By Anthony Gorges
JC Post
In a highly anticipated matchup between the top two teams in the Centennial League, the Washburn Rural Junior Blues beat Junction City 59-56 on Thursday night in Topeka.
The Junior Blues jumped on the Blue Jays right from the tip, taking an early 17-7 lead midway through the first quarter.
As the second quarter began, Junction City took the momentum and trailed 17-16. The Junior Blues responded with their own run and took a five-point lead into the half, at 27-22.
The third quarter was similar to the first two. Both teams struggled to maintain possession of the basketball and to get into their offense. JC had many opportunities to tie the game or take the lead in the third quarter but never could grab it. At the end of the third quarter, Rural led by six, 41-35.
The fourth quarter featured several swings in momentum, including a 52-44 lead for the Junior Blues with three minutes to go in the game. Junction City got a couple of stops on the defensive end and hit two big three-pointers to cut the lead to 52-50 with 1:17 left in the game. The Blue Jays played the foul game down the stretch and had a chance, but the full-court heave fell short and Washburn Rural beat JC 59-56.
Junction City had three players in double-digits. Senior Jackson Austin had 15 points, and junior Lovell Autry and senior Larkin Turner both added 11.
With the loss, the Blue Jays fall to 9-3 on the year and go to 2-1 in Centennial league play.
Junction City now hosts the Derby Panthers on Monday in Blue Jay Event Center.