By Anthony Gorges
JC Post
The Topeka Hayden Wildcats swept Junction City on homecoming night at Blue Jay Event Center.
Girls recap
The Topeka Hayden Lady Wildcats jumped on the Junction City Lady Jays right from the opening tip and took a quick 18-0 lead. Junction City responded with a 6-0 run to trim the lead to 18-6, but Hayden pulled away and led 23-9 at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter was all Hayden, as JC did not score, and the Lady Wildcats led 42-9 at the half. The third quarter was very similar, with JC only scoring two points, and trailing 53-11.
In the fourth quarter, the Lady Jays showed some fight and continued to play with energy, but the Lady Wildcats beat JC 61-14.
In the game, only three JC players scored. Morgan Nabus made two three-pointers for six points, Bella Pruitt scored five, and Breya Allen had three.
With the loss, Junction City goes to 1-13 on the season.
Boys recap
In a surprise upset, the Hayden Wildcats knocked off Junction City 64-55 on Friday night in JC.
The Blue Jays won the opening tip and got off to a fast start, and senior Jayden Mears banked in a three-pointer at the buzzer to end the first quarter leading 22-15.
The second quarter was all about the Wildcats outscoring JC 18-5. Similar to the end of the first quarter, JC's Jeremias Cruz banked in a three from the opposite wing to cut the Hayden lead down to 33-27 at the half.
The third quarter featured several opportunities for JC to tie the game, or take the lead, but Hayden held onto a three-point lead at 46-43 going into the final quarter.
The Wildcats hit clutch three-pointers and made free throws down the stretch, and beat the Blue Jays 64-55 on homecoming night.
Junction City had four players in double-digits. Senior Larkin Turner led the way with 14 points, senior Ja'Twaan Williams had 12, senior Jeremias Cruz added 11, and junior Lovell Autry had 10.
With the loss, the Blue Jays have lost five of their last six games and fall to 9-5 on the season.
Next up for Junction City is hosting Emporia High on Tuesday night at Blue Jay Event Center.