By Rick Peterson
TopSports.news
Shawnee Heights advanced to the championship game of the Viking Classic with a 73-54 semifinal romp past Lansing Thursday night at Shawnee Mission West.
Now 9-1 on the season, the T-Birds will play for the tournament title at 7:45 p.m. Friday against Shawnee Mission Northwest.
Shawnee Heights posted its second win of the season over Lansing, the T-Birds' United Kansas Conference rival. as Brennon Dodge, Nate Pewe and Carter Olson combined for 55 points.
Sophomore Brennon Dodge scored 23 points and hit three 3-pointers as Shawnee Heights advanced to the championship game of the Viking Classic with a 73-54 semifinal win over Lansing. [File photo/TSN]
Dodge, a sophomore, led the T-Birds with 23 points, including three 3-pointers, while seniors Pewe and Olson added 19 and 13 points and Olson also grabbed 10 rebounds to register a double-double.
Shawnee Heights led the Lions 20-15 at the end of the opening quarter and used a 14-8 second quarter to open up a 34-23 haltime advantage.
The T-Birds boosted their lead to 52-34 at the end of the third quarter and outscored the Lions 21-20 over the final eight minutes.
Shawnee Heights shot a glossy 54.5-percent from the field although the T-Birds struggled from the free throw line, hitting just nine of 25 attempts.
Shawnee Mission Northwest advanced to the championship game with a 63-56 semifinal win over Blue Valley North.
SEAMAN BOYS 63, BLUE VALLEY 55 -- Seaman opened its tournament bid in the McPherson Invitational Thursday night with a 63-55 win over Blue Valley, earning a berth in Friday's semifinals.
Senior Mateo Hyman scored 16 points to lead the way as Seaman advanced to the semifinals of the McPherson Invitational with a 63-55 first-round win over Blue Valley. [File photo/TSN]
Senior Mateo Hyman led Seaman, now 6-2 on the season, with 16 points while junior Kaeden Bonner added 15.
Junior Aron Davis, who is coming off an injury, was the third Seaman player to crack double figures, finishing with 10 points.
Seaman led 16-8 at the end of the first quarter, but Blue Valley cut its halftime deficit to 28-23 and trailed by just three points (43-40) at the start of the fourth quarter.
The Vikings held off the Tigers down the stretch, holding a 20-15 scoring edge over the final eight minutes.
Seaman will face St. James Academy in Friday's 6:30 p.m. semifinal.
St. James Academy advanced to the semifinals with a 68-31 win over Wichita North.
