The Jefferson City Jays snapped a 19-year Final Four drought last season.
With a win this afternoon in Springfield against the Parkview Vikings (20-9) in the Class 5 state quarterfinals, the Jays (10-19) can be one of the last four teams remaining for the second straight year.
“It’s obviously a great feeling to be one step away from the Final Four, but it’s a better feeling to be one step away from the state title game,” Jefferson City coach Josh Buffington said. “… Now we just have to take care of business. It’s going to be a very tough basketball game.”
Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m. today at Parkview High School after MSHSAA changed the format for its basketball postseason this year to switch sectional and quarterfinal games from neutral-site contests to being hosted by one of the two schools competing.
This brings a level of unexpectedness to the game. To make that even greater, this will be the Vikings’ first home game in their gym this season. Parkview experienced a flood from a pipe bursting above the basketball court in the fall and the gym floor had to be replaced.
The Vikings had five home games this season but four were played at Hillcrest and the other was played at Springfield Central.
“I don’t really know what to expect because this is the first year we’ve done this in high school basketball,” Buffington said. “This is new for everyone experiencing this, not only for the team going on the road but the team hosting a quarterfinal game at their own house.
“But it’s a basketball game. No matter where you play, once that ball is tossed up, you see red. It’s a game you have to win, no matter where you’re playing it.”
It’s the second meeting of the season between the two programs. Jefferson City and Parkview matched up Jan. 26 at Fleming Fieldhouse. The Jays initially won the contest 60-54 -- their first win by single digits all season -- but the contest was later turned to a forfeit loss.
While the game doesn’t officially count as a win, it still served as a turning point in Jefferson City’s season.
“That was probably our signature win to that point in the season,” Buffington said. “It really lifted our confidence, at least in the fact that we were able to grind one out and win a close game against a very quality club, a top-10 team in the state at that point.”
Both teams enter playing their best basketball of the season. The Vikings are coming off a District 6 championship, beating Hillcrest 58-53 in the title game to extend their winning streak to five games.
The Jays are coming off an emotional 61-54 victory against Helias in the District 5 championship Tuesday to stretch their winning streak to four.
“I truly believe we are playing a lot better right now than we were at that point, and I’m sure Parkview is as well,” Buffington said. “Everybody that’s playing right now is playing good basketball.”
One of the deciding factors in today’s contest will be the rebounding battle. Parkview’s starting frontcourt features junior Eli Govan (6-foot-8) and senior Jamile Johnson (6-9).
The Vikings won the rebounding battle 22-14 in the first half of the first matchup before Jefferson City won the battle on the boards 15-8 in the final two quarters to help seal the game.
Parkview enters today’s game turning 30 percent of its misses into offensive rebounds.
“If you don’t find them in the paint, if you don’t find them on the glass, it could be a very long night for you,” Buffington said.
Senior TJ Hill and juniors Dessiah Green and Carlitos Sanchez round out the projected starting five.
The Vikings enter today averaging 5.1 made 3-pointers per game on 31.5 percent shooting.
Parkview did a good job of slowing down Jordan Martin, who enters the quarterfinals averaging 22.8 points per game on 63 percent shooting, in the first matchup. Martin finished with 14 points on 4-of-9 shooting.
“He’s going to get everything thrown at him, as he usually does,” Buffington said. “But he’s hard to hold to 14, and that’s quite the compliment to say about somebody.”
To make up for the lost production in the first matchup, Kendric Johnson led the way with 17 points, Judah Harris added 16 points and Nelson Shinkle chipped in 12.
Johnson is averaging 11.4 points, Shinkle is right behind at 11.3 points per game and Harris has added 8.5 points per game.
“We had pretty good balance that night, so we can be very effective and we can win games that way as well,” Buffington said.
The winner of today’s game will move on to the state semifinals against the winner of top-ranked Sikeston (28-1) and No. 6 Vianney (23-6). That quarterfinal contest also tips off at 3 p.m. today.
Tip-off for the Class 5 boys semifinal is scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday at Mizzou Arena.