By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
An improved Highland Park girls basketball team couldn’t keep up with state-ranked Emporia Friday night, with the Spartans taking a 59-21 Centennial League decision at Hi Park.
Despite Friday's loss Highland Park showed positive steps after dropping n 81-6 decision to the Spartans in their previous meeting last season.
The game was tied 7-7 at one point in the first quarter, but the Spartans used an 8-0 run to extend their lead to15-7.
The Scots would continued to battle througho9ut the opening half, trailing by 11 at the break, 28-17.
“We started off razzled and frazzled,'' Emporia coach Carolyn Dorsey said. "They’re much improved. They have gotten a lot better and progressed. I thought we struggled against Highland (Park) at first. Our shots were really sped up. We knew we needed to fix our tempo.''
Emporia took complete control in the second half, holding Highland Park to just four points in a 31-4 half.
“We were in significant foul trouble in the first half. It was frustrating because we knew they were going to drive, we knew they were going to be fast, and we couldn’t stop fouling them (Highland Park),'' Dorsey said. "In the second half, we were able to get good stops without the foul trouble. Our shots were much better as well.''
Highland Park coach Robert Brown was disappointed in the result, but wasn't discouraged.
“I knew coming in it was going to be a tough one,'' Brown said. "Emporia is ranked number 10 (in Class 5A) for a reason. Our girls are disappointed, but we will come back to practice and get ready for Hayden on Tuesday.''
“We took what we could from the game. We will learn from it and this will make us better.''
Gracie Gilpin paced Emporia with a game-high 19 points, including four 3-pointers.
Highland Park (0-1) will host the Hayden Wildcats (0-0) on Tuesday.
EMPORIA GIRLS 59, HIGHLAND PARK 21
Emporia 15 13 21 10 -- 59
Highland Park 7 10 2 2 -- 21
Emporia (1-0, 1-0) -- Gilpin 7 1-2 19, Snyder 4 2-2, 10, Stewart 3 0-0 8, Kirmer 3 0-0 7, Herfkens 1 2-5 4, T. Baker 1 0-0 3, Wiltz 0 2-2, 2, Garcia, 1 0-0, 2, A. Baker 1, 0-0, 2, Gutierrez 0 2-2 2.
Highland Park (0-1, 0-1) -- Ramsey 3 6-7 12, Sanders 2 1-3 6, Taylor 1 0-0 3.
3 Point Goals -- Emporia 8 (Gilpin, 4, Stewart, 2, Kirmer, T. Baker). Highland Park 2 (Sanders, Taylor). Total fouls -- Highland Park 17, Emporia 16.
