By TYLER HENRY
JC Post contributor
After making their improbable run through the sub-state tournament, the Junction City boys’ basketball team will open up state play on Wednesday at Koch Arena with the defending champs in Wichita Heights.
The Bluejays come into this year’s bracket as the 8-seed at 13-9 while the Falcons enter as the 1-seed at 20-2.
Junction City got to this point with wins last week of 65-42 over Lawrence Free State and 46-43 over Garden City, while Wichita Heights handled their business in a 64-31 victory over Wichita East and a 61-43 victory over Wichita Northwest.
Now, these two find themselves on a state collision course, and the Bluejays know that they will be in for another real battle this evening.
“Wichita Heights is probably the best rebounding team that we’ve seen all year,” JC head coach Nick Perez said. “They have two kids between 6-5 and 6-7 that can jump out of the gym and we told the kids all day that if we don’t box out we’re going to end up on a poster.”
Individually, the Falcons have relied all season on the abilities of TJ Williams and Marcus Ziegler, who combine for 21 points, 10.5 rebounds and 7 assists on any given night.
“The Ziegler dkid can really shoot it and the Williams kid is just a junior but he’s probably the top player in the state of Kansas,” Perez said. “You add a big post player into the mix, a lot of senior role players and the fact that they’re very well-coached and we’re going to have to really dig in defensively and avoid giving them paint touches.”
All season long, Heights has grinded down opponents in their slow, methodical, half-court focused game; a game the Bluejays can ill-afford to play in such a pivotal matchup.
“They want to slow things down but we know we can run with them and we want to turn this game into a track meet,” he said. “If we can do that we’ll see who outlasts who in the third and fourth quarter. We are who we are and we need to play our game.”
While the key defensively will be to limit the Falcon’s second-chance opportunities, offensively Junction City will have to get creative against a defense that has allowed just 41 points per game on average, while scoring 61 themselves.
“Offensively we’re going to have to do some crazy things because they’re pretty good defensively,” Perez said. “Last year they had some guys that could really guard us but I feel like we can get downhill a little better this year despite their length. We have to take care of the ball and we know we have to hit 8-9 threes to have a chance. It’ll take an almost perfect game.”
While taking down this year’s favorites will be a tall task for Junction City, the Bluejays understand that they’re playing with house money, and will look to stay loose and play their game against one of the best teams in the state on Wednesday.
“I think there is a little more pressure on them,” Perez said. “They’re the defending state champs and that paints a target on your back. They’re a good basketball team but when we’re playing well we’re a pretty good team too and I still believe we have another level that we can get to. This would be a great week to find that level.”
Tip-off between the Bluejays and Falcons is scheduled for 6:00 at Koch Arena on the campus of Wichita State, with the winner advancing to the state semis to face either Derby (16-6) or Olathe North (16-6).
For continuing coverage of Junction City hoops at state, stay tuned to the JC Post.