Coming into the past week with a 2-game losing streak, #8 Creighton Prep (12-5) was looking to take down rival #4 Omaha Westside and bolster their chances of hosting district playoffs. Unfortunately, the Junior Jays fell in an overtime heartbreaker. Fortunately, the Junior Jays were able to snap their losing streak the next day against Millard South.
Creighton Prep vs Westside is always a highly anticipated matchup, but this one was an instant classic.
The opening quarter was a defensive stalemate, as neither team could enter double digits. Enter Westside guard Rickey Loftin. In the second quarter, Loftin went a perfect 6/6 from the field, tallying 17 points in the process. His 19 first-half points outscored the whole Creighton Prep offense. Loftin ended up with 25 points and 11 rebounds, both game-highs. The Junior Jays found themselves down 32-18 at the half.
Without starters, Trinell Parker and Caleb Djoussa, the Junior Jays relied on star forward Dillon Claussen, and he did not disappoint. Led by Claussen, the Junior Jays stormed back and were able to take a 56-51 lead into the final period. Claussen had 21 of his 22 points in the second half, adding 9 rebounds as well. Carson Jones also added a season-high 17 points, going 5/9 from beyond the arc.
The Junior Jays had a chance to ice the game, but after a missed free throw from Claussen, Westside had 15 seconds to score while down 3. The Warriors inbounded it to Caleb Benning, who was able to find Kevin Stubblefield (24 points, 7 rebounds) on the wing. Even with Claussen in his face, Stubblefield knocked down the trey and tied the game, stunning Junior Jay fans. The clock hit :00, and we were off to overtime.
With a new fire, Westside dominated the overtime period. The Warriors opened overtime on an 11-2 run, dominating both sides of the ball. The Junior Jays fell 74-70.
After the heartbreaking loss, the Junior Jays had to prepare to play Millard South the following day.
Both teams went back and forth in the first half. Neither team could gain much of an advantage over the other, but the Junior Jays still entered the half up 26-25.
The second half was all Creighton Prep. Once again led by Claussen and Jones, the Junior Jays took a double-digit lead and never gave it back. Claussen had 18 points and 10 rebounds, getting his 8th double-double of the season. He also had 5 blocks. Jones matched his season-high 17 points from the previous night. Guard Josh Kearney had a career-high 14 points following a 12-point performance against Westside. The Junior Jays won 65-50.
Even with the loss to Westside, the Junior Jays had many positives this week. Prep was hot from beyond the arc, shooting 39% on the week. Claussen continued to dominate. And in the absence of Djoussa and Parker, Jones, Kearney, and forward Noah Bangs stepped up. Bangs, who barely played before the injuries, added 15 points throughout both games.
The Junior Jays look to start a winning streak this next week. They host Millard West on the 9th before traveling to Rockhurst on the 10th.
This week: vs Millard West (Friday 2/9), @ Rockhurst (Saturday 2/10)
