NEW CASTLE, Ind. — Jay County entered New Castle's historic Fieldhouse Saturday night riding its first 4-0 start since 2014-15.
But that positive feeling slowly crumbled throughout an evening marred by missed opportunities. The Patriots (4-1) lost their first game of the season, 49-37 to the Trojans (5-1), primarily do an uncharacteristically inefficient shooting outing and a continued free throw shooting problem.
Head coach Jerry Bomholt's boys missed several makeable layups and got their lone triple to fall with the game already out of reach. Players have those nights. He doesn't expect senior Ethan Dirksen to score just 21 points when he could've had 30-plus.