Panther threes bury Patriots

INDIANAPOLIS — The Patriots were going up against one of the top teams in Class 4A.

They couldn’t catch up to the Panthers long-distance strikes.

Class 4A No. 3 North Central made a dozen 3-pointers in handing the Jay County High School girls basketball team a 75-43 loss on Saturday.

Jay County (1-1), which is ranked eighth in Class 3A and hosts Oak Hill tonight, fell behind 22-15 after the first quarter and was down 40-26 at halftime.

The deficit turned into a 58-32 hole after the third quarter.

North Central’s Tanyuel Welch led all players with 29 points, including four triples and a 5-for-5 effort from the free-throw line.

Jay County junior Renna Schwieterman went 8-for-11 from the stripe on her way to a team best 19 points. She also had five rebounds.

Sophie Saxman and Madison Dirksen contributed six points, while Gabi Bilbrey and Izzy Rodgers had five points apiece.

Jay County’s junior varsity team lost, 60-42. Stats were not provided.