OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – It was good news, bad news for the Johnson County men's basketball team at Labette County Gymnasium in Parsons, Kan., Wednesday night.
The good news: The Cavaliers won a share of the Division II Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference regular-season title, the programs sixth and first under new head coach Rand Chappell.
The bad news: Labette Community College buried 9-of-13 from 3-point range to hand Johnson County a 73-66 setback and deny the Cavaliers an outright league championship and overall No. 1 seed in the upcoming Region VI D-II Tournament.
Despite shooting 49.1 percent from the floor and 42 percent beyond the arc, the Cavaliers did not have an answer for Labette's hot-shooting guard tandem of Bryson Dennis and Ghage Kenan. Dennis led all scorers with 27 points, which included making 11-of-13 at the free throw line, and 21 from Kenan. All of Kenan's 21 points came in the second half paced by 6-of-9 shooting beyond the arc.
In the first half, Johnson County led by as many as 14 and took a six-point advantage into the locker room at the half. That lead was quickly erased early in the second half and the Cardinals outscored JCCC 52-39 to post the upset over the 8th-ranked Cavaliers.
Sophomore forward Jaland Whitehead led JCCC with has team-leading 12th double-double of the year with 18 points and 13 rebounds.
Sophomore guard Jaycson Bereal and freshman guard Desi Williams each finished with 15 points, and guard Bing Haung added 14 points. Bereal also had eight boards, five assists and a block. Williams dished out seven assists and grabbed four rebounds.
With the loss Johnson County falls to 14-4 overall, and to-5-3 in the conference, and a three-way tie with Labette 11-7/5-3) and Fort Scott Community College 12-5/5-3.
Johnson County advances to the NJCAA Region VI Tournament and will be the No. 2 seed due and will host the winner of Fort Scott and Hesston on Wednesday, April 7 in the semifinals. Tip is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
Download the Audacy app to listen to Mark Miller, the voice of the Cavaliers, call the game live on 1660 The Score.