ADAMS CENTRAL ENDS REGULAR SEASON ON HIGH NOTE

MONROE—Using the final regular season game of the year to prepare for the postseason, the Adams Central Jets also honored their three seniors by beating Lakewood Park Christian at the Hangar and winning their 18th game of the season, the most in over a decade, when the school last won a basketball sectional in 2012.

The visitors jumped out to a fair lead in the opening minutes as the Jets tried to adjust to their Senior Night lineup, but Micah McClure and Isaac Schultz began scoring and the home team was quickly back in front, leading 18-10 after the first quarter on senior night with seniors Ethan Poling, Keaton Springer and Hudson Conkling seeing plenty of playing time early on.

Midway through the second quarter the lead had ballooned to 30-18 as the Jets turned up the defensive pressure. Lakewood Park made a short run with three straight baskets to cut the lead to six points with three minutes to play in the half, but Mason Posey’s airball didn’t fall on the team’s next possession. After a turnover by the Jets, Cameron Hindle slashed the lead to one possession with a deep three from the top of the key, but it was answered immediately by Ethan Poling on the other end.

A foul by Braylend Reber gave the visitors a shot at two free throws, but they hit just one and were punished by Poling at the buzzer on another three, extending the halftime advantage for the Jets to eight points.

Adams Central came out of halftime focusing in on Mason Jolloff and it created the first opportunity for the Jets, who worked the ball around well until Springer found Micah McClure for another three, his fifth of the game, and an 11-point lead.

Trying to keep pace with his point guard, Poling knocked down a third three of his own on his final night in the Hangar to put the Jets up 44-31 and they went into the fourth quarter with an even bigger lead at 52-33.

Ryan Tester pushed the lead to 24 a minute into the fourth quarter and the Jets cruised home from there, winning 72-46.

McClure finished the night with 23 points, while Schultz had 18 and Poling led the senior group with 14. Schultz and Poling each had eight rebounds.

“Micah had a really good shooting night, but I thought they did a nice job of not letting us get the ball into the high post,” said coach Aaron McClure of his team’s frequent attempts from beyond the arc.

Now the team focuses on playing Whitko Tuesday at the Stardome.