By JUSTIN BURKHARDT
TopSports.news
Tuesday was Round 2 between Hayden and Junction City's boys this season and, just like the first meeting, this game would go down to the wire.
Sophomore Mason Becker scored 21 points with five 3-pointers in Hayden's 75-63 win over Junction City. [File photo/TSN]
The Wildcats got a huge night from their sharp-shooting sophomore Mason Becker, who would score a game high 21 points on 6-12 shooting from the field with five 3-pointers as Hayden took control down the stretch for a 75-63 Centennial League win at the Bueltel Activity Center.
The Wildcats would be in a back and fourth game with 16 lead changes as they would trail the Blue Jays by one at the end of the first quarter and continue to trail by a point at halftime, 26-25.
Hayden would trail 28-25 early in the third quarter before going on a nine-point run to take the lead and never looked back, outscoring the Blue Jays 24-17 in the fourth quarter to take the 12-point win.
"We came into tonight knowing Junction City is a tough team,'' Becker said. "We got them last time at their place and knew they would give us everything they had, we had to just play tougher than them.
"Everybody that touched the ball tonight scored and we all played an amazing game.”
"This is a very big win,'' Hayden coach Dwayne Anthony said. "We played a very tough and scrappy Junction City team, well respected, and a power in Class 6A. So it is unbelievable, our guys have been working hard and they executed the game plan, and I am glad we got the win.”
Anthony on Mason Becker: “He is a star, very talented, blessed young man. It seems like everything he does, he does with an excellence and holds himself to a high standard. So you're never surprised when you see things go well for the kid.”
Backing Becker Tuesday were junior Connor Hanika with 15 points and senior Jacob Deister with 10 points.
The Wildcats will host Eudora on Thursday for their regular-season finale and Senior Night for a senior class that features six players.
HAYDEN BOYS 75, JUNCTION CITY 63
Junction City 12 14 20 17 -- 63
Hayden 11 14 26 24 -- 75
Junction City (12-7 5-4) -- Williams 6-8 3-3 15, Autry 4-8 5-6 13, Austin 3-6 2-3 9, Turner 4-9 0-0 8, Handy 2-2 3-4 7, Mears 2-3 1-2 6, Boeckman 2-2 0-0 4, Weston 0-0 1-2 1. Totals 23-43 15-20 63.
Hayden (11-8 5-5) — Becker 6-12 4-4 21, Hanika 5-8 5-6 15, Deister 5-8 0-0 10, Mitchell 2-4 5-6 9, Kuta 3-8 1-1 7, Zweisler 2-3 2-2 8, Heinen 1-1 0-0 2, Tourtillot 0-0 2-2 2, Compton 0-1 1-2 1. Totals 24-45 20-23 75.
3-point goals -- JC 2 (Mears, Austin), Hayden 7 (Becker 5, Zweisler 2). Total fouls -- JC 20, Hayden 26. Fouled Out -- Hanika.
