourth quarter. She only had seven points at half.

“Once she got going she realized she could score the ball, attack and take it to the hole,” Comer said. “Not only that, but they were trying to play off of her because they couldn’t guard her one-on-one. They left her open for the three and she knocked some of them down.”

Unfortunately Jay County wasn’t able to get any closer.

Once the Patriots got as close as 13, Karissa McLaughlin, a University of Florida commit, scored six straight points as the Spartans went on a 12-3 run.

McLaughlin finished with a game-high 31 points, and Madisen Parker ended with 22 points after scoring 17 in the first half. Geist totaled 10 points to join them in double figures.

“They are awfully good,” Comer said. “When you have four girls that are going to play college basketball they have a lot of weapons. When you try to stop one, someone else hits a three.”

The Spartans finished 9-for-23 from behind the 3-point line. Parker drained four and McLaughlin had three, often benefitting from solid ball movement and rotation around the arc to get open looks.

But, even with a defender near, the shots seemingly always went through the hoop.

“You can’t give them open looks, and even if you contest they can still hit them,” Comer said. “They are very good.”

Jay County’s senior class — Emily Muhlenkamp, Kyndal Miller, Britlyn Dues, Shreve and Homan — leaves with a 62-40 record, three Allen County Athletic Conference tournament championships, two outright and one share of the ACAC regular season title.

“They are just an outstanding group,” Comer said. “They are great leaders. … Just a fun group to coach.

“They are going to be very deeply missed.”