A Jay kind of day

Effort, toughness, togetherness and unselfishness – those were some of the ways that coach Sherri McIntire and Molly Muhlenkamp named off to define Jay County girls basketball.

Many of those qualities were on display as the Patriots picked up their 12th-straight victory and their 19th-straight home win.

The Jay County High School girls basketball team played true to form as it had the Concordia Lutheran Cadets at attention before putting them away 59-37 on Tuesday.

“Our ‘Zorro’ shirt says ‘Grit never quits.’ That defines Jay County basketball,” McIntire said. “We’re a team that wants to get on the floor for loose balls. We want to give 110% everytime we’re out on the floor and never quit until the clock hits zero.

“That’s how I especially think of this group of seniors. They just work so hard and play so unselfishly. To me, they’re a great example of what Jay County basketball is.”

The Patriots (14-2) played that way from the very tip. They opened up on a 10-0 run over the first four minutes, including four quick baskets from Muhlenkamp (two of the four), Bella Denton, and Sophie Saxman.

They also closed the quarter on an 11-0 run in the final four minutes. Two baskets came from Schwieterman, while Denton, Saxman each had one. Schwieterman, Saxman and Danielle May combined for a perfect 5-for-5 from the free throw line.

Four of five Jay County players that scored had four or more in the quarter, while four different players dished out assists.

The Patriots hit every shot they took from inside the arc in the first period.

“The chemistry we have with each other is the foundation of all that,” Muhlenkamp said. “We get along on and off the floor. We know where each other needs to be when we are on the floor and just have that connection.”

Along with an efficient offense, Jay County’s 1-2-2 zone and half-court trap defenses were excelling at their jobs of turning the Cadets (6-9) over. Jay County forced six turnovers in the period, resulting in four of its eight field goals.

The only slip up came with 4 minutes, 39 seconds left in the period, when the half-court trap gave up enough of an angle to Alivia Bolinger to get to the rim and score.

Concordia Lutheran started to get its offense running in the second quarter by matching the Patriots pace offensively and relying on Bolinger to score. Full-court pressure slowed down the Patriots at times, creating a pair of turnovers that resulted in buckets, but at others, it allowed for Jay County to get easy looks at the rim once it was broken.

In all, the Cadets scored 13 points in the second quarter, but 15 from the Patriots allowed them to hold a 21-point lead at the break.

All of the Patriots filled out their roles on the team, resulting in a blanched attack. Six players scored for Jay County, all with five or more points. Saxman, Schwieterman and Muhlenkamp led the way with 17, 11 and 10 respectively. The ball was moving fluidly, as Breanna Dirksen, Denton, Muhlenkamp and Saxman all wracked up four assists.

Five players had five or more rebounds, with Muhlenkamp leading the way at nine boards. Following her were Dirksen and Saxman with seven each and Denton ripping down five.

“It’s extremely huge,” McIntire said. “It makes us really hard to guard because they can’t just key on one player when you have several people that can score.

“This group of girls know their roles. They have accepted their roles and right now we are playing some very good basketball because of it.”

Jay County will ride a 12-game winning streak – it also has won 19-straight home games dating back to last season – as it prepares to host the Bluffton Tigers on Friday. Bluffton currently sits atop the Allen County Athletic Conference standings with a 4-0 record in conference, while Jay County is in second at 3-0.

“A lot of people are talking about Bluffton,” McIntire said. “Bluffton has had a great season so far, but we want them going home talking about Jay County and how good Jay County is and how Jay County again is going to dominate the ACAC.

“I think we will come ready Friday night to get that accomplished.”

Junior varsity

Jay County got a pair of strong offensive performances on Friday as it beat Concordia Lutheran 27-17 in a two-quarter contest.

Natalie Carreno led the way for the Patriots (7-7) with 11 points. She hit three baskets in the opening period, including a 3-point play while adding a bucket and two free throws in the closing quarter.

Alexis Sibray also put together a strong performance with 10 points. She had three baskets in the first period and hit all three free throws after being fouled on a shot from beyond the arc.

Joy Hedktke scored the most points for the Cadets with six on one basket and four free throws.