OVERLNAD PARK, Kan. – The Johnson County men's basketball team's quest for a third straight Kansas Jayhawk D-II Conference championship, a fourth title in five years, took a big blow on Wednesday night in Fort Scott, Kan., as the 16th-ranked Cavaliers fell to the Greyhounds, 73-63. That loss dropped Johnson county into a tie with Fort Scott for second place with a 4-3 record, and the Greyhounds secured the tiebreaker by sweeping the season series.
For the second consecutive game the Cavaliers have been without the services of their leading scorer JaQuaylon Mays. The 6-3 sophomore guard has been out nursing an injury to his left shoulder suffered early in a loss at Kansas City Kansas on February 5.
In Mays absence, sophomore guard Kylan Thomas became Johnson County's go-to player. Thomas posted his second career double-double finishing with 19 points and 10 rebounds. He hit 8-of-10 shots, including a 3-pointer, and made two free throws. He also contributed two assists and a steal. His 19 points are the second highest total of the season.
Also in double figures were sophomore guard Nic Slavin and freshman guard Dale Talley III, both finishing with 12 points.
Sophomore forward Isiah Sears added seven points and sophomore guard Macaleb Hughes contributed five points, 10 boards and four assists.
Head coach Mike Jeffers did welcome back sophomore center Lukas Milner to the lineup on Wednesday night. He had missed the previous two games due to an illness.
Craig Jordan led the Greyhounds with 20 points, followed by Vincent Barron with 15.
Johnson County travels to Parsons, Kan., for a conference matchup against Labette Community College, the return home for their final two regular season games against Hesston February 19 and Kansas City Kansas February 22, which will be Jeffers final regular season game of his career. Jeffers announced he would retire at the end of the season back in October.