On Dec. 20, the Jefferson County North girls’ basketball team took down Valley Falls in Winchester 52-51 in overtime.

Friday night in Valley Falls the Dragons returned the favor, forcing the Chargers into 23 turnovers in a 46-21 win to move into a tie atop the Northeast Kansas League.

Seven of the 23 turnovers came in the first quarter, which allowed the Dragons to build a 14-8 lead after one with junior Allison Kearney recording six points in the quarter.

The Dragons forced six more giveaways in the second, and sophomore Reagan Kirkwood poured in nine points in the frame including a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give Valley Falls a 25-13 lead at intermission.

The Dragons extended their lead to 17 after three quarters after holding the Chargers to just six points in the third, and outscored JCN 10-2 in the fourth quarter to go on to win by 25.

Valley Falls (13-3, 11-1 NEKL) now heads to Jackson Heights Tuesday, while JCN (13-2, 10-1) travels to Oskaloosa.

Valley Falls: Reagan Kirkwood – 21, Allison Kearney – 9, Mallory Burns – 6, Rachel Frakes – 6, Drew DeLong – 4.

JCN: Josie Weishaar – 6, Ravyn Jobbins – 6, Julie Schrick – 3, Madison Vaught – 2, Jentry Seichepine – 2, Annabelle Vaught – 2.

BOYS

Behind 23-point third quarter, the Jefferson County North boys’ basketball team pushed their undefeated league record to 11-0 with a 63-34 win over Valley Falls on the road Friday night.

JCN, the No. 10-ranked team in 2A, clicked offensively all night long. The Chargers scored 20 points in the first quarter and 17 in the second to take a 37-24 lead into halftime with senior Braden Schneider accounting for 13 points.

JCN outscored the Dragons 23-6 in the third quarter with junior Boston Lane drilling three 3-pointers, pushing the Charger lead to 30 points after three quarters, forcing a running clock in the fourth.

The Chargers hit six treys in the game, while also going 8 of 11 from the free throw line.

JCN, now 13-2 overall and 11-0 in NEKL play, heads to Oskaloosa Tuesday night, while Valley Falls (4-12, 3-9) travels to Jackson Heights.

JCN: Boston Lane – 17, Braden Schneider – 17, Joel Abel – 12, Bryce Fowler – 8, Brysen Weishaar – 5, Brayden Summers – 4.

Valley Falls: Justin Meyers – 9, Nathan Pickerell – 8, Dawson Gatzemeyer – 7, Jason Meyers – 3, Grayson Haag – 3, Tucker Sherretts – 2, Dalton Barnett – 2.