KJ Robinson is a humble basketball player.

    The Blue Springs South all-state guard often defers the credit of his scoring outbursts to his teammates. That doesn't mean he can't have fun and show off every now and then.

    “We shoot free throws in practice and KJ will look at me while he's shooting a free throw and not look at the rim and shoot it and it goes in,” senior teammate Briley Moore-McKinney said after the Jaguars edged Columbia Rock Bridge 51-48 victory over Columbia Rock Bridge Thursday to claim the Class 5 District 9 title. “In games like this, we can breathe easy when he shoots free throws.”

    That's how good Robinson is at the line. No matter the situation, Blue Springs South coach Jimmy Cain and the rest of the Jags have a lot of confidence in the senior point guard there.

    He calmly sank a pair of pressure-packed free throws with 11 seconds left to make it 51-48 South and essentially seal the win.

    “My teammates have a lot of confidence in me,” the University of Nebraska-Omaha signee said. “We also work on them a lot in practice. Yes, sometimes I like to look the other way when I shoot a free throw in practice and have fun with it.”

    His team's suffocating defense also made it nearly impossible for Rock Bridge an open look as Curtis Ferneau was right in the face of Karson Ringdahl, whose bank shot 3-point attempt missed and gave the Jaguars (16-11) a second straight district 9 title with the triumph Thursday at Sedalia Smith-Cotton High School.

    South will play Waynesville (15-12) in a Class 5 sectional playoff at 7:45 p.m. Wednesday at State Fair Community College in Sedalia.

    “You can't even explain it after what we went through,” Moore-McKinney said referring to the team's 2-8 record in the final 10 games of the regular season. “We had a lot of ups and downs. We've been talking about how the playoffs is a new season. I am proud of the way we fought and won a district title.”

    Moore-McKinney thumped his chest, looked above and let out a scream after the final seconds ticked off. Shortly after he embraced Robinson with a big hug.

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