Sumner Academy was ranked as the No. 1 high school in Kansas and also in the Greater Kansas City area by U.S. News and World Report.
It is the fourth year in a row for the honor, said Superintendent Anna Stubblefield.
“Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools is proud to celebrate Sumner Academy of Arts and Science, as the school was named the top school in Kansas for the fourth year in a row by U.S. News and World Report,” Dr. Stubblefield said during the Tuesday night KCKPS Board of Education meeting.
Sumner Academy was No. 12 among the nation’s magnet schools, and No. 32 nationally overall, she said.
Dr. Stubblefield congratulated Principal Rick Malone, teachers, staff, students and parents for their efforts to achieve acdademic excellence.
The rankings are based on factors including the number of students exposed to the Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate opportunities, graduation rates, diversity of the students, plus the numbers who receive advice on college opportunities.
Senior Chrishaud Berry hit a three-point shot to stop an Olathe North run after halftime of Harmon’s substate tournament game. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
by Brian Turrel
A winning Harmon Hawks season ended in a disappointing first-round playoff loss at home Wednesday evening. Matched against the Olathe North Eagles, the Hawks couldn’t fend off a fourth-quarter run and lost 56-46 in the KSHSAA 6A substate tournament.
The Hawks held a 20-17 halftime lead thanks to excellent on-ball defense that turned into several breakaways, even though missed opportunities at the rim cost the home team an even bigger margin.
The Eagles scored the first 8 points after halftime before Chrishaud Berry hit a three-pointer to stop the slide. Harmon tied the score at 25 and stayed within reach through the remainder of the quarter, going to the final frame down 35-33.
The Eagles scored 9 unanswered points to start the fourth quarter, and Harmon was unable to stop the momentum. Late, frantic scoring from the Hawks was countered at the other end by free throws from the visitors, who maintained their double-digit lead through the final whistle.
After the game, head coach David Gonzales talked about the performance of his team.
“If you take this away,” the coach said, “we had a great season. It stings right now, but we just picked a bad night to play bad.”
The season was a successful one, although with a disappointing finale. Despite losing the first three games, Harmon posted a 15-5 season record, including a nine-game winning streak. The Hawks also won the Kansas City-Atchison League title for the third straight year.
Tournament recap:
In the 3A class, Bishop Ward boys lost in the substate semi-final against Pleasant Ridge 65-52 Thursday evening. The Cyclones finish the year with a 16-5 record and the Kaw Valley League title.
In the 5A class, Sumner Academy girls lost to Leavenworth 40-29. J’Layne Hulse led the Lady Sabres with 11 points, and MyLeah Brown had 9.
Turner girls lost the opening round match against St. Thomas Aquinas 71-17. Piper girls lost a game against Lansing 55-25. The Schlagle Lady Stallions played Basehor-Linwood and lost 68-9.
In the 6A class, Wyandotte boys lost to Shawnee Mission Northwest 76-58 Wednesday evening.
The only Wyandotte County team remaining in the post-season is Piper’s boys’ team, scheduled to play in Topeka against Highland Park at 7 p.m. Friday.
Senior Jamarrion Evans tied up Olathe North sophomore T.J. Porter for a defensive stop. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Senior Jamarrion Evans drove for a layup. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Senior Eddie King went up for a layup, overshadowed by Olathe North’s 6-foot-7 Gavin Shearer. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Junior Jason Rodriguez drove along the left baseline. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Senior Lynell Lane scored on a breakaway. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Senior Eddie King pulled down an offensive rebound. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Senior Chrishaud Berry took his shot straight at the Olathe North defense. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Sumner sophomore MyLeah Brown was bracketed by the Leavenworth defense. (Photo courtesy Derek Wiley)
Sumner junior J’Layne Hulse drove to the basket. (Photo courtesy Derek Wiley)
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)
