Patriots top Lions in overtime

The Patriots trailed at the end of each of the first three quarters.

They rallied to force overtime against the Lions.

Then they didn’t give up a point in the extra period.

Jay County High School’s boys basketball team surged in the fourth quarter to force overtime and scored the only two points after regulation to rally past the Leo Lions on Saturday, 44-42.

It is the third straight win for the Patriots (14-5) and sixth in their last seven games.

Leo (5-11) led Jay County 16-9 after the first quarter and went into halftime ahead by six. The Patriots closed the gap in the third period to bring it to 33-32, and managed to tie the score before the fourth-quarter clock ran out.

Michael Schlechty, who a night before set a career-high with 29 points, had the only basket in the overtime period. 

He finished with 10 points, matching brother Ryan and ending one point behind Parker Grimes. Gabe Link chipped in nine points for the Patriots.

Jay County’s junior varsity team came up short, 53-50. Ethan Dirksen had a game high 18 points, and Gavin Muhlenkamp was second with 14 points.

The Patriot freshman squad also lost, 35-33. Gavin Myers led all players with 15 points.

Patriots beat Bearcats

MUNCIE — Kenzie Ring and Karlie Bullard combined to finish first in all five events Saturday as the Jay County gymnastics team defeated Muncie Central, 98.2-87.975, at Ball State University.

Ring, a sophomore, had the top spot on vault with an 8.7. She also scored 8.3 on uneven bars for first, and her all-around total of 33.975 beat the field.

Ring was also second on beam and floor.

Bullard, a senior, earned top scores on balance beam (8.35) and floor exercise (9.325). She also finished second on vault, second in all-around and fifth on bars.

Riley Leavell tied for third on bars, and was fourth on beam, fifth on vault and sixth on floor.

Randi Ferguson was fourth and sixth respectively on floor and vault.