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Hawks take Baldwin tourney title, six-game win streak

Senior Jamarrion Evans went up for a finger roll in the fourth quarter of Harmon’s 42-38 win over Baldwin in the championship game of the Baldwin Invitational Tournament. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

by Brian Turrel

The Harmon Hawks won the Baldwin Invitational Tournament, defeating the host team 42-38 Saturday evening in the championship game. The Hawks are hitting their stride as the season nears the mid-point, with a six-game winning streak.

The game opened slowly with the teams scoring only 10 combined points in the first quarter. The Hawks used dribble penetration with a kick out to the wings to open up their shooters, and Chrishaud Berry hit 2 three-pointers to account for all the team’s points.

The action opened up in the second quarter with each team netting 16. Lynell Lane hit 2 threes in the frame, and Berry and Eddie King each knocked down one, contributing to Harmon’s 22-20 halftime lead.

In the third quarter, Berry and King each hit another three, and Jamarrion Evans found opportunities to get to the rim for three buckets. Harmon briefly opened up a 7-point lead, but the Bulldogs closed within 4 at the end of the quarter.

The fourth quarter saw some gamesmanship from the Hawks. They held a 4-point advantage, so when Baldwin didn’t send a defender to pressure Evans, he calmly dribbled the ball near the half-court line, burning almost three minutes from the game clock.

Baldwin’s coaches fumed and the student section jeered, but the Hawks’ point guard maintained his station while precious time for a Bulldog comeback slipped away. When the clock dipped down to three and a half minutes, Baldwin finally pressured Evans, who responded with a drive to the basket.

Baldwin had only one foul on the board at that point. To slow the game and force Harmon to make free throws, the Bulldogs had to foul several times in succession to push Harmon into the bonus.

The Hawks hit just enough to keep a narrow lead. Jason Rodriguez hit a free throw with 2 second remaining, giving his team a 4-point lead and preventing any last-second heroics from the home team.

Berry scored 14 points to lead the Hawks, including 4 three-point baskets. Evans scored 10, and King and Lane each added 7.

Harmon beat Wellsville and Augusta in the opening rounds to earn their place in the championship. Lane, Evans, and King were each named to the all-tournament team.

After an 0-3 start, Harmon’s record now stands at 6-3. They will play at Shawnee Mission West on Friday, Jan. 28.

Senior Chrishaud Berry launched a three-point shot. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

The sun set over Baldwin High School as the teams headed home from the tournament. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

The Harmon Hawks basketball team, coaches, and cheerleaders posed together after the tournament win. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Senior Lynell Lane knocked away a shot from Baldwin junior Caleb Carr. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Senior Eddie King pulled down a heavily contested rebound. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Senor Jamarrion Evans kicked the ball out to a teammate on the right wing. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Senior Eddie King drove into the lane past two Baldwin defenders. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Senior Lynell Lane hit a three-pointer from the left corner. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Senior Eddie King swatted away a shot from Baldwin junior Sam Darnell. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

The Harmon cheerleaders reacted to a Hawks’ three-point basket. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Senior guard Jason Rodriguez raced to avoid a foul from a Baldwin defender. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

The Baldwin coaching staff looked on as senior Jamarrion Evans dribbled the ball to take time off the clock. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Hawks earn hard-fought 71-66 win over Sumner

The Harmon fieldhouse went wild with senior Lynell Lane’s dunk in the fourth quarter of Harmon’s 71-66 win over Sumner Academy. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

by Brian Turrel

The Harmon Hawks and Sumner Academy Sabres played a closely contested game Friday evening, won by Harmon 71-66. A Hawks run in the fourth quarter put the game out of reach, despite a gutsy Sabres comeback run in the closing minutes.

The Hawks were first out of the gate, taking advantage of a sharp passing attack to run out to a 10-6 lead four minutes into the game, but the Sabres found their way back to tie the game at the end of the first quarter. Jason Rodriguez hit 2 three-pointers in the quarter for the Hawks.

The lead seesawed between the teams in the second quarter, with neither able to gain a clear advantage. Harmon picked up a backcourt press that created two Sumner turnovers, and the Hawks edged out to a 4-point margin at halftime thanks to 9 points from Lynell Lane.

