New look, same plan

The Patriots have sustained a successful program throughout the 21st century. They’ve been so good that they’ve had only three losing seasons over the last 23 years. The current senior class was in second grade the last time the Patriots posted a losing record.

They lose their top two scorers and have a new captain at the helm.

So, what’s the plan for the 2023-24 season?

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

The Jay County High School girls basketball team will look to continue its success under coach Sherri McIntire, while shifting to a defensive focus without star Renna Schwieterman or Gabi Bilbrey to man the middle.

Renna Schwieterman, Jay County’s all-time leading scorer and current member of the Purdue Fort Wayne women’s basketball team, averaged 21.2 points per game last season while Bilbrey had 13.3 ppg. Also graduating from the team was Mabrey McIntire (5.3 ppg), meaning that it will only return 36.3% of its scoring from a year ago.

“We're definitely going to have to get offense out of our defense,” Sherrie McIntire said. “This group is very capable of doing that. So we're gonna push the ball up the floor, we're going to be in your face on defense, trying to get you to turn the ball over. … This group is very capable, they play with a lot of grit, and just hard nosed and play with a lot of heart.”

Despite the losses, the Patriots bring back five seniors, including three — Breanna Dirksen, Molly Muhlenkamp and Sophie Saxman — who scored over 100 points.

McIntire will look to those three, along with Bella Denton and Danielle May, to take a hold of leadership roles for the team.

McIntire has already seen Dirksen, Muhlenkamp and Saxman step up offensively for the team.

Beyond being the leading scorers last season, Bilbrey (7.6 rebounds per game) and Renna Schweiterman (6.5 rpg) led the Patriots on the glass. Denton, who is tied with Muhlenkamp as the tallest player on the roster, will help fill in up front for Jay County. McIntire has been impressed with the assertiveness and improvement Denton has made during the offseason.

“I feel like her confidence from volleyball has led into these practices here in basketball,” McIntire said. “She's somebody I think that can score in the paint.”

Along with Denton and Muhlenkamp, the frontcourt will be filled out by Saxman, Meredith Dirksen and Cassie Petro. Natalie Careno may also see time up front as well.

The backcourt will be composed of mostly Dirksen, May and freshman Hallie Schwieterman.

While the Patriots may not have anyone who can dominate or take over a game like they have in recent years, their athleticism and versatility will be a valuable asset. Many of Jay County’s players can play multiple positions. McIntire specifically pointed to Saxman, who can play nearly any position for Jay County if necessary.

“Offensively, I think it's a really good thing, because we have girls that are very versatile, that, you know, several that can play inside and outside,” McIntire said. “Defensively, it depends if we're in man to man, then we're not as deep as we are, if we go zone. So, we'll see how that plays out for us.”

The Patriots will look to take advantage of their athleticism and versatility by pushing the pace offensively.

During the summer season, McIntire said the team at times struggled with turnovers, but would often make up for it by disrupting teams at the other end of the floor.

A big key on the break will be Hallie Schweiterman. As she matures in the game, it will help limit the Patriots’ turnovers.

“She just has a good sense of basketball,” McIntire said. “She’s been around basketball for a long time and understands what it takes to be really good. … She’s definitely going to have some freshman growing pains but she’ll be somebody who will help us from day one.”

Altogether, McIntire is maintaining the high expectations for Jay County this season.

In the preseason AP poll, the voters have Jay County ranked ninth in Class 3A. While McIntire is planning on keeping the system the same for the girls, she’s looking for the production to follow through on the court while still striving for a sectional title.

“I’m just coming in and not trying to fix something that isn’t broken,” McIntire said. “We’re going to do a lot of the same things that have worked for us in the past. That’s where the girls are the most comfortable and we want to utilize that.

“I think we have the potential to have a good season. I don’t read a lot into the rankings … at the end of the day, we just need to be playing our best basketball when it comes to tournament time and see what happens.”