McPherson used a stingy zone defense to defeat the Junction City Blue Jays 44-31 in the fifth place consolation game of the McPherson Invitational on Saturday.
McPherson led the Blue Jays by two points at halftime but used the zone to hold Junction City to just four points in the third quarter including one field goal and two free throws.
JCHS coach Nick Perez said the Blue Jays "tend to struggle with the zone. I don't know why, we've got great shooters. Just seems like the basket when we start shooting."
One player for JCHS, Howard Johnson, did hit five three-point shots in the game and wound up with 17 of the 31 points scored by the Blue Jays.
Junction City ( 4-4 ) will host Topeka High Tuesday night.