ShawneeDispatch.com

The shorthanded Mill Valley boys basketball team was outmatched in every way Friday at Basehor-Linwood.

The defending Class 4A boys state champion Bobcats shot a blistering 73.9 percent in the first half, built a 30-point halftime lead and never looked back in a 78-30 victory.

Already short by four players for reasons ranging from injury to transfer to suspension to quitting, the Jaguars were hampered even more with the absence of a fifth player, starter Taylor Reinoehl.

Meanwhile, Basehor was at full strength and clicked on all cylinders. The Bobcats committed zero turnovers in the opening quarter and went 9-for-13 from the field while exploding to a 22-6 lead. Mill Valley took care of the ball in the quarter and had just two early turnovers, but the Jaguars were a frigid 2-for-10 from the field.

Things didn’t get better for the Jaguars in the second quarter. They went 1-for-9 from the field while BLHS went 8-for-10 and continued to expand its lead. Ryan Murphy scored 10 points in the quarter for Basehor.

The Bobcats led 39-9 at halftime and 65-16 entering the fourth quarter before clearing the bench and coasting to the victory.

Ryan Murphy finished with a game-high 20 points for BLHS, Colin Murphy scored 16 and Evan Theno added 10.

Austin Muckenthaler led Mill Valley with 9 points and Kendall Short added 7.

Basehor improved to 12-2 overall and 7-0 in the Kaw Valley League. Mill Valley fell to 5-9 and 5-3. The Jaguars next play Monday at home against Leavenworth.