The #7 Creighton Prep Junior Jays (1-1) have a challenging slate this weekend, and will play their second top-10 opponent (#8 Papillion La-Vista) in as many weeks.  On Friday, the Junior Jays will stay in the Birdcage against the Omaha Bryan Bears (0-2), and on Saturday they will travel to play the Monarchs of Papillion La-Vista (1-1).  

Bryan opened the season against two Omaha teams, North and Northwest, and promptly gave up 70 points to each.  Against the Vikings of Omaha North, the Bears had a 6 point lead heading into the final quarter, but gave up 28 points in the final 10 minutes and lost by 4, 70-66.  They allowed Viking forward Wal Chuol to score a game-high 29 points on 67% shooting. The Omaha Northwest Huskies were also in a back-and-forth battle with Bryan at halftime, but then held the Bears to 17 second-half points and scored 41 of their own.  Led by senior forward Jace Cooper Jr. (12 points, 14 rebounds), the Huskies won easily, 72-44.  

Papillion La-Vista faced off against #10 Kearney in their first game, and it was a barn-burner.  Despite having a double-digit lead at the end of the first quarter, the Monarchs led Kearney get back into the game quickly and the Bearcats used a great second-half to hand the Monarchs a 70-65 loss.  The Monarchs’ senior forward Preston Kellogg had 17 points and 4 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Seth Stroh’s 23-point, 7-rebound performance for Kearney. Against the Bellevue East Chieftains, the Monarchs allowed just 16 second half points and pulled away to win 64-46.  Junior guard Joey Hylok finished the game with 20 points and 4 assists, and Bellevue East was unable to keep it close despite 22 points and 6 rebounds from senior guard Joey Skoff.  

After an away game against Pius X (the number 9 team in the state), the Junior Jays’ schedule has lightened a bit heading into mid-December.  The team has received a boost from juniors AJ Rollins and Mai’Jhe Wiley, both of whom are averaging over 13 points a game. Rollins and Wiley are both also shooting above 60% from the field, and both have pulled down about 3 rebounds per game.  The team defense has been excellent this year, holding opponents to under 36% shooting from the field. Overall, Prep has the edge on both teams this weekend. 

My final prediction for the Bryan game is 75-52.

My final prediction for the Papillion La-Vista game is 62-53.