BOYS

Despite just a two-point lead at halftime, the Jefferson County North boys’ basketball team outscored Oskaloosa 40-17 in the second half to wrap up the 2016-17 Northeast Kansas League regular season title outright with a 66-37 win in Winchester Friday night.

The Bears, though, gave the Chargers everything they could handle in the first half. Oskaloosa senior Braeden Pfau notched 12 of his 14 points in the first two quarters as the Bears trailed by just one, 22-20, at the break.

JCN, the No. 10-ranked team in 2A, came alive in the third quarter, outscoring the Bears 26-10 in the third with senior post Braden Schneider and junior Brayden Summers combining for 18 points in the quarter.

Oskaloosa had their chances in the second half with easy shots underneath the basket and open shots from the outside, but nothing would fall as the Chargers’ lead went to 18 after three and got up to as many as 31 in the fourth quarter.

The Bears shot just five free throws total in the game, while JCN went 11-of-18 from the charity stripe with Schneider going 5-of-8 himself.

Jefferson County North clinched their first league title since winning the Delaware Valley League tournament title in 2007, finishing the 2016-17 league season with a 15-1 record.

JCN (17-3) will look to carry their momentum of winning the league title into sub-state next week. The Chargers are the No. 2-seed in the Valley Falls sub-state and host the Dragons Monday at 7 p.m. on the KAIR Sports Channel.

Oskaloosa fell to 6-14 overall with the loss and will take on Perry Lecompton Tuesday on the road at 7 p.m. in the first round of the 3A St. Marys sub-state.

JCN: Braden Schneider – 27, Brayden Summers – 13, Brysen Weishaar – 9, Joel Abel – 9, Boston Lane – 6, Caden McAfee – 2.

Oskaloosa: Braeden Pfau – 14, Hunter Reed – 10, John Tarwater – 4, Marek Koch – 3, Jerod Shufflebarger – 2, Jaxson Webb – 2, Parker Wells – 2.

GIRLS

Backed by a strong defensive effort Friday night, the Jefferson County North girls’ basketball team clinched a share of the NEKL regular season title with a 44-28 win over Oskaloosa in Winchester.

The Chargers (18-2) will share the title with Valley Falls as the two teams split their regular season matchups and each finished with a 15-1 league record.

Against Oskaloosa, though, the Chargers got off to a slow start leading by just three after the first quarter as the Bears forced JCN into four turnovers in the opening frame.  

The Chargers started to find their groove in the second quarter, forcing the Bears into three turnovers and allowing just eight points in the quarter to take a 24-16 lead into halftime.

Oskaloosa never really threatened in the second half as the Chargers kept their advantage to at least eight points in the final two quarters to wrap up the win and league title.

JCN, the upcoming No. 1-seed in next week’s 2A sub-state, clinched their first league title since the 2013-14 season and will face off against either McLouth or Bishop Seabury at home Tuesday in the postseason opener.

Oskaloosa fell to 6-14 overall and will head to No. 1 Rossville Monday in the opening round of the 3A St. Marys sub-state.

JCN: Annabelle Vaught – 11, Jentry Seichepine – 10, Ravyn Jobbins – 10, Julie Schrick – 4, Kaitlyn Schneider – 4, Crystal Feldkamp – 3, Elaina Tweed – 2.

Oskaloosa: Raegen Hamm – 8, Jaden Courter – 7, Jenna Pfau – 4, Shelby Wright – 3, Mattie Molder – 2, Megan Miller – 2, Tomi-Lyn Hickman – 2.