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Harmon Hawks state-bound with 59-48 win over Blue Valley

by Brian Turrel

The Harmon Hawks boys basketball team is headed back to the state tournament after knocking off the Blue Valley Tigers 59-48 in Saturday’s sub-state final.

The Tigers’ hot three-point shooting burned the Hawks in the first quarter. Blue Valley hit 4 threes, including 3 by 6-foot-7 sophomore Aidan Shaw, who seemed unstoppable. The Hawks had trouble solving the Blue Valley zone, but Mike Carson earned four baskets working the paint for the Hawks, keeping the game close.

In the second quarter, the Hawks found some outside offense of their own, getting three-pointers from Walzel Evans and Jason Rodriguez. Shaw was held scoreless, and Harmon took a 25-24 lead to the break.

In the third quarter, Evans found some room to drive to the rim and picked up four baskets and a free throw conversion. Blue Valley couldn’t answer the early second-half surge, and Harmon started to get some separation for the first time, pulling out to a 41-32 lead at the end of the third quarter.

Blue Valley closed to within four with a run early in the fourth quarter, but Carson continued to work hard on the offensive glass for rebounds and putbacks that kept the Tigers at bay. Carson finished the game with 18 points to lead the Hawks in scoring.

The Hawks’ poor fourth-quarter shooting at the free throw line (6-of-15) kept the Tigers hoping for a turnaround, but Harmon burned time with each possession, and didn’t allow the comeback to happen.

Harmon will head to the 6A state finals, where they will face off against Olathe South on Thursday at 3 p.m.

In other playoff action, the Piper boys and girls are both headed back to the 4A state tournament in Salina.

On Friday, the Lady Pirates defeated Girard 72-27 to win the sub-state championship. They’ll kick off the state tournament on Wednesday at 4:45 p.m. against Frontier League rival Baldwin.

The boys beat Iola 68-30 on Saturday. Their state quarter-final match-up is against Buhler on Thursday at 6:30 p.m.

The Schlagle Lady Stallions ended their season with a sub-state final loss to Basehor-Linwood 67-55.

The Bishop Ward Lady Cyclones lost to Sabetha 63-29 in the sub-state semi-finals.

Harmon head coach Dave Gonzales cut down the final strand of the net in the post-game ceremony. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel)

The 2019-2020 Harmon Hawks posed with the sub-state championship plaque after the win. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel)

Senior Walzel Evans was helped up by teammates after he earned two points and a free throw on a drive to the basket. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel)

The Harmon cheerleaders were overjoyed with the win. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel)

Freshman guard Jason Rodriguez pushed the ball up the court against Blue Valley junior Mac Demo. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel)

Junior Mike Carson put back an offensive rebound, contested by Blue Valley junior Dorian Stephens. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel)

Senior Walzel Evans took a long three-point jumper. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel)

Junior Chauncey Keys put up a short jumper over Blue Valley sophomore Aidan Shaw. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel)

Junior Lonell Lane put up shot. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel)

Senior Terrance Johnson helped cut down the net in the post-game ceremony. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel)

Junior Chauncey Keys put up a shot at the rim. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel)

Senior Walzel Evans burst through a Blue Valley double team. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel)

Junior Lonell Lane put up a reverse lay-up to foil the block by Blue Valley junior Dorian Stephens. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel)

Schlagle girls advance to sub-state final, defeat Pittsburg

by Brian Turrel

The Schlagle girls basketball team earned their way to the next round of the KSHSAA 5A playoffs with a 68-50 victory over the Pittsburg Lady Dragons on Wednesday night.

Schlagle built a big lead early, with accurate three-point shooting from Ishante Suttington and Camille Evans. The Stallions held a 22-11 advantage after the first quarter.

The scoring pace let up from the second quarter on, but Schlagle kept and built on their margin with defense, anticipating the Dragons’ passing lanes and intercepting the ball. The Lady Stallions allowed only 7 points in the third quarter.

The Stallions held a 22-point lead going into the fourth quarter before the defense let go its stranglehold on the Pittsburg offense.

Suttington hit 3 of 5 three-pointers and led the scoring with 23 points. Evans scored 12, including 2 of 4 three-pointers. DeJanae Brown and Tylieea Wallace both contributed 10.

Schlagle now holds a 15-6 record for the season. The Stallions will play at Basehor-Linwood for the sub-state championship on Saturday at 6 p.m.

Other local playoff action:

6A: Harmon boys defeated Gardner-Edgerton 66-56. They’ll play Blue Valley on Saturday at 6 p.m.
Wyandotte boys lost to Olathe South 85-67.
5A: Washington girls lost to Topeka-Seaman 73-19.
Sumner girls lost to Shawnee Heights 64-58.
Bonner Springs girls lost to Lansing 59-29.
4A: Piper boys defeated Atchison 93-48. They’ll play host to Iola on Saturday at 6 p.m.

Camille Evans went up with a finger roll. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel)

Ishante Suttington drove to the basket against the Pittsburg defense. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel)

DeJanae Brown secured an offensive rebound. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel)

The Schlagle Marching Stallions gave the game a fun atmosphere. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel)

DeJanae Brown put up a layup. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel)

Tylieea Wallace faced down the defense of Pittsburg’s Ela Hendrickson. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel)

Destyni Kennedy defended against Pittsburg’s Beauty Simmons. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel)

Camille Evans was fouled as she drove in for a layup. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel)

Tylieea Wallace put up a short jumper in the lane. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel)

Ward girls advance over Hiawatha, 49-45

by Brian Turrel

Coach Dominique Washington challenged the Bishop Ward Lady Cyclones after a half of being outplayed and outmuscled by the Hiawatha Redhawks. He reminded them of the obstacles and adversity they had faced all season and how they had come through.

“It’s up to you. It’s up to you to dig this one out. Get yourself out of the hole. I guarantee you we will advance,” Washington recalled after the game. “And that’s what they did. We came out strong.”

The team responded to Washington’s challenge, and Bishop Ward came back from an 11-point second quarter deficit to beat Hiawatha in the 3A KSHSAA sub-state playoffs, 49-45.

Bishop Ward went on a run in the third quarter, pulling even with the Redhawks with about 5 minutes to go in the querter. Hiawatha didn’t relent, and the two teams traded leads throughout the second half. Trapping defense with active hands on the ball and the ball-handler prevented any easy plays by either team.

The vocal Ward fans weren’t able to exhale until 4.2 seconds remained in the contest. With Ward up by 3, Jimena Lopez was knocked to the ground in the Redhawks’ last-chance attempt to regain possession. Lopez hit the second of two free throws for a 4-point lead, eliminating Hiawatha’s chance for a game-tying buzzer-beater.

Lopez finished the game with 18 points, 16 in the second half. She hit key baskets on drives in the third quarter, and made 4 of 7 free throws in the closing minutes to keep Ward ahead. Tina Rosales scored 10, and Perla Frayre-Delgado added 8.

Ward advances to the 3A sub-state semi-finals on Friday. The sub-state semi-finals and finals are being held at Hiawatha High School. Ward will face off against the Sabetha Lady Bluejays, tipping off at 6 p.m.

Other local playoff action:

3A: Bishop Ward boys lost to Marysville 63-25.
4A: Piper girls defeated Ottawa 64-36.
5A: Turner boys lost to Basehor-Linwood 70-40.
Schlagle boys lost to De Soto 68-62.
Washington boys defeated St. James Academy. They move on to play at De Soto in the sub-state final on Friday at 7 p.m.
Bonner Springs boys lost to Topeka West 71-54.
6A: Harmon girls lost to Olathe North 79-12.