OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – The Johnson County men's basketball team held Hesston to just two points over the first 12 minutes of the second half, and 15 total for the period, and cruised to a 24-point home over the Larks, 69-45.
With just two games remaining in the regular season, Johnson County is in first place in the conference race with a 5-1 record and a .833 winning percentage. Kansas City Kansas stands at 2-1 and a.667. With wins at Highland on Saturday, March 27 and at Labette, March 31, the Cavaliers would secure the title and the No. 1 seed in the Region VI Tournament.
Sophomore guard Jaycson Bereal, a three-time KJCCC Player of the Week selection this season, led all scorers with 19 points. He was 7-of-12 from the field and 5-of-8 at the charity stripe. He also had eight rebounds, three assist and three blocked shots.
Sophomore forward Jaland Whitehead posted his team-leading 10th double-double of the season finishing with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Whitehead hit 6-of-8 shots and both of his free throw attempts.
Sophomore guard Bing Haung and freshman guard Zion Buckner each contributed nine points, and freshman guard Desi Williams and freshman forward Xavier Kahube each added eight.
Langston Flowers was the only Larks player in double figures with 12 points. For the game Hesston shot just 22.9 percent from the field, and they were even worse from 3-point range, hitting just 6-of-25 attempts for 16 percent.