By Anthony Gorges
Girls recap
Junction City won the opening tip, but it was Manhattan that scored the first basket and then controlled the game. Manhattan jumped out to a 16-0 lead and then led 20-4 at the end of the first quarter.
MHS controlled the second quarter, but JC managed to score a little more than in the first. The Lady Indians led 39-12 at the half.
In the second half, Manhattan took off and extended their lead to over 30 points, which led to a running clock in the fourth quarter. Manhattan beat the Lady Jays 68-27. The Lady Indians swept JC on the season.
Manhattan was led in scoring by Kat Ball, with 15 points. Junction City was led by freshman Isabel Pruitt, who scored 21.
Manhattan improves to 12-6 on the season and will host Emporia on Tuesday night.
Junction City falls to 1-17 and will play at Topeka Hayden on Tuesday.
Boys recap
The first meeting in mid-January was down to the wire, and Friday night's game between the two rivals was the same. Junction City once again edged out a victory and beat Manhattan 53-47.
The Blue Jays got out to a fast start on both ends of the floor. JC led 15-4 at the end of the first quarter.
JC extended their lead to 15 in the second quarter, but Manhattan went on a 7-0 run to end the first half, and cut the Blue Jay lead to six, at 28-22.
The Indians continued their strong shooting into the third quarter and extended their run, to take their first lead of the game. Manhattan led by four, 39-35 at the end of the third quarter. It was a 35-20 run for the Indians, from the end of the first quarter through the end of the third.
In the fourth quarter, Manhattan grew their lead to seven, at 44-37. Junction City head coach Nick Perez called timeout, and his team regrouped. The Blue Jays then went on a 14-0 run down the stretch and led 51-44 with less than a minute to go. Junction City held on and won the game 53-47.
Junction City swept Manhattan on the season, their first season sweep over the Indians since the 2008-2009 basketball season.
JC was led in scoring by Jackson Austin with 13 points, while Manhattan was led in scoring by Noah McFadden with 16.
The Blue Jays go to 12-6 on the year and will play at Topeka Hayden Tuesday.
Manhattan falls to 6-12 and will host Emporia on Tuesday night.