Losing streak comes to an end for Jays

 

Harrah – It was a January to forget about for the Guthrie boys basketball team and February started off as a forgettable time as well, but the Jays got to taste victory for the first time since January 24th.

 

Guthrie, who has not played a home game since January 14th, collected a 48-44 gut wrenching win over the Harrah Panthers. The win snaps a three game losing streak and Guthrie has now won just two of their last eight games. Overall, the BlueJays improve to 9-10 overall and 6-4 in the Suburban Conference. Harrah falls to 9-14 and 5-9.

 

The Panthers started quickly with a 5-0 lead to begin the game, but Guthrie then went on a 10-0 run in the next four plus minutes and finished the first quarter leading 13-8. Senior Kentrell Brothers banked home a 3-pointer as the buzzer went off to give the Jays the five point advantage.

 

Guthrie doubled up Harrah, 16-8, to begin the second quarter, but only to see the Panthers go on a 9-2 run to pull within one, 18-17, with 3:50 to play in the half.  The Jays, however, finished the half out scoring Harrah 12-4 to take a 30-21 halftime lead.

 

Guthrie built their biggest lead of 10-ponts, 34-24, in the third quarter, but managed just a 5-point lead at the end of the quarter, 39-34. The Panthers pulled with two points twice and one point of the Jays, but could never gather the lead. Harrah was forced to foul down the stretch and freshmen Kai Callins iced the game with 6.1 seconds left with a free throw.

 

Harrah was perfect from the free throw line by going 13-for-14, but the lone miss came at a crucial time of needing to make it a one possession game. Guthrie was just 14-of-29 from the charity stripe, but Codee Gross was a perfect 7-for-7 and finished with 11 points.

 

Brothers scored a game high 18-points, despite struggling from the free throw line, but was big on the boards to give the Jays second point opportunities. He was named the Farmers and Merchants Bank Player of the Game.

 

Guthrie shot 16-of-49 from the field (33%), but Harrah was not much better by going 14-for-46 from the field (30%).

 

The Jays will now play three straight home games to conclude the regular season beginning with Piedmont on Thursday, Chickasha Friday, and El Reno on Saturday. Senior Night will be celebrated Friday evening.