By Anthony Gorges
JC Post
Both the Junction City High School boys and girls teams continued their road trip, this time at Washburn Rural High School. It was homecoming night for the Junior Blues in Topeka.
Girls recap - Washburn Rural 56, Junction City 14
It was the same story as the past three games for the Junction City Lady Jays. The first four minutes were high intensity and back and forth. Junction City sophomore guard Isabel Pruitt scored the first five points for Junction City, and sophomore Taliyah Campbell knocked down a free-throw line jumper to cut the deficit to one, down 8-7 with 4:00 to play in the first quarter. From this point forward, it was all Washburn Rural. The Junior Blues finished the quarter on a 7-0 run, and led 15-7 after one.
In second quarter action, Washburn Rural expanded their lead, and Junction City only scored two points in the quarter. JCHS trailed 31-9 at the half, and lost the game 56-14.
With the loss, the Lady Jays fall to 2-15 and are swept by Washburn Rural this season. The Junior Blues improved to 12-6 on the year.
*Our Blu Restaurant Player of the Game was senior Ava Uhlman. For bring our Blu Restaurant Player of the Game, Ava receives a $20 free meal coupon voucher from Blu Restaurant in Junction City, located at 602 N. Washington St.
Boys recap - Washburn Rural 56, Junction City 40
It was the start the Blue Jays were looking for! Junction City jumped out to an early 11-0 lead over Washburn Rural, thanks to back-to-back baskets by senior Jackson Hollie to begin the game which put all the momentum on the side of the Blue Jays. After the first quarter, JCHS led 13-3.
The second quarter was the polar opposite of the first quarter. Washburn Rural began the quarter with back-to-back baskets and continued that momentum until halftime. The Junior Blues got an offensive rebound and put-back to go in right before half, and led Junction City 17-16. Washburn Rural outscored JCHS 14-3 in the quarter.
To begin the third quarter, Washburn Rural kept the momentum and blasted out of the halftime break on a 14-5 run in the first four minutes of the quarter. The Junior Blues led 31-21, and then traded baskets with JC the rest of the quarter, and Washburn led 39-27. (Combined between the second and third quarter, Washburn Rural outscored Junction City 36-14).
Fourth quarter action featured a strong comeback by Junction City. Senior Lovell Autry converted a three-point play, and Khaliel Walker nailed a three-pointer to cut the lead to six. Then senior Jett Thompson converted on a three-point play, and Junction City trailed 43-40 with just under 4:00 minutes to go. Then, Washburn Rural sophomore Brooks Ballard came to life. Ballard was left open and hit three-straight three's and the Junior Blues pulled away to win, 56-40 and sweep Junction City on the season.
With the loss, JCHS falls to 9-9, and Washburn Rural goes to 10-8.
**Our Blu Restaurant Player of the Game was senior Jett Thompson. For bring our Blu Restaurant Player of the Game, Jett receives a $20 free meal coupon voucher from Blu Restaurant in Junction City, located at 602 N. Washington St.
The Junction City Blue Jays go back on the road on Tuesday night, playing at Topeka High School.