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SportS

www.junctioncityunion.com The Junction City Union. Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020 1B

McFarland: ‘Wasn’t Lady Jays come up short

really our night’

Will Ravenstein on the opposite side of on senior night
sports@jcdailyunion.com the field, but were unable
to connect with balls
The struggles continue bouncing off the frame
for the Junction City Blue and into defenders legs,
Jays soccer team after the ball soaring over the
falling 5-0 to the visiting net.
Topeka High Trojans “I just told them it
Tuesday night at Al Sim- wasn't really our night,”
pler Stadium. McFarland said. “We
Topeka took the lead didn't come out ready to
early in the contest scor- play today and that's
ing the first of three first- what happened. T-High,
half goals 4-minutes in good team. They took
off a corner kick. As goal- advantage of their oppor-
ie Gage Allen moved in to tunities tonight and we
catch the ball a Trojans’ didn't. We had a few
player slid in front of him chances to go score a few
for the quick kick and tonight but didn't find the
score. back of the net and they
Topeka scored again just kept finding a few.
on a penalty kick with And just once again,
10-minutes remaining wasn't really our night
then scored again five tonight.”
minutes later on a slide McFarland said while
kick that found Allen he was pleased the score
ducking to avoid the was closer than the
collision. matchup between the
“It's a breakdown from two last season, 7-0, he
everywhere,” coach Allan expects more from the
McFarland said after the team.
“Yeah, it's an improve-
game. “So, first goal they ment from last year,” he
probably got we weren't said. “But, that's always
really up we weren't real- the thing, you can see a
ly awake yet. And then few goals as an improve-
Will Ravenstein • Union
the ones after that we had ment. But for me, I Seniors Taylor Strickland (21) and Megan Hunt (22) leap for a block Tuesday night in Shenk Gymnasium as Emporia Lady
two fouls outside of the thought that was a team Spartans try to get the ball over. The duo along with Catherine Ferriera, Alexis Achaempong and Jocelyn Luke were
box, that they had good that we could compete honored — along with their families — with a special presentation between games for their dedication to Lady Jays
free kicks on and the with and potentially get a volleyball and Junction City High School.
other two didn't mark up. win. I want a little bit
“And that's not neces- more out of this group Will Ravenstein “And I'll talk in the future about the The brief ceremony honoring the
sarily a defender that and I think we can get legacy that they leave or what they players was held after the team fell to
could be a center-mid there.” sports@jcdailyunion.com leave for the girls next year. And so, I Emporia in the first game of the
that could even be a for- The team has a short The final home appearance of the think it's important that we have a night in two sets.
ward depending on what turnaround this week regular season for the five Junction night like this, and I wanted to make Junction City battled the aggressive
situation it is,” he added. with a road trip to Topeka play of the Lady Spartans throughout
“But, it's just little simple Highland Park Thursday City Lady Blue Jays volleyball team sure that we did it before anything the first set, but were never able to
things that once again in — another team McFar- seniors fell short Tuesday night as possibly could happen and then we overcome an early deficit. The team
the game of soccer when land feels the Blue Jays the team lost to both Emporia and couldn't do it at a later date.” placed good hits on the ball, but were
you make those mistakes can compete against, if Washburn Rural. The five, accompanied by a parent unable to get them to fall as Emporia
— they can kill you. Good they clean up how they “I think it kind of lets them, even or guardian, were given a momento quickly filled gaps and turned the
teams make you pay.” play there. though we're early on in the season, basket filled with treats and a letter play around on the Lady Jays.
The Blue Jays had sev- it lets them kind of finalize their their painted blue with photos of them
eral opportunities on goal Please see Soccer, 5B career here,” coach Basil Nevill said. throughout their career at JCHS. Please see Lady Jays, 5B

