The Junction City Blue Jay basketball team got 28 points from Ricardo Erans and rolled to a 63-48 victory over the Topeka West Charge in the capitol city Friday night.

Blue Jay coach Pat Battle felt his team did a solid job of taking care of the basketball in the final five minutes of the game. “I thought we did a pretty good job of defending out on the perimeter, kind of slowing them down. And then we went 12 of 14 from the line in the fourth quarter. That’s what wins basketball games.”

As for Erans he hit six 3-point shots in helping the Blue Jays earn their ninth victory of the season.

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In girls action the Lady Jays playing without their head coach Derek Petty, defeated Topeka West in overtime 64-59.

It appeared the Lady Jays would win in regulation but a late 3-point basket by Addison Donohue for Topeka West helped force a tie score and push the game into overtime. But A’kia Fain of Junction City was too much. She hit two key three point baskets and six free throws down the stretch to help seal the win.  Fain finished the game with 27 points.

Derek Petty was not on the bench for the Lady Jays Friday because of an administrative decision barring him from coaching in the contest. That was confirmed by JCHS Athletic Director Matt Westerhaus, who also noted that Petty will be back coaching the team in their Class 6A Substate Tournament game next week. That opponent is expected to be Washburn Rural.

In Petty’s abscence assistant coach G.G. Booth guided the Lady Jays.