Norwell reigned supreme Friday night in a battle of conference champions, as the NE8 champs went wire to wire in a victory over the ACAC winner Jay County. Lleyton Bailey led four Knights in double figures in the rout.

 

 

Jay County came into the game ranked third in the state in scoring defense, allowing just over 36 points per game. The Patriot 3-2 zone made Norwell work for quality looks, but the Knights took full advantage when they came. All 18 of Norwell's first-quarter points came via the three-ball, as junior point guard Lleyton Bailey went 4-4 from behind the arc in the quarter. Classmate Jake Parker added a pair of threes, and the Knights raced out to a lead.

 

The Knights made it seven threes in the first minute of the second quarter, forcing a Jay County timeout. After the timeout, Norwell's hot shooting from deep began to cool off. The problem for Jay County became keeping the Knights off the offensive glass, as the hustle of forward Luke Graft and Brody Bolyn kept several plays alive.

 

While it was Parker and Bailey in the first quarter, the second period was dominated by Graft and junior guard Luke McBride. The pair combined for 17 of the 19 points Norwell scored in the second period, as the Knights would stretch their margin to 18 points, and their first-half total of 37 would equal what Jay County averaged giving up per game on the season.

 

Ethan Dirksen and Dusty Pearson would each chip in six for the Patriots, who went into the locker room shellshocked after allowing eight made three-pointers by the Knights.

 

Norwell would hit three more three-pointers in the third, as Jake Parker would connect twice and Lleyton Bailey would add his fifth of the evening. Luke McBride was the orchestrator of the Knight attack, as he made plays inside and outside of the Jay County zone to find open teammates in prime scoring opportunities. The hosts would maintain their 18 point advantage heading into the fourth quarter.

 

Jay County would make a final, but futile, attempt to get back into the game, switching defenses and extending their traps out to halfcourt. Unfortunately, the strategy did not pay off for Jerry Bomholt's squad, as it opened the floor for the Knights, who navigated the traps to get layups. The primary beneficiary was Luke Graft, who would add six fourth-quarter points all at the rim to end the hopes of a Jay County rally quickly.

 

Lleyton Bailey led the Knights with 17 points on the back of five three-pointers. He was joined in double figures by Luke McBride, who also added eight assists to go along with his 16 points. Luke Graft helped with 13, and Jake Parker's four three-pointers gave him 12 for the night.

 

Jay County was led by senior wing Ethan Dirksen's 21 points. Dirksen also added four helpers and five steals on the evening. Junior forward Dusty Pearson was the only other Patriot in double figures with 13 points.

 

On the evening, the Knights shot a sizzling 67% from the field, going 26-39, including a remarkable 14-17 from inside the arc. They also outrebounded Jay County 25-16 while holding the Patriots to just 36% field goal shooting at 16-44.

 

 

Jay County  11   8  16  12  -  47

Norwell     18  19  16  18  -  71

 

Jay County: Ethan Dirksen 21 points (6/13 FGs, 3/8 3Ps, 6/8 FTs), 3 rebs, 4 asts, 5 stls; Dusty Pearson 13 points (6/12 FGs, 1/4 3Ps), 3 rebs, 2 stls; Gavin Muhlenkamp 6 points (2/7 FGs, 2/4 FTs), 4 rebs, 2 asts; Josh Dowlen 5 points (2/4 FGs, 1/1 FTs), 2 rebs; Bennett Weitzel 2 points (2/2 FTs), 2 rebs

 

Norwell: Lleyton Bailey 17 points (5/8 3Ps, 2/2 FTs), 4 rebs, 4 asts; Luke McBride 16 points (5/9 FGs, 2/4 3Ps, 2/2 FTs), 4 rebs, 8 asts; Luke Graft 13 points (6/7 FGs, 1/3 FTs), 4 rebs; Jake Parker 12 points (4/8 FGs, 4/7 3Ps), 3 asts; Jon Colbert 7 points (3/3 FGs, 1/1 3Ps), 3 rebs; Brody Bolyn 4 points (1/1 FGs, 2/3 FTs), 4 rebs, 2 asts; Ashton Federspiel 2 points (1/1 FGs), 3 rebs