Jets hold Patriots early, but fall in ACAC Semi-Finals

Athena Schwartz (left) of Adams Central battles a Jay County defender inside the arc

The Adams Central Jets stayed with the Jay County Patriots in the first quarter of their Allen County Athletic Conference Girls Basketball Tournament Semi-Final on Friday, but the Patriots took over in the second quarter, eventually winning 56-29 in Monroe.

Jay County (16-4, 4-0 Allen County) downed the Jets earlier in the season, 52-26, at The Hangar on December 8th.

Early in the contest, Adams Central (6-14, 2-4 Allen County) showed a significant improvement on the defensive end from the previous meeting.

Even though Jay County rebounded well, the Jets limited their offensive output in the first quarter.

The Adams Central defense kept the game close early. The offense did its part as well. A big three from Athena Schwartz reduced the Jay County advantage to one at 9-8.

Momentum started to shift, however, with a

Patriot three-pointer at the end of the quarter.

The Patriots led 12-8 after the first eight-minute session.

The visitors from Portland took control of the game from there.

Molly Muhlenkamp put the Patriots up by 10 when she stole a pass and raced the other way for two. She was fouled on the play, but could not convert the free throw to finish the three-point play.

Nevertheless, another quick two for Jay County prompted the Jets to use a timeout.

After the stoppage, Kate Fisher snapped what was an 11-0 run for Jay County when she buried a three from the right wing.

That only temporarily halted the momentum of the Patriots. Muhlenkamp answered with a quick triple to put her team back up a dozen.

Sporting their predominantly blue uniforms, the Patriots continued to surge with another three from Muhlenkamp.

Sporting their mostly white uniforms, the home team could not get much going in the second quarter. They were outscored 18-6 in the second.

When the horn sounded to signal halftime, the Patriots had extended their lead of four points after one quarter to 14 after two.

Remarkably, for as well as Jay County played in the second quarter, they were even better in the third.

While Jay County continued to find ways to put the ball through the hoop, Adams Central had an arduous time establishing the offense after the half. The Jets were held to five points in the third.

Jay County ended the period with a commanding, 43-19 lead.

Adams Central did cut into the Jay County surplus in the fourth quarter, but unfortunately for the Jets, the game was already out of reach at that juncture.

Adams Central reached the semi-finals with a 52-46 win over South Adams at home on Tuesday night.

Jay County, currently sitting atop the ACAC regular season standings, had the benefit of a first-round bye.

Woodlan knocked off Bluffton in the other semi- final on Friday. The Warriors and Patriots will meet at South Adams on Saturday night.

The regular season will resume for Adams Central on Tuesday night at Eastbrook at 7:15.

The Jets are scheduled to host Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian on January 25th at 7:30 p.m.

The sectional draw is set for January 21st.