Patriots pick up sixth straight victory

For the third consecutive year, the Patriots have won six straight games.

The Jay County High School girls basketball team held the visiting Delta Eagles to just two points in the second quarter on its way to a 55-37 victory Tuesday for senior night.

It was the sixth straight victory for the Patriots, who move to 14-7 on the year. Jay County had two winning streaks of six games last season, and did it once in the 2014-15 year.

The Patriots jumped out to a 15-7 lead after the opening quarter before pushing the advantage to 31-8 at halftime. Delta outscored Jay County in the second half (19-15 in the third quarter, 10-9 in the fourth), but the Patriots’ lead was too much to overcome.

Taylor Homan led all players with 20 points, her third career game reaching the 20-point plateau. Britlyn Dues followed with 15 points while grabbing a team-high nine rebounds. Hanna Ault added 11 points.

Jay County’s junior varsity team beat the Eagles, 48-28. Hanna Dillon led the way with 13 points, Mikele Suman chipped in 10 and Sam Twigg finished with nine as the Patriots moved to 17-3.

Tigers top Tribe

VERSAILLES, Ohio — The Fort Recovery girls basketball team had its 11-point lead disappear Thursday in a 51-43 loss to the Versailles Tigers.

The Indians (10-1, 4-1 Midwest Athletic Conference), who are ranked fourth in Division III, had a 14-9 advantage over the third-ranked Tigers (13-2, 6-0 MAC) after the first period. The Indians were out in front 28-19 at intermission, before taking an 11-point lead 20 seconds into the second half. Versailles used a 20-9 margin in the fourth quarter to take the lead hand the Indians their first loss of the season.

Carley Stone matched her jersey number to score 12 points in leading the Indians, who also got 11 points from Jocelyn Kaiser and nine each from Grace Thien and Whitney Will. Thien had a team-high six rebounds, and Stone notched five assists.

Kami McEldowney of Versailles had a game-high 22 points.

Fort Recovery’s junior varsity team lost, 25-12. Val Muhlenkamp led the Indians with six points, and Chloe Showalter had three.



Stars blast Bruins

BERNE — The South Adams swim teams combined to win all but one event in defeating the Blackford Bruins on Thursday.

The SAHS girls won all 12 events in moving to 12-0 on the year with a 140-36 victory. South Adams’ boys (5-5) finished first in all but one event in their 113-46 triumph.

Ashton Klopp, Brette Klopp and Ashley LeFever each earned a pair of individual wins for the SAHS girls. Ashton Klopp won the 200- and 500-yard freestyle races, while her twin Brette claimed victories in the 200 individual medley and 100 backstroke. LeFever handled the sprint races, the 50 and 100 freestyle.

Isabel Von Gunten (diving), Caroline Kloepper (100 butterfly) and Audrey Burson (100 breaststroke) also won their respective events.

Brayden Collingsworth and Zach Colpaert were dual boy winners. Collingsworth won the 300 and 500 freestyle events while Colpaert was first in the 50 and 100 freestyle.

Zach Teeple (200 IM), Tyler Yoder (diving), Ethan Duff (100 butterfly) and Paul Neuenschwander (100 breaststroke) all picked up wins as well.

Both squads swept all three relays.



Eagles, Patriots split

DUNKIRK — West Jay Middle School’s seventh and eighth grade boys basketball teams split with the visiting Heritage Patriots on Thursday.

The WJMS seventh graders won 37-25, and the eighth grade squad lost a nail biter, 36-34.

Quinn Faulkner poured in 21 points to lead the WJMS seventh graders, who also got eight points from Camdin Harrison, seven points from Trenton Alexander and a free throw from Kess McBride.

Logan Brown paced the eighth graders in the loss by scoring 13 points. Lane Chapman and Hunter Shumaker tallied five points each, while Lewis Crump added four points.



Chief 7th wins title

East Jay’s seventh grade boys basketball team clinched the Allen County Athletic Conference championship Thursday by defeating the South Adams Starfires, 39-35.

The Starfires won the eighth grade contest, 41-33.

Ethan Dirksen totaled 22 points in leading the EJMS seventh graders (12-3, 7-0 ACAC). Gavin Muhlenkamp totaled 10 points, and Adam Muhlenkamp scored four points. Darrius Esparza chipped in two points and Crosby Heniser had a free throw.

Landon Grimes led the eighth grade Chiefs with 13 points in the loss, and Bailey Cox was second with nine points. Brody Auker and Cameron Langenkamp totaled four points apiece.

The EJMS eighth graders fall to 8-7 (5-2 ACAC).

South Adams stats were not provided.



Chief 8th wins

BERNE — Natalie Miles reached double figures in scoring to help the East Jay eighth grade girls hoops team to a 36-22 win over South Adams.

The seventh grade Chiefs fell to the Starfires, 30-20.

Miles led the Chiefs (11-3) with 14 points, with Grace Saxman totaling eight points. Alana Kunkler chipped in seven points, Aubrie Schwieterman scored five and Ana Heath notched two points.

Madison Dirksen tallied seven points to lead the seventh graders (7-7). 

Heaven Hambrock added five points, Andrea Jutte tallied four and Abby Elzey and Rachel Muhlenkamp contributed two points apiece.

South Adams stats were not provided.



Eagles rout Patriots

MONROEVILLE — West Jay’s sixth grade girls basketball team routed the host Heritage Patriots on Thursday, 43-9.

Isabel Rodgers poured in 26 points for the Eagles, with Kaelyn Denney joining her in double figures with 11 points.