McPHERSON, Kan. – The Bluejay Reserve Men's Basketball team would look to close their season in the right way and get revenge for a last-second loss in the first game of the season against the McPherson College Reserve team. The Bluejay men had been on a five-game skid and hadn't won in over a month. Several of the losses had been close, so the team was looking to get over the hump. 
 
Last game the Bluejays fell to the Kansas Wesleyan University Reserve team, 95-79. Kansas Wesleyan had a seven-point lead at the halftime break and the Bluejays found it difficult to get back in the game. Three Bluejays finished in double-figures in that game: Kam Kaniper (27), Drew Wertenberger (22), and Langston Taylor (11). 
 
The game against McPherson was supposed to be a good game, much like last time the Bluejays played in the Sports Center back on October 30^th, and it lived up to just about every bit of that anticipation. Tabor would head into the halftime break with a six-point lead, 46-40. No doubt that halftime lead would take some pressure off Head Reserve Coach Ethan Gager's shoulders as he headed into the locker room to talk over the first half and talk strategy with his team. Drew Werternberger would lead the Bluejays in scoring at the half with 20, while Brett Buckingham would sink three threes to total nine points and be the second leading scorer for the team. Cole Kimble would have six, Hayden Lucas would have four, Kam Kaniper would have three, and Fate Thiel and Langston Taylor would each have two. 
 
The second half would be somewhat more of the same as the Bluejays would outscore the Bulldogs 36-31 in the second half and would earn the 82-71 win. Weternberger would finish the game as the leading scorer for Tabor with 22, while Buckingham (12), Kimble (12), and Kaniper (11) would round out the team in double-figures and Lucas would finish just outside of that range with eight. Jordy Dolloff would score seven off three field goals and a free throw, while Taylor and Shan Williams would each contribute four, and Thiel would finish with two.
 
"It's been rough for all of us during this losing skid, but I'm really proud of our guys staring adversity in the face and gutting out a win against a good McPherson team to end the year", said Coach Gager. 
 
Gager also wanted to recognize his assistants: Tristan Reed and Jordan Maxfield for all of their contributions and support throughout the season, "I'd also like to take the time to thank our seniors, Jordan Maxfield and Tristan Reed, for their contributions to our reserve team. Jordan never stopped supporting this team and made an effort to be as helpful as possible despite being injured, and Tristan has been a big help working together with me on the coaching staff. I can't thank those guys enough for all they've done for our program."
 
"I'm really proud of this group, and I can't wait to see what the future holds for all of them," said Coach Gager on his final thoughts for the season. 
 
The Bluejays finish the season with a 7-12 overall record.
 
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Tabor College is a Christ-centered institution located in Hillsboro, Kansas. The Bluejays are members of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and compete in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC).