At the end of the first, NKC leads 10-9 over Battle. This game has been a back and forth, defensive affair and neither team has really broken through offensively yet. Hornet’s Samuel Dada leads all scorers with 6. @metrosports_mk

Battle calls a timeout as Head Coach Ben Pallardy is not pleased with the teams organization on offense. The game is all knotted at 12 with six left in the half. @metrosports_mk

Timeout Hornets. We have another close first half at hand as NKC leads 18-16 with three mins left in the half. Can they break away like Staley or will this one come down to the wire? @metrosports_mk

Halftime here at Jewell and Battle holds a two-point lead over NKC. Both sides have been locking down defensively and working in the paint. This one is going to be a tough one down the stretch. Battle’s Ke’shun Jackson leads scorers with 9. @metrosports_mk

Timeout called after an exciting first 3 minutes of the second half. Battle’s Tate McCubbins has been going off - scoring his teams last four and catching a body off a nice lob. 29-26 NKC. 5 mins left in third. @metrosports_mk

After a couple of well-timed threes, Battle races out to an eight point lead at the end of the third quarter. Spartan Freshman Brandon Rooks has been playing out of his mind, with 13 points in that quarter. 45-37 Battle. One quarter left. @metrosports_mk

Timeout Hornets with five minutes left in the game. They need a lot of things to go their way to get back into this one but it’s definitely possible. However, if Battle’s improved shooting this half continues, it could spell disaster for NKC. 50-39. @metrosports_mk

NKC nearly forces back to back turnovers through their press to get back in it, but Battle somehow finds the ball in their hands in the paint and cash the and-one to solidify their lead. 55-45. 3 minutes left. @metrosports_mk

In Battle’s first appearance at Jewell they win their division with a resounding 63-49 win over NKC. They were paced by freshman Brandon Rooks (15 second half points), Ke’shun Jackson (18), Verbell Holt (14), and Tate McCubbin (12 & 2 posters). @metrosports_mk

NKC takes second and were led by Samuel Dada with a crazy 14 point 13 rebound statline. The difference in this game was the points Battle scored off turnovers - converteing 16 points off steals - along with stellar production off the bench for the Spartans. @metrosports_mk

It is packed tonight at Shawnee Mission East as I cover their game against district rival Shawnee Mission Northwest. Both teams are 7-0 and sit tied at the top of the Sunflower League. Big implications for this one. @metrosports_mk

Starters for tonight: SME G Walt Jones G Blake Hanson F Will Beck F Teddy Saylor C Abdoulaye Kante SMNW G Keaton Wagler G Van Collins G Aiven Riley F Tyler Salmon C Ethan Taylor @metrosports_mk

SME calls a timeout after a Ethan Taylor and-one poster and an Aiven Riley three. Northwest takes the early lead and looks dominant on defense. 8-0 SMNW. 3 mins left in first. @metrosports_mk

At the end of the first quarter, Northwest leads East 15-5. Keaton Wagler leads the Cougars with 5 points. Looks like this could get ugly quick for the Lancers. @metrosports_mk

The Cougars just can not seem to miss, hitting two in a row to force a Lancer timeout. 23-7 SMNW. 5 mins left in half. @metrosports_mk

At the half, Northwest leads 37-19. They have been creating chaos on the defensive end and hitting every three. It’s looking rough for the Lancers, but we’ll see if they can make adjustments for the second half. @metrosports_mk

East has gone on what feels like a mini-run with Ethan Taylor in foul trouble, scoring on nearly every possession. However, the Cougars do just enough to maintain a sizable lead. 51-37 SMNW. Fourth quarter up next. @metrosports_mk

This second half has been all Shawnee Mission East, but somehow Northwest still leads by fourteen. Van Collins forces a Lancer timeout with a clutch three. 58-44 SMNW. 4 mins left. @metrosports_mk

What a three by Carter Brock to cut the lead to single digits! Northwest have taken their foot off the gas and have allowed East back into this game (and the Lancers stifling press is not helping). 62-55 SMNW. 1 min left. @metrosports_mk

Final score 68-57. The Lancers made it close near the end but the Cougars stellar first half secured them this victory. They move to 8-0 and are the sole possessors of the SFL top spot. SME falls to 7-1. @metrosports_mk