Jay County girls improved to 3-0

‘‘Twenty-five years ago this week, the Jay County High School girls basketball team extended its season-opening winning streak.

The Nov. 23, 1996, edition of The Commercial Review featured coverage of the Patriots’ 53-38 victory over Bellmont in the school’s winter homecoming game.

Jay County, which had cruised in its first two games of the season, was in control throughout against Bellmont as well. It opened on a 10-1 run and coasted through the next two quarters.

It had a 10-point lead heading into the final period, when it used its superior depth to break the game open with 21 points.

Senior Kerri Evans shot 8-of-10 from the field and made two free throws to lead the Patriots, who improved to 3-0, with 18 points. (They had opened the season with consecutive blowout wins.) She also had seven rebounds and four steals

Junior Julie Marsh shot 8-of-12 from the line en route to her 16 points. She added a game-high eight rebounds.

Nikki Hosier scored six points as she hit a pair of 3-pointers, and April Frazee and Denae Denney had four apiece. Linda Chas chipped in three points and April Hines had two points.

Jessah Martin was the lone Bellmont player in double figures as she scored 11 points.

The Patriots’ season would come to an end with a 53-49 loss to eventual champion Blackford in the sectional tournament at Eastbrook.

The JCHS junior varsity team also stayed undefeated with a 28-18 victory. Amy Huelskamp led the way with eight points and Megan Campbell added seven.