OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Last Monday North Iowa Area took over the top spot in NJCAA D-II men's basketball after Johnson County suffered its first loss of the season. This coming Monday, North Iowa Area will no longer be No. 1 after the Cavaliers rallied for a 76-72 victory Friday night at the Cavalier Classic.
Johnson County trailed 42-35 at halftime, but bounced back in the second period by outscoring the Trojans 41-30 to secure the best win of the season.
North Iowa Area came into the game as the top scoring team in the county at 114 point per game. The Cavaliers held them to 42 points below that average
"I thought out team really responded in a positive way to such a high leverage game," said head coach Mike Jeffers who was coaching his 999th game of his career.
Sophomore guard JaQuaylon Mays put together another outstanding performance finishing with 27 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals.
Sophomore center Lukas Milner followed with 15 points, nine rebounds and a career high seven blocked shots, and sophomore guard Kylan Thomas added 10 points and six boards.
North Iowa Area was led by Deundra Roberson with 21 points.
Jeffers will coach in 1,000th career game Saturday afternoon against Iowa Western. JCCC lost by one point to the Reivers last weekend in Council Bluffs. Game time is scheduled for 4 p.m.