For the first time this season, sixth-ranked Creighton Prep basketball suffered consecutive losses. Despite falling to Millard North and Lincoln Southwest, the Junior Jays gained momentum by taking down Lincoln Southeast, keeping themselves in the mix for hosting a district tournament.
The Junior Jays played arguably their worst game of the season against #3 Millard North, losing 53-44. The Mustangs opened the game on an 11-5 run and didn’t trail after the first quarter. The duo of Mustang guard Major Mosser and forward Derek Rollins dominated from start to finish. Mosser finished with 14 points, knocking down four threes, while Rollins had 19 points and 12 rebounds. While only scoring 53, the Mustangs’ offense was efficient, shooting 46% from the floor and 9 for 21 from deep.
While the defense struggled, the offensive collapse was the driving force behind the Junior Jays’ defeat. The offense couldn’t score on a Mustang defense that has allowed just 44 points per game in its last five. The Junior Jays shot a season-low 3 for 22 from deep, 43% from the free-throw line, and scored just 27 points in the first three quarters. Guard Torran Carter-Brown was the lone bright spot, scoring 11 on 71% shooting.
After falling to the Mustangs, the Junior Jays suffered another defeat, falling to #10 Lincoln Southwest 79-77. This matchup showcased two high-octane offenses battling throughout the evening. While the first half was full of back-and-forth action, the Silver Hawks opened the second half with a 15-7 run to take a double-digit lead. The Junior Jays tried to claw their way back but came up short. Connor Peters led the way for Prep with a career-high 24 points, including 6 threes, while Carter-Brown and Max Jungers added 17.
After offensive struggles cost the Millard North game, defensive miscues catalyzed this loss. The defense allowed the Silver Hawks to shoot 55% from the floor and 11 for 23 from deep, a season-high in threes. Twin brothers Makkiah and Uzziah Sanders led with 21 and 20, respectively, while Kayvion Reynolds added 15. The 79 points allowed was a season-high for the Junior Jays, and the Silver Hawks scored at least 18 every quarter. Even though the offense shot 50% from deep and 48% from the floor, the defensive lapses cost this game.
Following a short break, the Junior Jays faced Lincoln Southeast. This rematch of last year’s district title lived up to the expectations. The Knights jumped out to an early 9-2 lead, but the Junior Jays stormed back, taking a lead early in the second quarter. A 21-point third quarter gave the Junior Jays an eight-point lead, but heroics from Mike Nyogi kept the Knights in the game. Nyogi finished with a game-high 23 points, drilling tough shot after tough shot all evening. He was the only Knight to finish with over six points. This game came down to the final seconds, but a missed three from forward Chewy Thoat gave the Junior Jays a 50-48 victory.
This was a much-needed victory for the Junior Jays. They weren’t perfect by any means, but they stopped their two-game skid and took down a gritty Lincoln Southeast squad that’s been a thorn in their side for the past two years. Despite only scoring 50, the offense was efficient, shooting 51% from the floor and 42% from deep. Forward Trinell Parker led the Junior Jays with 14, while Carter-Brown hit double digits for the third straight game, netting 13. The Knights were held to 40% from the floor and 33% from deep.
This upcoming week, the Junior Jays play a pair of opponents from Kansas City. They host fellow Jesuit high school Rockhurst high school before traveling to Kansas City to take on North Kansas City. Both teams are among the top in Missouri. According to the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association, Rockhurst is ranked fifth with a 16-4 record while North Kansas City is ranked eighth with a 14-4 record. A pair of top teams from Missouri will be a great test for the Junior Jays as they wrap up their regular season.