Blue Jays hit the road for week 4 action

Will Ravenstein a lot of underclassmen on several issues seen the last
sports@jcdailyunion.com the field. So we just have to few weeks — penalties,
come out very, very quick. fumbles, high snaps and
The Junction City Blue Offensively, defensively we missed blocks and tackles,
Jays travel to Topeka Fri- can't wait around, that's Zimmerman said.
day night for the first of for sure. It doesn't matter “We're trying to clean up
two straight weeks in the where we're at, it's a foot- all the little things,” he
capital city as they take on ball contest. We get very said. “We basically worked
the Washburn Rural Blues few of them on Friday on ourselves Monday and
in Centennial League play. nights in our lifetime. The Tuesday and then we just
The Blues, 1-2, are com- field's the same size as it is did Washburn Rural stuff
ing off a narrow 21-14 victo- at home and everything. on Wednesday. And that's
ry over the Pittsburg Purple We've just got to go play, basically about the way
Dragons after being out- that's for sure.” that the other weeks have
scored 98-15 in their first The Blue Jays have put gone. So we're still in early
two games of the season. up impressive numbers season mode and trying to
Though behind on the offensively and defensively clean ourselves up.
win column, JCHS head the last two weeks with “We keep working on
football coach Randall quarterback Andrew just eye discipline and
Zimmerman said the team Khoury completing 14 of being disciplined to our
is not one to overlook. 25 passes for 189 yards, eyes,” he added. “Just
“We can't overthink one touchdown and rush- doing what our eyes are
them, they've improved ing for 70 yards on 11 telling us to do. But first of
tremendously in the year,” attempts for one TD. That all, you've got to get them
he said. “(A) very well was followed by running right. Our young kids still
coached team. You know, back DJ Giddens gaining want to drift a little bit and
they made huge improve- 150 yards on 15 touches look into backfield and
ments from week one to with three TDs and a play, you know, youth
week three and they're 2-point conversion. football. Can't do that, we
playing very well right now Defensively, the team got to continue to stress
for sure.” was led by Michael the fundamental things
This will be the first road Joanne Pere • Union Boganowski’s six tackles. and try to get them to
trip since week one for the Macello Bussey prepares to catch a bomb from quarterback Andrew Khoury two weeks Three interceptions were develop that discipline it
Blue Jays who fell to Bishop ago against the visiting Manhattan Indians. Bussey leads the Blue Jays in receiving yards pulled in by Chaz Ruffin, takes be a really good
Carroll 29-28 in a tightly this season with 466 yards in 21 receptions. Javon George and Keghan defensive player.”
contested ball game. Zim- McConnell to flip the Washburn, on the other
merman said things have and the atmosphere can be “It took us a long time to that was on the road stuff momentum. hand, is working on build-
changed for the boys in just as friendly as the team get started in week one,” and part of it was week The team has been
blue since their first game wants it to be on the road. he said. “You know, part of one stuff. Part of it we had working on cleaning up Please see Blue Jays, 5B

Abilene schools suspends athletics and activities until at least Oct. 5

Ron PReston Burton and Berns went on to The memorandum did point have medical clearance on KSH- ments will still be enforced for
Tribune News Service say that as that date approaches, out that if Abilene is able to SAA form prior to returning to participation.
the situation would be reevaluat- resume on Oct. 5, that does not the activity. Burton and Berns extended a
Monday afternoon, Abilene ed to determine if the suspension mean they would start compet- Burton and Berns urged the plea to everyone, both students
High School director of athletics needs to be longer. This will be ing on that date. The athletic students to use the 14 days as a and adults, to do their part in
Will Burton and Abilene Middle on an activity-by-activity basis. directors noted that the school reset period. Be proactive and mitigating COVID by being safe
School director of athletics Derek This information was sent to district must then follow the take precautions by limiting con- and following protocols and
Berns notified USD 435 parents in the parents or guardians and to Kansas State High School Activi- tact with others. Everyone guidelines both at and away
a joint memo that because of participants in football, volley- ties Association COVID-19 should wear masks and practice from school. It’s the only way we
increases in confirmed positive ball, cross-country, girl’s tennis, Return to Participation Guide- social distancing. can continue, they said.
cases of COVID-19 amongst the cheer and the AHS musical. lines. They also noted that stricter Activities affected this week
staff and student body along with They pointed out that going In most cases returning from spectator guidelines might be include girl’s tennis at Salina,
significant increases in exposure into this season, “we knew we extended COVID-19 stay put in place upon return of the cross-country at Southeast of
to staff and students requiring were in a continuous situation. requires a minimum of two to activities. Saline, volleyball at Chapman
quarantine, the decision has been The goal was to put our best foot three or more full practices Burton reminded students that and Friday’s football game
made to suspend all extra-curric- forward to try and have activities before competitions could the season is still technically in versus Christ Prep Academy. All
ular activities (practices and com- for our students.” resume. session and that they must have been cancelled as far as
petitions) until at least Monday, We still can continue, they noted. If a student athlete has tested adhere to their schoolwork. Eli- Abilene participation is
Oct. 5. It’s not the end of the season. positive for COVID, they must gibility and attendance require- concerned.