With a future Indiana Hoosier on each team effectively canceling each other out, it was going to be up to the remaining eight players to decide who would win Tuesday's basketball game between Jefferson City and Waynesville.
Jefferson City got the better end of that deal, as the Jays put together their best team effort of the season and claimed a 57-49 win at Fleming Fieldhouse.
The Jays had six different players score in the decisive fourth quarter - and put four players in double figures for the game - and rode that balance to the victory.
"I was real proud of our team effort," Jefferson City coach Blair Thompson said. "We got some big-time plays out of some guys. To see the scoring as balanced as it was means you're playing well."
Gunnar See, who dropped in a team-high 15 points to lead the Jays, said this kind of effort was bound to happen sooner of later.
"The coaches have been talking about how we're a good team ready to explode," he said. "I think we're getting there."
With Indiana head coach Tom Crean in attendance, the two future Hoosiers lived up to their billing. Jefferson City's O.G. Anunoby had 11 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks despite sitting the entire second quarter with foul trouble, while Waynesville's Juwan Morgan racked up 21 points, 16 boards and four blocks.
"That's two high-level players - they're going to Indiana for a reason," Thompson said. "I think both of them bring a lot to the table."
After the teams played to a virtual standstill after the first four minutes - the Jays held a 6-4 lead on the state's fourth-ranked team in Class 5 - Jefferson City took control with an 8-0 run to end the first quarter.
"With a 10-point lead, I thought we would keep him on the bench and ride it out until the second half," Thompson said.
Kamari Balton started the spurt with a 3-pointer, Anunoby followed with a jumper and See drilled another 3 to make it 14-4.
The only downer for the Jays was Anunoby went to the bench after drawing his second foul with 1:05 left in the quarter. He wouldn't play again until the start of the second half, but the Jays handled it just fine.
Waynesville outscored Jefferson City in the second period, but by just 11-9. The Jays utilized some nifty interior passing - especially on two possessions midway through the quarter that led to a layup by Rhylin Spence and a three-point play by See - and took a 23-15 lead into halftime.
"It was big still having the lead because when O.G. went out, we were just trying to maintain and keep momentum and keep going, and we did," See said.
The Jays' lead was still 28-20 midway through the third quarter when the Tigers made a run, outscoring them 13-4 to end the period. Waynesville took its only lead of the game when Joe Johnson - who made just 2-of-14 shots on the night, canned a 3 with :02 left to put the Tigers up 33-32.
See said the Jays weren't worried after giving up the lead.
"I don't think so, because we still had momentum and with our student section behind us, we were fine," he said.
The Jays trailed for just 36 seconds, because See nailed a 3 on the Jays' first shot of the final quarter.
"That's a big play," Thompson said. "It's one of those (shots where you say), "No, no, no' and then "Absolutely.'"
The Jays got two huge layups from Tim Nahach on their next two possessions and they were on their way to the win.
They eventually took their biggest lead of the night at 12 points on two different occasions before claiming the eight-point win.
In addition to See's 15 points and Anunoby's 11, Spence and Balton added 11 points each.
"We've started three sophomores a lot this year and they've grown up tremendously in the past month," Thompson said. "We took some knocks waiting for it, but it's here. That's two games in a row we've had some consistency and had a glimpse of what it takes. And guys off the bench are ready."
Morgan had to work hard for his big night, as the Jays used up 14 fouls while guarding him with Anunoby, Nahach, Eysan Wiley and Caleb Burruss.
"We rotated guys on Juwan and tried to get physical with right back at him," Thompson said. "And then make sure we were closing out the shooters and rebounding, which I thought we did a good job of for most of the game."
Cedric Williams joined Morgan in double figures for the Tigers (13-4) with 10 points.
Jefferson City (10-7) hosts Roosevelt at 7 p.m. Friday.
In Tuesday's JV game, Jefferson City fell 41-32. Grant Wood led the Jays (10-7) with 12 points.