In the boys game, things were back and forth during the first eight minutes with the Spartans holding a 14-13 lead after the first quarter. Emporia High led 18-15 midway through the second quarter when the Blue Jays went on a 19-9 run to lead 34-27 at halftime. The Spartans pulled within two in the third quarter but still managed to trail by seven, 45-38, heading into the fourth.
The Spartans trailed by as many as eight early in the fourth quarter and tied the game at 58 on a 3-pointer by Madden Seidl to force overtime. Once overtime started, Junction City took the lead and never relinquished it despite the Spartans pulling within one. Rylan Crowell led Emporia High with a career-high 24 points, while Harry Trelc added 18. Emporia High coach Lee Baldwin said he was proud of his team for rallying back late.
Emporia High is now 10-5, 3-2 in the Centennial League. Both teams travel to Topeka on Friday for a third meeting of the season against Hayden. The RV-Doc Pregame Show is set for 5:45 p.m. on KVOE.
Emporia JV 27
Junction City JV 32
JV Record: 5-5