Denton dominates

MUNCIE — Sophie Saxman has been on fire offensively for the last nine games. Over that span, Saxman averaged 16.1 points per game with only one game under 10 points.

The Eagles came in with a plan to slow Saxman down.

Bella Denton stepped up to the plate for the Patriots offensively on a night in which they struggled to finish around the rim.

Denton’s 16 points was tied for the game-high and played a key role in the Jay County High School girls basketball team’s 60-36 win Thursday over the host Delta Eagles.

“Well, obviously I didn’t think we played our best game,” JCHS coach Sherri McIntire said. “Our expectations of this team are very high. … We had moments where we played well, but I felt there were times where we definitely played sloppy and not like we’d need to play to win a sectional title.”

While other players struggled to get going from the field, Denton was one of the bright spots. The senior’s 61.5% field goal percentage (8-of-13) was the best of all Jay County’s players who took more than four shots.

Denton hit three of the six first-quarter baskets for Jay County (18-2). When Saxman got the ball off of a post up, Denton’s defender would leave for a double-team, but she was able to find Denton for two of her three opening-period hoops.

“Hats off to Sophie Saxman because she helped (Denton) get a lot of those points because they were doubling and Sophie was able to find Bella,” McIntire said. “Bella did an excellent job finishing and played with a lot of confidence tonight and that’s what we need.”

Denton’s only other points of the first half came on a buzzer-beater to send the Patriots to halftime up 13 points. As part of a broken play, the ball wound up in the hands of Meredith Dirksen, who passed it into the post for Denton. She made a quick move towards the baseline to hit a hook shot over her left shoulder as time ran out.

Denton hit four more shots in the fourth quarter, two of which came on offensive rebounds. She scored the final six points of the game.

“I was moving toward the open area,” Denton said. “My teammates are very good at attacking the basket and dishing it to me, so that makes my job a lot easier.

“We were seeing each other really well today. We were all drawing in the defense to get good looks and we had good passes.”

Outside of Denton, Jay County struggled from the field, shooting 15-of-52 (28.8%). Thirty of Jay County’s missed shots came in or just outside of the paint.

One saving grace for the Patriots was the turnover battle. Their 1-2-2 defense caused Delta (10-9) to cough up the ball 30 times. Ten of the Eagles’ turnovers came in the first four minutes, with three more coming in the first quarter to help Jay County build a 15-8 lead.

“It was definitely back and forth with turnover after turnover for both teams,” JCHS guard Hallie Schwieterman said. “I feel like the difference was when we made a turnover, we went back and hustled hard enough to get the ball back without a score.”

Schwieterman tied Denton with a game-high 16 points. Her nine rebounds matched Molly Muhlenkamp and she led in assists (five) as well.

Jillian Barr put together the best performance for Delta. She scored 14 points as the result of back cuts across the Patriots’ zone and set plays out of timeouts.

The Eagles’ lone senior, Paizley Cool, pulled down the most rebounds with eight. Elizabeth Bamidele dished out a game-high six assists.

After the lackluster performance finishing near the basket, McIntire plans to challenge her team in practice to ensure it doesn’t spiral and respond with a similar performance.

“We need to just have some hard practices,” McIntire said. “Being real honest, we’re probably not going to be challenged in our last two games. That means we have to challenge ourselves in our practices, so we are ready to go for the sectional.”

Junior varsity

The Patriots couldn’t hold onto a lead as Delta earned a 23-18 victory in two quarters, powered by a 13-point final period.

After not scoring in the first quarter, Kyleen Graley hit three shots in the second, matching Jay County’s total from the quarter. A three from Caidyn Freiburger and hoops by Ah’mani Jefferson and Laura McKee put them over JCHS.

Alexis Sibray ended as the Patriots’ top scorer with six points. Meredith Dirksen had five points in only one period, hitting a pair of shots and splitting two free throws.

Freiburger’s eight points led all scorers.