By Kev Moye'
News-Times Staff
JUNCTION CITY - A spurt in the genesis of the fourth quarter was all it took for the Junction City Dragons to claim control.
In a fast-paced affair, Junction City outworked the Bearden Bears en route to an 83-70 victory Monday evening.
The score was tied at 56 after three quarters of action. However, the culture of the game turned when the host team went on an impressive run. And Bearden was unable to recover.
"The kids work so hard. They make you play defense for four quarters and keep the pressure on you," said Dragon Coach Kendall Hutcheson. "I am proud of their tremendous effort."
The Dragons opened the final period with a game-changing 13-0 run. When Hishmma Taylor scored in the paint after receiving a nice pass from Tyrus Grayson, the Bears were down 69-56 with 4:38 left to play.
A primary reason for the Dragons taking over the game was the level of aggression they competed with. Offensively, Junction City began to attack the basket. When on defense, the Bears didn't receive quality looks at the bucket. Also, Bearden consistently made the three-point shot earlier in the game.
But, the shots from beyond the arc suddenly weren't falling in the fourth. Bearden missed all three of its three-point attempts in the final quarter. The miss shots were leading to Junction City rebounds. Nonetheless, Bearden would not wilt after falling behind by 13. The Bears reduced Junction City's lead to 69-60 when Nykee Mahan made a pair of free throws. However, Junction City responded by scoring 5-unanswered points to go up 74-60 with under four minutes remaining in regulation. When time expired, the Dragons had claimed a tough double-digit triumph.
Junction City is now 10-1 overall and 5-0 against 7-2A East opposition.
As for his team remaining unbeaten in league play, Hutcheson wants the Dragons to understand that there's plenty of work to do.
"We have to come out and play hard every night to keep winning in this conference," the coach bluntly stated.
After the first quarter, this game was tied at 14. But Bearden got a lift from the three during the second period. In the second quarter, the Bears attempted 11 three-point shots and made five.
At the half, Bearden led 37-35. In the third, the two combatants raced up and down the floor. Junction City would build an eightpoint lead in the third. But Bearden battled back and tied the game at 56 heading into the final stanza.
The Dragons delivered the biggest blow of the game in the fourth, and cruised to the victory.
Grayson led Junction City with 24 points. Taylor scored 16, Terrell Gibson had 15, and Keelen Ford scored 13.
For Bearden, it was led by Sontania Lawson's 16 points. Mahan had 13, and Cameron Byes finished with 12.
In the junior boys game, Junction City topped Bearden 51-33.
Jerrodney Tubbs had 25 points and Dhante Gibson added 12 points for the Dragons (8-3, 2-1).