There were similarities for both the Junction City Lady Jay and Blue Jay basketball teams in their losses to Hays Tuesday night. Both teams struggled to score in the second quarter.

The Lady Jays ( 1-3 )  fell to Hays 63-56. After one quarter the Indians ( 4-1 )  led Junction City by two points, 18-16. In the second period Hays pulled ahead by a 16-point margin 43-27 at halftime. In the second half the Lady Jays cut the margin to three on two occasions but could get no closer.

JCHS girls coach Derek Petty said his team came out ready to play in the first quarter. “We relaxed a little bit in the second quarter, we committed a lot of fouls, turnovers for no reason and we let them get a big lead. In the third quarter the Lady Jays outscored Hays 17-6. Ally McKenzie scored 15 points and Alana Kramer 12 points for Junction City.

In the boys contest Junction City ( 2-2 ) lost to Hays ( 5-0 ) 62-52. In the second quarter turnovers were a problem for the Blue Jays when they were outscored 18-8. JCHS boys coach Nate Schmitt felt that getting a shot on every possession was one of their goals, and they did that in the first quarter and second half. “That second quarter for some reason we just weren’t getting any good looks and turning the basketball over and just struggling to score the ball.”

The Blue Jays and Lady Jays play at Manhattan Friday night.