Basehor-Linwood routs De Soto in highlight-filled game

Even late-comers to the gym had their own interpretation of Basehor-Linwood’s first-quarter theatrics that they gleaned from texts and excited conversations in the school’s lobby.

Just moments before, the play in question started with Jahron McPherson patiently dribbling off the wing and scanning the baseline for a worthy partner.

His eyes locked with Eric Scott as the clock wound down, and he floated a pass high in the air. Scott was already cutting to the right side of the basket and beginning his ascent. His outstretched finger met the ball just inches above the rim, and he slammed it home to a thunderous cheer.

The alley-oop extended a nine-point run that effectively put the game out of reach in Basehor-Linwood’s 63-32 home victory against De Soto on Friday night.

“We made eye contact and we kind of have that chemistry, so I knew to throw it,” McPherson said.

Scott added: “I just kind of saw it and said, ‘let’s do it.’ ”

The basket ended up being Scott’s only one of the game, which was shortened by a running clock late in the game. Twelve Bobcats scored in the contest.

McPherson commanded attention again in the waning moments of the second quarter as he drew a foul on a fade-away three-pointer and buried the free throw to push the Bobcats’ lead to 21 points.

The Bobcats clearly enjoyed the rout, and it also alleviated some disappointment from their last outing when they lost their first game of the season. They suffered a five-point defeat to Blue Valley in the championship game of their own Bobcat Invitational.

It was just their second loss in 37 games, which included an undefeated run to the Kansas Class 4A Division I championship game last season. Basehor-Linwood is The Star’s second-ranked small class team with an 11-1 record and 7-0 mark in Kaw Valley League play.

“It was a bounce-back game, but that happens, that’s basketball,” McPherson said.

Jack Dale led the Bobcats with a game-high 18 points. McPherson joined him in double figures with 12.

This story was originally published January 29, 2016 at 9:56 PM with the headline "Basehor-Linwood routs De Soto in highlight-filled game."