By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
After Junction City cut a 16-point Washburn Rural lead to just three points midway through the fourth quarter Friday night, the host Junior Blues were in need of a big play to stem the tide.
Sophomore Brooks Ballard scored a game-high 17 points with five 3-pointers in Friday's 56-40 Washburn Rural win over Junction City. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
Sophomore Brooks Ballard came through with three of them, draining back-to-back 3-pointers and three treys over the final 3:54 as Washburn Rural pulled away to snap a three-game losing streak with a 56-40 Centennial League victory over the Blue Jays.
"Just from practice, and all the reps we've gone through, I just trust our offense and trust that guys are going to get open and make plays,'' said Ballard, who scored a game-high 17 points on five 3s. "My guys got me open.''
And in a situation like Friday, when Ballard has the opportunity to come through for his team, he relies on his shooter's mentality.
"I always think it's going in, I'm not ever doubting myself,'' he said.
Ballard was just happy to be able to help close out what was a much-needed win for the Junior Blues, who had dropped three straight single-digit games, including a pair of one-point heartbreakers.
"This was a huge one for us, coming off some tough losses,'' Ballard said. "This was a big one to get us back on track.''
Washburn Rural coach Alex Hutchins wasn't surprised that his 6-foot-2 guard came through in the clutch.
"He is a really good shooter,'' Hutchins said. "I think the thing that stands out with him though is just the decision-making as a sophomore. He has some sophomore moments here or there and we have to have some conversations, but not very many considering he's a sophomore and we basically put the responsibility and the load on his shoulders of a senior.''
After digging itself out of an 11-0 hole to start the game and a 13-3 deficit at the start of the second quarter, Washburn Rural (10-8 overall, 3-3 in the league) battled back to take a 17-16 halftime advantage before using a 20-5 run to go up 37-21 with 2:37 left in the third stanza.
The Junior Blues took a 12-point lead (39-27) into the fourth quarter before the Blue Jays fought back to make it a one-possession game at 43-40.
Washburn Rural senior John Hoytal returned from an injury to score 12 points in Friday's 56-40 win over Junction City. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
But like it had early in the game, Washburn Rural showed its resiliency in being able to close out the victory while getting a big lift from senior John Hoytal, who returned to score 12 points off the bench after missing three straight games with an injury.
"We've been close in a lot of games lately and we just haven't finished the job off, so I'd by lying if I said there weren't some moments where it was like, 'Man, here we go again,' '' Hutchins said. "John was on limited minutes tonight but having him back in the fold changes things incredibly.
"He's just a steadying force for us. Whether the numbers show it or not, he doesn't always have to put up numbers to kind of steady us on both ends of the floor. And I felt like we had lots of guys who had really, really solid nights tonight.''
Washburn Rural senior Simon Rowley scored 10 points in Friday's 56-40 win over Junction City. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
Senior Simon Rowley, who is also rounding back into form after missing multiple games with an injury, added 10 points, including a key stretch of three straight baskets in the third quarter to give Rural its 16-point cushion.
Junior Brody Boeckman led Junction City (9-9, 1-5) with 13 points, the lone Blue Jay to crack double figures.
With Friday's win Washburn Rural earned a regular-season sweep over Junction City, with the Junior Blues taking a 50-45 decision in the first meeting at Junction City.
Washburn Rural will be back at home Tuesday, hosting Emporia in a Centennial League matchup.
WASHBURN RURAL BOYS 56, JUNCTION CITY 40
Junction City 13 3 11 13 -- 40
Washburn Rural 3 14 22 17 -- 56
Junction City (9-9, 1-5) – Thompson 2-5 1-1 5, Walker 3-9 0-0 8, Boeckman 6-11 1-2 13, Autry 3-13 1-3 8, Hollie 3-5 0-0 6, Allen 0-0 0-0 0, Shields 0-1 0-0 0, Briley 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 17-42 3-6 40.
Washburn Rural (10-8, 3-3) – Rowley 5-10 0-0 10, Ballard 6-9 0-0 17, Wright 0-1 0-0 0, O'Connor 2-4 1-1 6, Schmidt 3-4 1-2 7, Nimz 2-2 0-0 4, Hoytal 4-6 3-3 12, Chooncharoen 0-1 0-0 0, Bradley 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 22-40 5-6 56.
3-point goals – Junction City 3 (Walker 2, Autry), Washburn Rural 7 (Ballard 5, O'Connor, Hoytal). Total fouls – Junction City 13, Washburn Rural 11. Fouled out – Autry. Technical fouls -- none.
