By Anthony Gorges
JC Post
On Tuesday night inside the Blue Jay Event Center at Junction City High School, the full program of Blue Jay basketball swept the Scots of Topeka Highland Park. The JCHS teams went 6-0, winning freshman through varsity games on both the boys’ and girls’ sides.
Girls recap – Junction City 53, Topeka HP 19
The Junction City Lady Jays won their second game of the season, handling the Scots from the opening tip. Junction City started the game on a 10-0 run, thanks to early baskets by sophomores Aniyah Henry-Rivers and Laniyah Warmack, along with Isabel Pruitt. Highland Park took a timeout with 5:13 to go in the first quarter, but the Lady Jays never let up. At the end of the first quarter, JCHS led 14-5.
The second quarter did not feature much scoring, and neither team was able to get going on the offensive end. Junction City led 22-8 at the half.
Third-quarter action is when the Lady Jays really hit their stride. Junction City sophomore Laniyah Warmack scored 15 of the 22 third-quarter points. Warmack converted many steals into layups and even connected on a corner three-pointer to cap off her excellent performance. The Lady Jays led 44-13 at the end of the third and had a continuously running clock in the fourth quarter over Highland Park.
Junction City won the game 53-19 and picked up their second win of the season, both of which have come on their home court.
Several players were involved in scoring the ball. Three players were in double digits; Laniyah Warmack had a career-high 24 points, while Aniyah Henry-Rivers and Isabel Pruitt both added 10 points.
*Our Blu Restaurant Player of the Game was Laniyah Warmack. For being our Blu Restaurant Player of the Game, she receives a free $20 meal coupon voucher from Blu Restaurant of Junction City, located at 602 N. Washington St.
Junction City moves to 2-12 on the year and will host Olathe East in girls-only action on Friday night at Junction City High School.
Boys recap – Junction City 76, Topeka HP 66
The Junction City Blue Jay boys basketball team got back in the win column Tuesday night, beating the Scots 76-66. The Blue Jays started the scoring with a corner three-pointer by senior Jett Thompson, and then JCHS kept that momentum going, jumping out to an early 10-1 lead. The Blue Jays were running up and down the floor and led by 14, 18-4, at the end of the first quarter.
In second-quarter action, Highland Park found their game as they began running up and down the floor and knocking down some three-pointers. For Junction City, Lovell Autry and Brody Boeckman led the way in scoring in the first half, and the Blue Jays held a 34-25 lead at the break.
Third-quarter action is when things tightened up. It was quite the show between #11 in white (Lovell Autry) and #11 in green (Jojo Kingcannon). Both players really took off in the third quarter, trading baskets and serving as true facilitators on the court. Junction City led 48-40 after a three-pointer in the corner by junior Khaliel Walker, but Highland Park quickly responded with a 9-2 run. The Blue Jays made two free throws to end the third quarter and led by four, 53-49, after three.
In the first three minutes of the fourth quarter, neither team could get a stop on the defensive end. Junction City led 62-60 before Jett Thompson hit a corner three-pointer, giving the Blue Jays a 65-60 lead. They were able to get a couple of stops down the stretch and held on to win 76-66.
Four players scored in double digits on Tuesday night for Junction City. Lovell Autry scored 26, Brody Boeckman scored 16, Jett Thompson added 13, and Jaycen Lanier finished with 10. A total of eight players scored for the Blue Jays. Topeka Highland Park was led in scoring by Kingcannon with 24 points.
*Our Blu Restaurant Player of the Game was Jett Thompson. For being our Blu Restaurant Player of the Game, Jett receives a free $20 meal coupon voucher from Blu Restaurant of Junction City, located at 602 N. Washington St.
The Blue Jays move to 8-6 on the year with the win. They will play at Derby in boys-only action on Friday at 7:30 pm. As always, you can hear the game on 107.9 FM / 1420 AM KJCK.