Final. Great effort by JC. Just too much Ballard at the end.

Jalen Perry with 25 points & 9 rebounds to lead Ballard. Corey Douglas named player of the game with 14 points & 15 rebounds. Anthony Eaves with 14 points & Jamil Wilson 13.

The score wasn't indicitive of the battle that just got out of reach for JC in the 4th. No shame for JC in that effort against the state's top team.

Kyle Gullett finishes with 21 points & 7 rebounds for Johnson Central. Braxton Blair gets 17 points, 6 asists, & 4 rebounds. Mason Blair adds 12, but on 4-13 shooting.

Does JC always play that style of offense?

Free throw shooting:

 

Ballard - 15-31 (48.4%)

Johnson Central - 9-19 (47.4%)

Just by watching the game on khsaa tv JC had no answer for Ballard's press. Way too many turnovers to beat a team like Ballard that simply has better athletes. Ballard has to do a better job of making their free throws though or they will get knocked off. Jalen Perry was the best player on the floor today.

Turnover hurt, but you can't let a team get 22 offensive rebounds and expect to win. Ballard got 22 second chance points to JC 2. If JC takes care of the boards, we may be talking about an upset.

Just like in previous years, that press is something to behold when Ballard turns it on in the second half.

Ballard better hope they shoot it better when they toe the FT line. Pretty awful from the stripe.

I fully expect Ballard to play better in their next game, including free throw shooting. I don't think you saw Ballard's best press today. I imagine both teams were nervous today, which is to be expected.