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Both Atchison and Jeff West were at the same location for the week. Yet, neither squad met each other on the court. That all changed on Tuesday night as the Tigers traveled to Atchison to take on the Redmen. In the end, the Lady Red of Atchison snuck out of the gym with a 37-35 victory while the boys team won 63-51.
The night started with a defensive struggle in the girls game. Jeff West only scored eight points in the opening quarter, but Atchison couldn’t muster up enough points to keep up to trail 8-6. The Lady Red were able to get a lead midway in the second, but Jeff West reclaimed the lead right before the half, up 16-15. The Lady Tigers would continue to hang on to the lead going into the fourth up 28-24.
Atchison battled back in the final quarter to build its largest lead of the night to five, but Jeff West quickly rallied. Sophomore MaKenzie Dougherty drilled a corner jumper on an inbounds play to give the Lady Red a one-point lead. Junior Laurene Cushinberry swished a free throw to double the lead for Atchison. With 3.8 seconds left, Jeff West ran an inbounds play underneath the basket, but Atchison stole the ball to run out the clock.
Atchison senior Arika Smith only scored 10 points, but it was sophomore MaKenzie Dougherty that was the difference maker to be the Bank of Atchison Player of the Game. Dougherty finished with 10 points. Jeff West junior Olivia Brees led all scorers with 20 points in the losing effort for the Lady Tigers.
Atchison is now 4-7 on the season while Jeff West falls to 4-9.
In boys competition, Atchison jumped out to an early lead, but Jeff West was able to come back and tie the game at 15-15 at the end of the first quarter. The Redmen’s defense caged the Tigers in the second. Jeff West only scored three points and trailed 24-18 at the break. Atchison would continue to stretch out the lead and sunk free throws at the end to win 63-51.
For Jeff West, senior Alex Miller led the Tigers with 17 points off the bench. Junior Connor Mickens helped the team with 12 points, nine coming in the final quarter. Atchison senior Tanner Huntington continued to have the hot hand and scored 22 points to be the Bank of Atchison Player of the Game. Junior Rashaun Chambers set a new season-high with 18 points. Sophomore Wykeen Gill Jr. chipped in 12 points, half of which came from the free throw line.
On the season, Atchison is 8-3 and travels to Tonganoxie on Friday while Jeff West falls to 5-8 and battles Perry LeCompton next week.
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