Missing several players due to nagging injuries, no one was certain how the Jefferson City Jays opener against Kirkwood was going to go.
After the Pioneers jumped out to a 15-6 lead on a 12-2 run in Saturday's fourth game of the Norm Stewart Classic at Columbia College, the patchwork lineup of the Jays showed their coach they weren't going down without a fight.
The Jays stayed within reach until the Pioneers were able to pull away in the closing minutes for a 70-60 win.