It was the season opener for four teams that all finished in the top three of the Northeast Kansas League last year and hope to maintain that status in 2018-19.  Both games were tight and exciting, but Jackson Heights got both wins at home.

GIRLS - Jackson Heights 51, JCN 49

Kylie Dohl made a layup with three seconds remaining and finished with 17 points to give the Lady Cobras their first win over JCN in seven games dating back to 2015.  Jackson Heights led 24-18 at halftime and stretched the margin to 12 at 35-23 in the third quarter.  Yet, JCN answered with a 16-3 run and regained the advantage at 39-38 early in the fourth period. 

The game was tight and back and forth till the end when JCN made just two of four free throws in the final 30 seconds, including one of two from Josie Weishaar with 12 seconds left to tie the score at 49.  The Lady Chargers got an offensive rebound but then was called for a travel, which gave Jackson Heights nine seconds to get the ball up court for the Dohl left hand layup to win the game.  

Weishaar finished with 16 of her 24 points in the second half and Madison Vaught had 14 points off the bench.  But JCN made just 16 of 33 free throws and had 22 turnovers in the defeat.  Abby Brey finished with 13 points for Jackson Heights while Trinity McMahon added eight and was one of four Cobras that finished the game with four fouls, with an additional player fouled out.  

BOYS = Jackson Heights 58, JCN 47

It was quite the different look for the JCN boys who did not have Coach Jim Brickell on the sidelines for the first time in 38 years.  The Chargers also looked a lot different on the floor under new Coach Tonya Kramer as they played a fast up and down game while attacking and also matching up most of the night in man-to-man defense.  JCN jumped to a 12-2 advantage, before Kolby Rethman hit a triple at the end of the first quarter and then hit back-to-back bombs in the second stanza to tie the score at 19.  The Cobras took control early in the second half and would take the lead for good while outscoring the Chargers 39-26 in the final two frames. 

Four seniors all scored in double figures and combined for all but two points as Rethman had 18 including five treys adn Curtis Niehues added 15.  Tyrell Childs came alive and scored all 12 of his points in the second half while adding nine rebounds and five assists while Lane Thomas posted nine of his 10 points in the second half as well.  Jackson Heights is now 19-0 when scoring at least 55 points, including the last two years.

JCN seemed to rush and force some shots once they fell behind in the second half and was held two a pair of field goals in the fourth quarter.  One of those was a three at the final buzzer by Bryce Fowler.  Fowler also banked in an off balanced half-court heave at the end of the third quarter to pull the Chargers within 39-37.  Fowler finished with five trifecta's and 19 points while Emmett Jobbins added eight.

Jackson Heights will play at Horton Tuesday while JCN travels to Oskaloosa.