By Anthony Gorges
JC Post
Derby Panthers sweep Junction City Blue Jays.
Girls recap
The Derby Panthers rolled the Junction City Lady Jays Monday night at Blue Jay Event Center, beating Junction City 80-26.
The Panthers won the opening tip and scored on their first possession and then jumped out to a 29-0 lead before Junction City freshman A'niyah Henry-Rivers made two free throws to break the scoring drought for the Lady Jay’s late in the first quarter. At the end of the first quarter, Derby led 41-4.
In the second quarter, another freshman for Junction City got on the scoreboard. Isabel Pruitt scored all 13 points in the quarter, including a shot at the buzzer to end the first half. Derby led at halftime 62-19.
The entire second half was a continuously running clock, and the Panthers cruised to victory, beating the Lady Jays by a final score of 80-26.
Only two players scored on the night for Junction City, and both were freshmen. Pruitt had 15 points, and Henry-Rivers had 11.
The Lady Jays fall to 1-11 on the season.
Boys recap
In a game where the Blue Jays were without head coach Nick Perez due to an illness, they fought but fell just short, losing to the Derby Panthers 55-51.
The Blue Jays jumped out to a quick start, taking a 13-6 lead, then leading 13-11 at the end of the first quarter.
Both teams picked it up in the second quarter, and the Blue Jays once again took a lead into halftime, leading 26-20 over the undefeated Derby Panthers.
Right before halftime, Junction City Senior guard Jackson Austin injured his hand on a drive to the basket, where he made the shot and was fouled. Austin left the game and did not return.
The defenses for both teams picked it up in the second half, but the Blue Jays held onto a three-point lead, 37-34 going into the fourth quarter.
The Derby Panthers prevailed down the stretch when sophomore Avant Riley hit the go-ahead shot with just under a minute to go in the game. Derby led 52-51. Junction City had a couple of chances down the stretch, but the Blue Jays were called for a travel on one possession and then missed on a shot by junior Lovell Autry to tie the game with 7 seconds to go. Derby knocked down their free throws and beat Junction City 55-51.
With the win, Derby stays undefeated and goes 13-0. JC falls to 9-4 on the year. The Blue Jays have now lost four of their last five games.
Junction City Junior Lovell Autry scored 16 points, Senior Jeremias Cruz added 10, and senior Larkin Turner had 10 points as well.
The next action for JC will be Friday in Junction City when the boys and girls host Topeka Hayden High School.