By Anthony Gorges
JC Post
Recap – Olathe South 57, Junction City 51
In the championship game of the 53rd annual Spring Hill Invitational Basketball Tournament, the Olathe South Falcons beat the Junction City Blue Jays 57–51.
Olathe South won the opening tip and scored the first basket of the game, but Junction City immediately followed with back-to-back baskets and led 4–2 early. The Falcons then went on a run for the rest of the first quarter and finished the period with a layup at the buzzer to lead 20–9 at the end of the first quarter.
In second-quarter action, both teams’ defenses settled in, and Olathe South led 29–19 at halftime.
The third quarter is when the Falcons took off. Olathe South started the quarter on a 9–2 run and jumped out to a 17-point lead at 38–21. The Blue Jays’ shots were not falling, and Olathe South was outrebounding Junction City on both ends of the floor. The Falcons held that 17-point lead and went up 42–25 at the end of three.
In the fourth quarter, Olathe South grew the lead to 20 points at 47–27 with six minutes to go. Junction City head coach Easton Burgardt called a timeout to try to rally the Blue Jays, who then trailed 51–32. The timeout worked. The Blue Jays went on a huge run thanks to full-court pressure and defense leading to offense. Junction City got several steals down the stretch and cut the lead to five, trailing 53–48 with 1:04 to go in the game. The Blue Jays played the foul game down the stretch, and the Falcons missed both free throws. Junction City had a chance to cut the deficit to one possession, but the Blue Jays could not convert, and Olathe South then made its next four free throws. The Falcons won 57–51 and captured their third mid-season tournament championship in Spring Hill. Junction City placed second in the Spring Hill Invitational Tournament for the second time.
Junction City’s Lovell Autry finished with 18 points, while Khaliel Walker added 12 points, the only two Blue Jays in double digits.
The Blu Restaurant Player of the Game was senior Jackson Hollie, who scored six points. Hollie played well on both ends of the floor and grabbed several rebounds for the Blue Jays. (For being the Blu Restaurant Player of the Game, Jackson Hollie receives a $20 free meal coupon to Blu Restaurant, located at 602 N. Washington in Junction City.)
Junction City falls to 7–6 on the year and will host Topeka-Highland Park on Tuesday at the Blue Jay Event Center.
Mid-Season Tournament Honors
In the Spring Hill Invitational Tournament, Junction City had two players earn All-Tournament honors.
Senior Lovell Autry and junior Brody Boeckman were both selected to the All-Tournament Team. Autry scored in double digits in all three games, and Boeckman scored in double digits in two of the three games.