Bearden records road sweep at Junction City

JUNCTION CITY – Bearden slipped into Junction City on Monday and took a pair of conference victories, including a surprising 61-60 win over the Dragons in senior boys' action.

The Lady Bears won the senior girls' game 36-27.

The Bears used a 12-2 run in the second half to take a 50-42 lead with 5:03 left in the game.

The Dragons cut the deficit to 57-54 on a 3-pointer by Ryan Allen with 2:28 left.

Allen scored again, this time off a bullet pass from JaKendall Henderson, pulling Junction City to within a point at the 1:37 mark.

Bearden countered with a three-point play by Kendrick Juniel with 45 seconds left. After Junction City's Devontay Gilbert scored to cut the deficit to 60-58, the Bears, inexplicably, shot a 3-pointer and missed.

The Dragons took advantage as Zak Brown found Allen under the basket for a lay-up, tying the game at 60-60 with 14.5 on the clock.

However, Junction City fouled on the ensuing inbounds, sending Juniel to the line to shoot the double bonus with 12 seconds remaining.

He made one free throw to give Bearden the lead.

Junction City got a good look, but Brown's 3-point attempt was off. Henderson ran down the rebound but couldn't get a shot off before the final buzzer.

Juniel led Bearden with 31 points while Zion Waller scored 11.

Allen and Henderson led Junction City with 16 and 15, respectively. Harlandus Frazier and Gilbert each scored eight.

Junction City fell to 8-7, 6-4 while Bearden improved to 4-13, 3-7.

The Lady Bears led wire-to-wire in the senior girls' game but didn't pull away until late.

The Lady Dragons only trailed 22-20 after a 3-pointer by Kenslee

McLelland with 1:06 left in the third quarter.

Bearden answered with six consecutive points. Junction City pulled to within 30-27 after Olivia Creagor fed Keyunna Ross for a bucket, which led to a three-point play with 3:23 on the clock.

Kassidy Caeser scored a lay-up on the other end and the Lady Bears sealed the win with two free throws apiece by Bailey Hall and LaTrece Wright in the final minute.

Ross led Junction City (1-14, 1-9) with 13 points and eight rebounds. Hall scored 13, including three 3-pointers to pace Bearden (10-9, 6-3).