When the buzzer sounded to signal the end of the third quarter of the Manhattan High-Junction City boys basketball game Friday night, the already-vociferous JC crowd turned to a frenzy. Bleachers shook. Shirtless teenagers bellowed. The Blue Jays were on the comeback trail, now within only four.

Four, however, was as close as Junction City got the rest of the way.

Because instead, the Indians ripped off eight straight points to begin the fourth frame on their way to a 78-64 win over JC, Manhattan’s 11th-straight victory in the series.

Flipping the switch in the final quarter, like the Indians did Friday night, has become somewhat of a calling card for Manhattan, a way of stamping the envelope that is the game so as not to leave a trace of doubt of which squad claimed the oft-deciding eight minutes.

It is a quality head coach Benji George, whose team is off to a perfect 5-0 start entering the winter break, chalks up to his players’ attitudes.

“[It’s] the belief and confidence that they can get the job done,” George said. “They know that it’s going to be us against the world. When that fourth quarter hit, they really had that mentality.”

Much of the fourth-quarter success, in the case of Friday, can be attributed to Manhattan’s efficiency at the free throw line: the Indians connected on all 12 of their attempts in the fourth. Six came from senior Gabe Awbrey, who finished with 20 points total

“We’re confident shooting free throws,” Awbrey said. “We know that we’ve got good shooters, and good free throw shooters that can knock it down, so we just have to step up there and be confident.”

The run to begin the fourth would have pushed Manhattan’s lead even further, had it not been for a series of gaffes to end the third. The Indians turned the ball over three times in the final two minutes of the frame, mistakes the Blue Jays turned into a quick 10 points.

“We really got hurt with turnovers in the third quarter. We got loose with the ball,” George said. “We kind of went away from what was working on offense.”

Five of the 10 points were recorded by T.J. Poole, who led the way for Junction City with 30 overall, including 10 in the fourth. Perhaps his team would have appreciated the majority to come in the first half, however.

Because that’s when Manhattan seized control of the game.

The Indians bolted out to a 23-12 lead after the first frame, thanks in part to the production of Tommy Ekart. The junior guard tallied 11 points, including two threes, in the first period alone en route to a career-high 20.

“He’s just been phenomenal. He’s a lightning spark for us,” George said. “We came out ready to go.”

The first eight minutes, also, was when senior Grant Munsen turned back three different shots at the rim, two off 6-5 forward Xavier Cason.

“He’s definitely a lot bigger,” Munsen said. “I had to use my athleticism and quickness to defend him as good as I could.”

But as physically imposing as Cason stood, Manhattan’s defense scheme revolved more around Ricardo Erans, a six-foot guard. Erans finished the first half with three triples.

“We were focusing so much on [Erans],” George said.

The threes brought the Blue Jay crowd back into the contest periodically, but the Indians continued to snuff out the momentum. Awbrey posted eight points in the second quarter, helping MHS to a 43-31 halftime advantage.

Munsen said that having beat Dodge City last Saturday on the road paid dividends in the way of experience Friday night.

“We haven’t played at home yet, so we’re used to playing away,” he said. “I think playing Dodge helped.”

The road trips will come to an end temporarily following the break, though. Manhattan’s home-opener is scheduled for Jan. 5 against Seaman.

It’s been nearly a full year since the team has played before the home crowd, a team George said is not satisfied with the attention it has garnered. Or lack thereof.

“Our players really felt like they just weren’t getting the amount of respect that they deserve,” George said. “It’s been from other teams’ players; others teams’ coaches. They’re ready to get a little bit of respect.”