Jay Co. girls clinch title

PONETO — Three years, three conference championships.

Jay County High School’s girls basketball team handled the host Southern Wells Raiders by a score of 56-22 Saturday night to clinch a share of the Allen County Athletic Conference championship.

It is the third straight title for the Patriots, who won it outright each of the last two years. A loss to South Adams on Dec. 23, coupled with the Starfires beating Woodlan 43-38 Saturday meant the Starfires and Patriots are tied atop the standings at 5-1.

“I’m really happy with them,” said JCHS coach Kirk Comer, whose team has won seven straight games and improves to 15-7. “To be able to get a share of the conference, for this group with the injuries we’ve had — and to win seven games in a row — this group is just playing at a high level right now.”

That level was just too much for the Raiders (5-17, 2-4 ACAC) as JCHS had runs of 13-0 and 9-0 in the first quarter to lead 22-5 after eight minutes. Jay County’s defense forced Southern Wells into making 10 turnovers, and the Raiders missed all four field goals it tried during the opening quarter.

“I thought we got off to a good start,” Comer said. “We were able to turn them over which we were hoping we could.”

Those turnovers led to easy baskets at the other end for the Patriots.

Taylor Homan recorded half of her game-high 14 points in the opening quarter. She scored on a fast break off an assist from Emily Muhlenkamp, hit a 3-pointer from the top of the arc on another Muhlenkamp helper and then banked a jumper off the glass.

Britlyn Dues also had a solid opening period, scoring six of her nine points in the frame. She made all four of her free throws.

A 10-0 run in the second quarter pushed Jay County’s advantage to 34-9 late in the second quarter before taking a 38-13 advantage into the locker room at halftime.

“Got some easy baskets and were able to shoot a good percentage in the first half,” said Comer. Jay County was 14-for-24 (58.3 percent) in the first 16 minutes and finished 22-of-41 (53.7 percent).

After Southern Wells’ Jessica Yencer hit a 3-pointer to start the second half, things went awry for the Raiders. Southern Wells turned the ball over on nine consecutive possessions while the Patriots used a 9-0 run to get ahead 47-17.

Hanna Ault and Homan scored all nine points, six of which came on fast breaks. Homan kicked off the streak, then Ault added a fast-break bucket before Homan made another basket on an assist from Briana Muhlenkamp. Homan got fouled on the play and made the ensuing free throw, and Ault put back a rebound off her own miss the next trip down the court.

“We just try to keep our intensity,” Comer said. “It is hard to keep high-level intensity when you have a lead like that.”

Since there was no junior varsity game earlier in the night because Southern Wells was shorthanded with injuries, Comer played his reserve players for most of the second half.

Hanna Dillon, who had played at the varsity level in recent games, scored a career-high eight points to tie for third on the team with Ault.

“I thought they got some great minutes which they needed,” said Comer, whose team hosts Richmond on Tuesday. “You never know when we’re going to need them. That is our future and it was good to see them go out there and not only play, but play well.”

Gwen Omstead, Claire Dirksen and Ault shared the game high of four rebounds. All but two of the dozen players the Patriots used got points. Briana Muhlenkamp had three assists and two blocks.

Jada Johnson led Southern Wells with nine points, six of which were in the first half. The Raiders finished with 26 turnovers.