By Anthony Gorges
JC Post
Recap - Junction City 77, Sumner Academy 53
Junction City and Sumner Academy tipped off the 53rd Annual Spring Hill Invitational Basketball Tournament on Tuesday night. The Blue Jays won the opening tip, took an early lead, and never looked back.
Junction City senior Brody Boeckman scored the first six points of the game, all within four feet of the rim, as the Blue Jays cruised to a 77–53 victory in their first game of pool play. JC led 19–8 after the first quarter and expanded that advantage to an 18-point halftime lead at 41–23.
Throughout the game, Blue Jay head coach Easton Burgardt rotated through two different platoons of players. Junction City opened the second half on a 14–4 run to push the lead to 28 points at 55–27. Sumner Academy was never able to recover. JCHS led 63–35 at the end of the third quarter and went on to secure the 77–53 win.
The Blue Jays had four players score in double figures: Lovell Autry with 18 points, Khaliel Walker with 15 points, Brody Boeckman with 14 points, and Jaycen Lanier with 10 points.
*Lanier led the charge throughout the second half, and the 10 points marked a career high for the junior. He was named our Blu Restaurant Player of the Game. For being our Blu Restaurant Player of the Game, Jaycen Lanier receives a $20 free meal voucher from Blu Restaurant in Junction City, located at 602 North Washington Street.
With the win, Junction City improves to 6–5 on the season and 1–0 in pool play at the Spring Hill Invitational Basketball Tournament. The Blue Jays return to action Thursday at the mid-season tournament at 5:00 p.m. when they take on Gardner-Edgerton. As always, the game can be heard on 107.9 FM / 1420 AM KJCK Radio.