By ANDREW GILL
TopSports.news
While Shawnee Heights boys basketball coach Ken Darting was confident going into Friday night's United Kansas Conference matchup with Kansas City-Turner, his focus was on pushing his team to keep getting better.
"We were pretty sure we’d win handily, but I told the guys I want to do things right,'' Darting said. "I want to play against us, not against Turner so that we improve. I think for the most part we did that.''
The scoreboard provided evidence, with the T-Birds rolling to a 66-18 victory as senior Harvey Davis led the way with a game-high 14 points and 8 rebounds.
Darting was especially pleased with his team’s defensive showing. The T-Birds forced 27 turnovers, 15 in the first half. They were able to capitalize on most of them, going into halftime with a 40-7 lead.
Though Heights shot a meager 4 for 24 from behind the 3-point arc, they were taking the right shots according to Darting.
“The shooters took shots when they were open and didn’t force them,” Darting said. “I wanted us to be efficient, and for the most part we were pretty dang efficient.”
Sharing the ball and scoring off the fast break got all 11 T-Birds at least one bucket. Heights' bench produced 28 points and 18 rebounds.
Darting was very satisfied with sophomore Dante’ Harrison’s 13-point performance as Heights played without senior standout Isiah Johnson (COVID protocols).
“Not only did he have a big game, but he was efficient,'' Darting said. "He didn’t do very many things wrong. He didn’t force things or take bad shots.”
The T-Birds also dominated the battle of the boards and earned themselves several second-chance points, something Darting hopes his team can keep up for the remainder of the season.
“We have to continue to figure out how to get easy baskets,'' Darting said. "If we can score 20 of those type of points, then we can play with anybody.”
Turner struggled to find the basket all night, though freshman Jordan Coppage was able to contribute 8 points while senior Mareyion Holmes added 6.
Heights improves to 3-2 overall and 2-1 in the UKC with the win and will take on Maize South on Monday.
SHAWNEE HEIGHTS GIRLS 57, TURNER 4
Shawnee Heights' girls were in control from start to finish Friday night in a 57-4 home United Kansas Conference romp past Turner.
Stingy defense and transition points put Heights in command early, with the T-Birds leading the Bears 30-2 at halftime as Bob Wells’ team forced 35 turnovers in the game, with 23 before halftime.
When Heights wasn’t scoring in transition, it played patient, unselfish offense, with all nine players cracking the scoring column.
Senior Adysen Burghart, junior Riley Showalter and freshman Breezy Canady led the way in scoring with 12 points each. Sophomore Taylor Rottinghaus contributed 9, heading the T-Birds’ 17-point bench production.
Wells was pleased with his team’s all-around performance.
“We established some goals and things we wanted to accomplish. For the most part the girls came out focused and were trying to work on those things,” Wells said.
The T-Birds improved to 3-3 on the season heading into a Thursday night game at Blue Valley Northwest.
SHAWNEE HEIGHTS BOYS 66, TURNER 18
Shawnee Heights 18 22 12 14 -- 66
Turner 1 6 11 0 -- 18
Shawnee Heights – Pewe 2 0-0 4, Harrison 6 0-0 13, Sanders 2 0-0 4, Rantz 1 1-2 3, Davis 5 4-5 14, Dodge 3 0-0 7, Showalter 2 1-2 7, Jones 4 0-0 8, Ginter 1 0-0 2, Ward 1 0-0 2, Cooper 1 0-0 2. Totals: 28 6-11 66.
KC Turner – Coppage 3 1-2 8, Holmes 2 0-0 6, Suttington 2 0-1 4. Totals: 7 1-3 18.
SHAWNEE HEIGHTS GIRLS 57, TURNER 4
Shawnee Heights 19 11 12 15 -- 57
Turner 2 0 2 0 -- 4
Shawnee Heights – Showalter 5 0-0 12, Brown 1 0-0 2, Burghart 5 2-3 12, Canady 6 0-0 12, Manrose 1 1-2 3, Rottinghaus 4 1-2 9, Oczko 3 0-0 6. Totals 25 4-7 57.
KC Turner – Carrillo 1 0-0 2, Cottner 1 0-1 2. Totals 2 0-1 4.
