The Jay County Patriots traveled to Hagerstown on Tuesday, Jan. 21, for a nonconference game. The 3A Patriots, members of the Allen County Conference, are the tallest team the Tigers have faced; their roster includes 11 players who are 6-foot-2 or taller, with the tallest at 6-foot-9. Ironically, when the game was on the line, it was the Patriots’ 6-foot sophomore guard Jayden Comer who delivered the points needed to close out a Jay County 56-49 win.
Kaagen Kendall hit a buzzer-beater 3-pointer to give the Tigers a 22-13 lead at the end of the first quarter before the Patriots came back to take a 32-31 lead at halftime. Landon Lawson opened the third quarter by scoring on a rebound basket to restore the lead to Hagerstown at 33-32. It was the last lead of the game for the Tigers. The Patriots took a 46-42 lead into the final period. With two minutes remaining in the game, Isaac Schmitz scored to pull the Tigers to within 3 points at 52-49 before the Patriots scored the final 4 points of the game.
Comer led the Patriots with a game high of 23 points, which included five made 3-pointers; 6-foot-9-inch Cole Forthofer scored 12 points. Kendall led Hagerstown with 16 points, and Landon Lawson added 11 points and 12 rebounds.
Hagerstown head coach Mark Doerstler said his team is better than their record might indicate.
“It is a shame that society measures success based strictly on wins and losses or how many points and rebounds a player has. Honestly, our record does not accurately reflect who we are,” he said. “We are playing good competition with a lot of young players in our rotation, and they are getting better. I am happy with where we are. We are headed in the right direction to be playing our best basketball at sectional time.”
The Patriot win was the 601st in the career of their legendary head coach Jerry Bomholt.
Jay County (7-5) 13 19 14 10 56
Comer 23, Aiden Phillips 0, Tucker Griffin 9, Graden Swoveland 7, Forthofer 12, Eli Petro 5 — Total 56
Hagerstown (4-9) 22 9 11 7 49
Isaac Schmitz 8, Anthony Kelley 8, Kaden Hall 2, Graham Vinson 2, Kendall 16, Lawson 11, Ronin Dickey 0, Griffin Doerstler 2 — Total 49
JV results: Jay County 65, Hagerstown 61 (Jonny Howard 28)
A version of this article appeared in the January 29 2025 print edition of the Western Wayne News.