No upset

CONNERSVILLE — After doubling the Patriots’ scores in the first two quarters of their regular-season matchup, the Eagles weren’t likely expecting the underdogs to keep pace in the playoffs.

A one-two punch of Hallie Schwieterman and Natalie Carreno powered the offense as it kept pace with the run-and-gun Eagles. Good ball security had the underdogs within two possessions for most of the second period.

But the Eagles made some defensive adjustments and the Patriots began to lose steam. And as the turnovers started to pile up, the number of quality looks available started to diminish.

Ultimately, they couldn’t pull off the upset.

The Jay County High School girls basketball team’s season came to an end on Friday as it fell to the Delta Eagles 59-33 in the IHSAA Sectional 24 semifinal hosted by Connersville. The win earns Delta a third matchup with the Yorktown Tigers, who beat 49-42 in the earlier semifinal.

Jay County (10-13) hung with DHS (16-7) by scoring 20 points in the first quarter. The offense couldn’t keep that pace as it only managed 18 points through the other three periods.

“I was proud of the way we started the game and was able to stick with them in the first half,” said JCHS coach Sherri McIntire. “I think we got fatigued and that’s on me as far as the second quarter. Maybe I should have subbed more because I feel like those turnovers had to do with just being tired. … 

“We continued to battle. I think Delta was like, ‘Oh, Jay County’s here to play.’ In that first half couldn’t have asked our kids to play any harder.”

A key to keeping the game close in through the first 12 minutes was limiting turnovers. Despite a full-court pressure from Delta, the Patriots only coughed up the ball three times in the first period as they put up 20 points. They kept things under control for the first six minutes of the second quarter as well.

The game was tied at 26-26 with four minutes remaining before a few turnovers in the front court limited Jay County’s opportunities, while Delta started to take control. JCHS broke the press with 2:05 remaining in the half for a Raylah Newton layup on a pass from Carreno. The Eagles then forced four consecutive turnovers in the backcourt to flip the momentum for good.

“Sherri’s a super smart coach and even last game they broke it pretty easily because they have Schwieterman,” said DHS coach Ty’Ronda Benning. “She’s a very, very good basketball player. As the game went on, I’ve made a couple of adjustments that gave us the edge a little bit. They listened to me and capitalized on those advantages.”

While Newton and Schwieterman each scored within the first half of the third quarter, the Patriots could never get an offensive flow going again. Delta took advantage of a 10 minute, 26 second, scoring drought by JCHS to go on a 16-point run to put the game away. (Three Eagles scored in double figures, including Addison Barnes with 13 and Elizabeth Bamidele with 11.)

Schwieterman and Carreno provided a large lift on the offensive end in the first period.

The former scored the first nine points for the Patriots. The first two baskets came in transition as she broke the press for a layup and later ripped down a rebound and took it to the other end for a jumper at the left elbow. 

She then pulled a quick 3-pointer from the top of the key to go up 7-2 on Delta. After a pair of baskets by Jillian Barr — the Delta forward scored her 1,000th career point with 46.1 seconds remaining in the period en route to a game-high 26 — Schwieterman reclaimed a 9-8 lead with a drive off a high ball screen. Her final points of the period came on a triple assisted by Gabi Petro.

    Jay County’s Alexis Sibray drives on Griffyn Knight of Delta during the the Patriots’ 59-38 loss in the IHSAA Sectional 24 semifinal at Connersville on Friday. The Patriots’ season came to a close with a 10-13 record, which is the first time they finished below .500 since the 2013-14 season. (The Commercial Review/Andrew Balko)

While all of Schwieterman’s points — she finished with 18 — came on the first shot of the possession, Carreno got her work done off the offensive glass. The senior grabbed six offensive rebounds, all of which eventually led to a bucket. She snagged in five rebounds in the opening period, three of which she put back herself and another that she dumped to Newton for the score. (The extra offensive rebound came off of her own miss after an initial board.) She then opened the second quarter with a put-back to round out her night with eight points.

“Obviously Hallie’s our leader and the person we look to to score,” McIntire said. “But then Natalie being able to come in and get some rebounds and working together as teammates is always nice. … We knew we needed to get some rebounds and needed to limit (Barr) and she had 26 but I still feel like we played better against her than we did the first time.”

Despite seeing the writing on the wall, the Patriots found a reason to celebrate a little late in the game. After both teams had cleared out their benches, Allie McAbee got the ball with her back to the basket and Kali Evans guarding her. After a backdown dribble, McAbee got fouled, sending her to the free-throw line. She made the first foul shot, marking her first point on the season and causing the bench and girls with her on the lane lines to burst into cheers.

“Allie’s just a great kid, everyone likes her and she’s come a long way this year,” McIntire said. “It’s fun to see her … have a little success and even more exciting to see her teammates support that.

“Jay County girls basketball has a bright future. We were very young this year and have got everyone coming back but Carreno. And then we’ve got a good eighth grade group coming in, so I think there’s exciting things to look forward to.”