JUNCTION CITY, Kan. — The Junction City High School basketball teams split their pair of contests against Manhattan on Friday night.
It wasn't the packed Shenk Gym that a normal Manhattan/Junction City game would draw, but JCHS adding 25 students to the crowd gave the games the exciting feel they deserved.
In the first game, the Lady Jays and Manhattan would be tied at 25 going into halftime, but a big third quarter would push Manhattan to victory. The Lady Indians won 51-40, snapping JC's three-game winning streak.
Junction City was lead by 16 points from both Mellana Davis and Lucy Rivera.
The Lady Jays will have a chance to get back in the win column on Monday when they head on the road to play Topeka Seaman, whom they beat at home this past Tuesday, followed by a home game Tuesday against Topeka Hayden.
In the boy's contest, it was just as even as the girl's game, tied 13-13 after the first quarter. In the second, the Blue Jays would jump to a six point lead and take it into halftime.
Manhattan would punch back drawing back to within a single point on multiple occasions in the second half, but they were never able to tie the game in the fourth quarter.
On the game's final play, Manhattan's Owen Braxmeyer had a chance to make a free throw to tie the game, which missed. The rebound careened into the backcourt but was chased down by the Indians. Braxmeyer would drive to the lane for a shot at the buzzer that was blocked, allowing Junction City to escape with just their third win over Manhattan in the last 22 tries, 58-57.
Chris Dixon lead all scorers with 23 points, while Howard Johnson scored 17 in his return from injury.
The Junction City boys will host Topeka Hayden on Tuesday night.