Friday night was no ordinary Friday night in Jayton. The 8th-in-the-state ranked Jayton Jaybirds boys’ basketball team was hosting the #10 in state Paducah Dragons.
The Covid-19 protocol wristbands were long sold out, and JGISD administration had arranged with Stephen Reynolds and Texas 1A Fan to provide color commentary on the video broadcast of the game through the NFHS high school streaming network.
The Jaybirds pulled out all the stops, so that fans could see the game, but the Dragons pulled out all the stops on the court, and when the dust settled, #10 Paducah had upset #8 Jayton 50-45.
But the history between these two teams goes way back.
Paducah second-year coach Trevor Guy told KCBD Sports, “That was a big win for us. Coach Bleiker at Jayton does such a good job. His kids are always so well prepared and play so hard.”
In the past Jayton and Paducah were not in the same district, but would routinely face other in the post-season. UIL realignment in the spring of 2020 changed that.
Guy said, “We’re in the same district with them. Last year we split with them. They beat us there and we beat them at home. They beat us in the Regional Finals last year to go to State. To go over to Jayton and get that win. . .That was a big step in the right direction for us.”
Even though the undefeated Dragons sat atop 5-1A, undefeated and in first place, the season is far from over. The Jaybirds will come calling on Paducah on February 9, the next to last game of the regular season, and the outcome of that game will go a long way toward determining who will win district and who gets a bye in the first round of the playoffs.
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