By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Sure, Highland Park coach Michael Williams was happy to get a convincing 85-57 non-league win in Tuesday's home contest against Kansas City-Southeast, Mo.
But what made Williams the happiest was that after spending a lot more time practicing than playing, his No. 2-ranked (Class 5A) Scots finally got only their second chance to test themselves in a game.
Highland Park senior Tre Richardson skies high to block a KC-Southeast shot in Tuesday's 85-57 Scots win. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Highland Park coach Michael Williams gives his team intructions in the Scots' 85-57 win over KC-Southeast Tuesday night. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"I'm glad to be playing games,'' Williams said. "It's only our second game pre-Christmas and we only have one more on Friday night. Obviously, there's things that we're doing right now that's far from where we'll be at later, but it's good to have games.
"It's good to have another 80-point night, drop (the opponents') score down a little bit more. We were able to open up the bench and get our guys in there involved and the older guys are kind of setting the tone for us.''
Highland Park (2-0) was never seriously threatened after opening up a commanding 24-11 first-quarter advantage over the Knights behind senior Bo Aldridge's 18-point quarter.
The Scot went on to lead 44-29 at the half and 71-46 after three quarters before forcing a running clock in the final period.
Aldridge, who had three straight dunks at one point in the first quarter, went on to lead all scorers with 28 points while senior Tre Richardson added 16 points (14 in the second half) and notched a double-double with 10 rebounds.
Eleven Highland Park players saw action in the game, with 10 Scots cracking the scoring column, including senior AyDren Drew-Gregory, sophomore Mikey Williams Jr. and sophomore Jacorey Robinson with eight points apiece.
KC-Southeast (3-4) got 17 points from Brian Fennix, 16 from senior Malik Sloan and 14 from senior Davaun Bables.
Highland Park will open Meadowlark Conference play on Friday night, hosting KC-Wyandotte.
HIGHLAND PARK BOYS 85, KC-SOUTHEAST 57
KC-Southeast 11 18 17 11 -- 57
Highland Park 24 20 27 14 -- 85
KC-Southeast (3-4) -- Sloan 7-10 2-2 16, Fennix 7-14 2-3 17, Stamps 1-3 1-2 3, Taylor 1-3 2-2 5, Bables 5-7 1-4 14, Jackson1-2 0-0 2, Swanson 0-0 0-0 0, Myles 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 22-44 8-13 57.
Highland Park (2-0 -- Richardson 7-17 0-0 16, Aldridge 13-22 1-2 28, Kingcannon 3-6 0-0 6, Drew-Gregory 4-6 0-0 8, Anderson 1-3 0-0 3, Williams 3-5 1-5 8, Taylor 1-1 0-0 2, McMillon 2-4 0-0 4, Robinson 4-6 0-2 8, Wilson 1-2 0-0 2, Davis 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 39-73 2-9 85.
3-point goals -- KC-Southeast 7 (Bables 3, Fennix, Taylor), Highland Park 5 (Richardson 2, Aldridge, Williams, Anderson) Total fouls -- KC-Southeast 11, Highland Park 14. Fouled out – none.
