By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Topeka West's boys did a lot of good things in Thursday's non-league basketball game against unbeaten Junction City.
But a five-minute dry spell at the end of the third quarter and start of the fourth foiled the Chargers in a 64-56 loss at West.
Topeka West, which fell to 3-2 on the season, jumped out in front 17-12 in the first quarter and took a 30-26 halftime lead before 5-0 Junction City turned the tables in the second half.
Sophomore Malakyah Duncan (12) came off the bench to lead Topeka West with 16 points in Thursday's 64-56 non-league loss to Junction City. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"We were there, we were playing well,'' Topeka West coach Rick Bloomquist said. "We played a great first half. Junction City's a very good basketball team, very quick, very athletic and we knew that.
"They caught us with our pants down a couple of times but I think what I'm really disappointed in is we weren't persistent enough. We took time off in transition a couple of times and they got an extended lead and then we had some turnover woes again and missed some easy shots. It's a work in progress and if they keep staying with it they're going to be a pretty good basketball team.''
West was still within a point with two minutes left in the third quarter, but the Blue Jays ended the quarter with five straight points and opened the fourth with a 9-4 run to open up an 11-point advantage.
Topeka West fought back within five points three times down the stretch, but could get no closer.
Junior Larkin Turner led four players in double figures for the Blue Jays with a game-high 18 points while junior Jackson Austin added 17 points and Lovell Autry and Michael Boganowski 10 each.
Sophomore Malakyah Duncan came off the bench to lead Topeka West with 16 points while junior Jalen Foy added 12.
Topeka West will be right back in action Friday, traveling to Kansas City-Turner for a United Kansas Conference contest.
JUNCTION CITY BOYS 64, TOPEKA WEST 56
Junction 12 14 18 20 -- 64
Topeka West 17 13 8 18 -- 56
Junction City (5-0) -- Austin 5-9 4-5 17, Autry 1-2 8-12 10, Williams 3-7 0-0 6, Boganowski 4-5 2-3 10, Turner 9-18 0-0 18, Ruffin 0-0 0-0 0, Mitchell 1-1 0-0 3, Albanese 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 23-42 14-20 64.
Topeka West (3-2) -- Paul 2-9 3-4 7, Chambers 4-8 0-0 8, Foy 4-13 3-7 12, Ford 2-8 0-0 4, Noonoo 3-5 0-0 6, Young 0-1 0-0 0, McGee 1-1 0-0 3, Duncan 7-8 0-0 16, Ross 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 23-52 6-11 56.
3-point goals -- Junction City 4 (Austin 3, Mitchell), Topeka West 4 (Duncan 2, Foy, McGee). Total fouls -- Junction City 13, Topeka West 18. Fouled out – Foy. Technical fouls -- none.
