By Anthony Gorges
JC Post
Recap – Derby 83, Junction City 60
In the final non-Centennial League game of the season, the Junction City Blue Jays traveled to Derby to take on the Panthers.
Derby won the opening tip and scored the first basket of the game. Junction City quickly responded, as senior Jackson Hollie dunked the ball with two hands to tie the game at 2. JC then took a 4–2 lead, but that would be their only lead of the game.
It was a high-scoring first quarter, with Derby putting up 29 points in the opening frame. Junction City trailed 29–18 at the end of the first quarter.
In second-quarter action, the Panthers grew their lead to 15 at 35–20. The Blue Jays responded after head coach Easton Burgardt called a timeout to fire his guys up. Junction City tightened up on the defensive end, and senior Lovell Autry scored several baskets getting downhill and to the rim to cut the deficit to seven. Derby stretched the lead back to double digits and went into halftime ahead 42–32.
In the third quarter, Junction City once again cut the lead to single digits, trailing 52–44, but from that point on, it was all Derby. The Panthers led 67–48 at the end of the third quarter.
In fourth-quarter action, Derby grew the lead to 26. Both coaches emptied their benches, and each team was able to get every player on its varsity roster into the game. Derby went on to win by a final score of 83–60.
Derby improves to 10–5 on the season, while Junction City falls to 8–7.
Senior Lovell Autry led the way with 21 points. Seniors Jackson Hollie and Jett Thompson both scored 10 points in the game.
Our Blu Restaurant Player of the Game was 6’6” senior Jackson Hollie. It marked the first double-digit scoring performance of his varsity career. For being named Blu Restaurant Player of the Game, Jackson receives a $20 free meal voucher from Blu Restaurant in Junction City, located at 602 N. Washington St.
Junction City is back in action next Friday night as the Blue Jays travel to Topeka Hayden High School.