SCHULTZ DROPS 30 ON HERITAGE FOR NINTH STRAIGHT AC WIN

MONROE—If you didn’t believe that Isaac Schultz was the real deal before Friday night, you may have been hiding under a rock for the past few months. If you still don’t believe it, you probably weren’t at the Hangar Friday night as Adams Central utterly dismantled ACAC rival Heritage in a 71-41 thrashing and Schultz knocked down 13 shots to put 30 in the scoring column to go with five rebounds.

The Jets moved to 10-4 with their ninth consecutive victory after a clumsy 1-4 post-football start.

The contrast between the game two weeks earlier between the same two teams was stark. Adams Central was phenomenal from the floor, knocking down 9 of 15 from behind the arc, including a 3 for 3 night by Braylend Reber.

The home team provided a preview of the night on the first few possessions of the ballgame, getting two free throws from Schultz after he was fouled inside and then knocking down a three on the next possession.

Adams Central played solid defense down low, as demonstrated by a turnover forced by Ethan Poling on Howie Kaiser in the paint, leading to a three by Micah McClure to put the Jets up

DECATUR—Bellmont hosted NE8 foe Leo in girls basketball action Friday night. It was the final tune-up before Sectional play begins next week. It was also Senior night and though it wasn’t a prolific offensive showing, the Braves won the game handily 48 – 23.

Prior to the varsity game, Bellmont honored the three senior members of the team: Rachel Bleke, Sydney Keane and Ellen Scott.

“These three seniors bring a toughness to our team that has been a big part of our success” said coach Andy Heim. “I ask a lot of these girls and they have done a great job for four years and especially leading the team this season.”

The game began with both sides as cold as the weather for the first three possessions. It was Keane who broke the ice with the opening score of the game. Fellow senior Scott then buried a trey followed by the third senior, Bleke with a free throw.

A basket by Keane gave Bellmont an eight to zero run before Leo was finally able to score. It was Leo’s only score of the quarter as the defense dominated and Bellmont led ten to two at the first stop with all ten points scored by the seniors.

Emily Bleke joined the scoring column to open the second period for the Braves. The Lady Lions were able to manage seven points but the Braves scored fourteen to take a 24 – 9 lead at halftime, turning defense into offense time and again. Keane had six, Rachel four and Emily four with many of the points as a result of the Bellmont pressure defense.

Quarter number three featured more stifling defense by the Braves as they held Leo to just one basket while putting in twelve points of their own to open up a 36 – 11 lead and essentially put the game away.

In the final stanza, Leo cut into the lead briefly with a pair of three-point baskets, but Bellmont responded as Tessa Spiegel, Macie Spiegel, Kam Jarvis and Arabelle Laurent came off the bench and scored for the Braves preserving the victory.