The opening of the third quarter saw a lot of back-and-forth action, but just 2 made baskets in the first three minutes. Sumner closed to within a single point, but in the last two minutes Harmon ran out to a double-digit lead. With less than 10 seconds in the quarter, Harmon efficiently ran a scoring play to take a 52-39 lead.

The fourth quarter opened with another Harmon run, nearing blowout territory with a 21-point lead. The Sabres did not concede, but instead took the fight back to Harmon, scoring 27 points, including 8-of-11 at the line, to get within 5 at the buzzer.

Lynell Lane scored 25 points to pace the Hawks, and Eddie King scored 21, including 3 three-pointers. Jason Rodriguez added 10 points for Harmon.

For the Sabres, Jammial Hicks scored 21, all but 2 in the second half. Terry Rowe III added 18 points, 5-of-6 at the free throw line. Cameron Johnson scored 13, and Howard Peoples had 11.

Harmon improves its record to 2-3 for the season, hoping the win launches the Hawks toward defending their conference title. Harmon will play at home against Wyandotte on Tuesday, starting at 7 p.m.

Sumner drops to 2-2 and will play host to the Washington Wildcats on Tuesday, also with a 7 p.m. tipoff.

Harmon senior Jamarrion Evans went to the basket through the block of Sumner sophomore Jayden Gordon. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Sumner junior Jammial Hicks went for a reverse layup to avoid Harmon senior Jason Rodriguez. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Harmon junior Jason Rodriguez took a shot over the defense of Sumner junior Cameron Johnson. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Sumner junior Jammial Hicks shot a close-range jumper in the lane. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Sumner junior Cameron Johnson charged through the lane. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Harmon senior guard Chrishaud Berry worked the ball against Sumner senior Robert Graves. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Harmon senior Jason Rodriguez hit a three-pointer from the right corner. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

The Harmon cheerleaders celebrated after the win. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Sumner sophomore Howard Peoples went high for a shot in the first quarter. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Harmon junior Michael King knocked away a shot from Sumner senior Cameron Johnson. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Harmon senior Lynell Lane and Sumner junior Cameron Johnson contested a loose ball. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Harmon senior Eddie King hit a floater from the left baseline. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Late heartbreak for Braves hoops against Shawnee Heights

Senior Jayce Smith muscled in on Shawnee Heights senior Carter Olson. Smith scored 15 points to lead the Braves. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

by Brian Turrel

The Bonner Springs Braves lost a close game late 73-70 to the Shawnee Heights Thunderbirds Tuesday evening in Bonner Springs. The Braves turned around an early deficit and led for most of the contest before falling to a late run by the visitors.

The Braves got back on course after an early 9-4 deficit. Head coach Dan Streit called a timeout just three minutes into the game to steady the team, which responded with a comeback run capped by a three-point basket from Kalen Streit that put the home team on top 17-16.

The teams traded leads through the remainder of the half. Bonner Springs had trouble stopping Shawnee Heights senior Nate Pewe. In the first quarter, Pewe was fouled on three made baskets and converted all three free throws.

Bonner Springs countered with inside scoring from Jayce Smith and Jayden Young to keep the game close. A drive from Trent Stimac edged the Braves in front 44-43 at the half.

The Braves held the lead for most of the second half, getting out briefly to a 6-point margin midway through the third quarter. Smith wore a path to the basket along the right baseline, picking up 6 points in the quarter. Cameron Doss hit his third three-pointer of the game to help give Bonner Springs a 60-57 lead going into the final quarter.

The Braves’ troubles at the foul line and an untimely turnover in the fourth quarter gave the Thunderbirds the opportunity to take back the lead with less than a minute left in the game.

Down by 3 with ten seconds remaining, Bonner Springs ran a well-executed play to get a game-tying shot, but it bounced off the far rim, ending the game.

Smith led the Braves in scoring with 15 points. Doss and Tavian Cruse each contributed 13, and Young scored 12. Pewe ended the game with 32 points for the Thunderbirds.

The loss drops Bonner Springs to 3-3 for the season. They will face off at home against the Paola Panthers, starting at 7:30 p.m.