Through the frigid cold these past two weeks, fourth-ranked Creighton Prep basketball has chugged along. Despite falling to #1 Omaha Westview, and losing a chance at a resume win, the Junior Jays kept their #4 ranking by taking down Omaha Central and Benson.

While the Junior Jays showed some positives against Westview, they weren’t perfect and fell to the top-ranked team in class A 51-50. The story of this game was defensive dominance by both squads. Both offenses struggled in this high-ranked matchup, especially from beyond the arc. The Junior Jays finished 2 for 17 from deep, while the Wolverines finished 4 for 19. Bryan transfer Amir Martin led the Wolverines with 17 points, while forward Trinell Parker led the Junior Jays with 16.

Tied in the final minutes, it was the Wolverines who delivered in the clutch. With 0:09 on the clock, Westview put the ball in the hands of star guard Tayvin Zephier-Murphy, and he delivered. The Washburn commit drew a blocking foul on Prep’s Sam Bohnet and knocked down the game-winning free throw. The Junior Jays were unable to score in the final seconds.

While the defense was elite, holding the Wolverines to their lowest point total of the season, the offense struggled to muster anything. The Junior Jays had a season-low seven assists, as a lack of ball movement led to isolation basketball. Carter-Brown, along with fellow guard Connor Peters and Cooper Knight, finished a combined 2 for 21 from the floor and 0 for 12 from deep. However, a one-point loss to the top-ranked team in class A won’t damage the Junior Jays’ resume, especially after handing Westview their only defeat earlier in the season.

After a week-long break, the Junior Jays traveled downtown to face longtime rival Omaha Central. This game was marked by a shoot-out between Prep forward Max Jungers and Eagles guard Lenox Haynes. Jungers went 9 for 13 from the floor, scoring a 26 and knocking down five three pointers, both career-highs. Haynes scored 28, just behind his career-high of 32, and knocked down six threes.

After a tight first quarter, the Junior Jays used a 16 to 3-second period to take a double-digit lead into the half. The Eagles spent the second half clawing their way back. The Eagles cut the Junior Jays’ lead to as low as one, but after a pair of clutch free throws from Parker, the Junior Jays escaped with a 60-57 victory.

While this was a low-scoring affair, the offense was efficient against the Eagles. The Junior Jays shot 53% from the floor, 41% from deep, and a season-best 92% from the free throw line. They only turned it over 9 times and dished 11 assists, moving the ball much more effectively than against Westview. The main flaw was on the glass, as the Eagles pulled down 11 offensive rebounds and outshot the Junior Jays 54 to 38. These extra opportunities allowed the Eagles to come back late, something the Junior Jays will want to improve in the future.

After a stretch of five games coming down to the final seconds, the Junior Jays traveled to Benson and took down the Bunnies 64 to 40. The Junior Jays won the first quarter 12 to 5 and never trailed after that. Parker led the way for the Junior Jays, scoring 18, despite battling Benson’s Goanar Bamach, who leads class A with 3.1 blocks per game. Parker’s 18 extended his streak of double-digit scoring to 11.

A strong defensive performance and dominance on the glass led the Junior Jays to a win. The Bunnies were held to 40 points, their lowest total of the season. While the offense shot only 38% from the floor, 10 offensive rebounds allowed for ample opportunities. Parker was especially dominant, posting a career-high 15 rebounds, including five on the offensive end.

This Friday, the Junior Jays have a chance to get a statement win as they host sixth-ranked Millard North. The Mustangs are a perennial top-ten team in class A, and this year is no different. The Mustangs are led by forward Derek Rollins. Rollins averages 19 points, 9.5 rebounds, and leads class-A with 10 double-doubles.

 

This week: Friday vs Millard North, 7:00 PM, Heider Center