Jay gymnasts suffer first loss

HUNTINGTON — The Patriots were just a little off Thursday.

Jay County High School’s gymnastics team lost for the first time this season in a 102.550-96.5 defeat to the host Huntington North Vikings.

Karlie Bullard was in the top four in all four events as she took first in all-around to lead the Patriots (3-1). She was third on floor exercise as she earned 8.825. She had an 8.2 to place third on balance beam and finished third on uneven bars with 8.1. She added an 8.35 on vault, which was fourth.

Her all-around score of 34.475 was ahead of the Vikings’ Brianna Bates by four-tenths of a point.

Kenzie Ring scored an 8.2 on bars to finish first. She was fifth on floor (8.6), sixth on vault (8.0) and scored 7.425 on balance beam. The freshman’s all-around total of 32.225 was also fourth.

In junior varsity action, Kaitlyn Morningstar was second on vault (7.6) and Lexus Harding placed fourth on beam (4.35).



Boys stay alive

DUNKIRK — East Jay’s seventh and eighth grade boys basketball teams kept their title hopes alive with semifinal victories in the Allen County Athletic Conference tournament at West Jay.

The eighth graders topped host West Jay 38-24, and East Jay’s seventh graders knocked off Bluffton 37-27.

Ethan Dirksen scored 13 points to lead the EJMS eighth graders (13-3). Gavin Muhlenkamp was second with seven points as Gavin Myers and Adam Muhlenkamp both had six points.

Camdin Harrison led West Jay (7-10) with eight points. Trenton Alexander tallied six points while Kess McBride and Quinn Faulkner added five points apiece.

Bennett Weitzel led the EJMS seventh graders (12-4) with 19 points. Blake Bogenschutz and Dawson Hundley had six points each. 

Championship games are at Southern Wells on Saturday. The seventh graders meet Woodlan at 10 a.m. and the eighth graders square off against South Adams at 11:15 a.m.



Chiefs reach final

East Jay Middle School seventh and eighth grade girls basketball teams both advanced to the Allen County Athletic Conference tournament championship with wins Thursday.

The eighth grade Chiefs edged Bluffton 34-32, and meets South Adams at 10 a.m. Saturday at Southern Wells.

East Jay’s eighth graders knocked off West Jay 35-18, and will play South Adams at 11:15 a.m. Saturday at Southern Wells.

Madison Dirksen led the eighth graders (10-7) with 19 points, and Rachel Muhlenkamp contributed six points. Jayden Claytor scored four points.

Renna Schwieterman and Olivia Waters did all the scoring for the seventh graders (16-1). Schwieterman finished with 24 points and Waters had 11.

Gabi Bilbrey led West Jay with 11 points, as Abbie Fields scored five points and Grace Shimp had two points.



Eagles split

DUNKIRK — West Jay’s sixth grade boys basketball teams split with the Muncie Northside Titans on Thursday.

The WJMS A team won 30-27, while the B squad fell 22-13.

Parker Nichols scored 22 points to lead the A team, which also got six points from Liam Garringer and two from Jason Ayala.

Ayala had five points in the B team’s game. Darren Fisher was second with four points as Tommy Adkins and Kevin Stultz chipped in two points each.



Chiefs blank Eagles

The East Jay sixth grade girls basketball teams both defeated West Jay on Thursday.

In the A game, the Chiefs won 37-0, and EJMS picked up a 7-6 win in the B game.

Sophie Saxman led the EJMS A team with eight points, and Molly Muhlenkamp scored six points. Bralee VanSkyock had five points with Breanna Dirksen and Hannah Laux contributing four points.

Maggie Dillon, Brenna Haines and Della Denton had two points each for the EJMS B team.