Bogan set the tone from the opening tip against King, advancing to the 3A Julian Sectional Championship with a 68-43 victory on Wednesday. The victory sets up the third meeting of the year between Red-South Conference rivals Morgan Park and Bogan.
Luwane Pipkins got things going with back-to-back three-pointers and an alley-oop dunk as Bogan raced out to a 16-12 first-quarter lead. James Jones scored 11 points for Bogan in the second quarter, sinking three three-pointers and a break-away dunk as the lead ballooned to 33-17.
A 12-0 run at the beginning of the third quarter put the game out of reach as Bogan (25-6) led 43-17 with 4:37 remaining in the third.
Bogan coach Arthur Goodwin said this was the type of performance that was needed to reach the ultimate goal.
“Right now we are clicking on all cylinders,” said Goodwin. “We have been playing very well since the start of the Public League playoffs. We just have to make sure we continue and not take anything for granted.”
Jones led three players in double figures with 19 points. Antonio Thomas finished with 16 points and a game-high 15 rebounds. Pipkins had 14 points.
Thomas said the team is very motivated.
“We feel we just don’t get the respect we deserve even after winning the city championship,” said Thomas. “So we just have to continue playing hard so that we can be recognized as a very good team.”
King coach Columber Ball said his team ran into a buzz saw.
“They are city champions for a reason,” said Ball. “We have been playing very well as of late, but we got a case of stage fright and they made us pay. You have got to be ready from the jump and it just wasn’t that way.”
Justin Davis led the Jaguars (20-8) with 13 points. Jabari Antwine and Jessie Young each had 10.
