Highland Park High School has joined the Kansas City – Atchison League, according to an announcement today.
Formerly a member of the Centennial League, Highland Park is part of the Topeka Public Schools.
The KC-AL league now includes Highland Park, Schlagle, Harmon, Sumner Academy, Washington and Wyandotte high schools.
“We are excited to welcome Highland Park to the Kansas City – Atchison League. Our members unanimously approved their addition, and all felt that they would be a great addition to our league. We extremely impressed by the focus Highland Park official placed on doing what was best for their students as the emphasis behind their desire to move,” said Ty Collins, Sumner Academy athletic cirector and Kansas City – Atchison League president.
Highland Park will be the first school to be accepted into the Kansas City – Atchison League since 2008. Highland Park brings a rich athletic tradition to the league and has a long history competing with many of the schools in the KCAL. Highland Park is a nine-time Kansas State High School Activities Association state champion with championships in boys basketball, girls track and field and boys gymnastics.
Topeka – Highland Park will join the Kansas City – Atchison League at the beginning of the 2022 – 2023 school year and activity cycle.
Mike Carson got a stickback off a missed basket. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel)
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)
Ishante Suttington took a short jump shot in the lane. Suttington finished with 23 points in the game. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel)
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)
