By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Highland Park's overtime loss at Manhattan Tuesday night didn't necessarily ruin any of the Scots' Centennial League or Class 5A postseason aspirations.
But the loss did put Highland Park in a spot where it needed to right its ship in a hurry.
The Scots, who had played without standouts Juan'Tario Roberts and Bo Aldridge at Manhattan, accomplished that goal Friday against Junction City, taking control early en route to a 66-51 league victory over the Blue Jays at Highland Park.
With the win Highland Park, 15-3 overall and 12-1 in the league, remained a game behind Topeka West in the league race with a showdown against the Chargers coming Tuesday night at Highland Par while the Scots also kept their chances alive to host both 5A sub-state games.
"We just want to keep pace right now, and I thought the guys did a good job with that,'' Highland Park coach Mike Williams said. "Everything's still ahead of us.
"There's still a chance for us to find a way to get the league and we're still in position to have two home playoff games in two weeks. We're driving out own car and holding our own destiny and we've just got to make sure we take care of business.''
Junior Tre Richardson (right) is congratulated by senior teammate TaRahn Clemons after scoring two of his 23 points in Friday's 66-51 win over Junction City. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
With junior Tre Richardson leading the way, Highland Park got off to a quick start against the Blue Jays, opening up a 16-7 first-quarter cushion and leading by 13 by twice in the second before the Blue Jays (11-8, 8-7) rallied to within six at the half, 25-19.
Highland Park quickly regained control in the third quarter, building its lead to 14 (43-29) at the start of the fourth and to 24 (62-38) midway through the fourth before Junction City cut into its deficit the rest of the way.
"It's alway good this time of year to get a win and we got off to a good start,'' Williams said. "We've just got to keep stringing a whole game together.''
Highland Park coach Mike Williams talks to his team during Friday's 66-51 Centennial League win over Junction City. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Junction City didn't crack the 30-point barrier until there was 5:56 left in the game.
Richardson led all scorers with 23 points while junior Jahmir Kingcannon added 11 points with three 3-pointers, Aldridge 10 points and Roberts nine for the Scots.
Senior Terrance Tedder was the long player in double figures for the Blue Jays, finishing with 10 points.
HIGHLAND PARK BOYS 66, JUNCTION CITY 51
Junction City 7 12 10 22 -- 51
Highland Park 16 9 18 23 -- 66
Junction City (11-8, 8-7) -- Tedder 4-7 2-2 10, Baker 4-10 1-2 9, Johnson 1-11 1-2 3, Fadiga 4-7 0-0 8, Butler-Lawson 3-9 1-4 8, Rowell 1-1 0-0 2, Watts 1-2 0-0 2, Adguzi-Addo 1-1 1-2 3, Felton 2-2 2-2 6, Austin 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-50 8-14 51.
Highland Park(15-3, 12-2) -- Adams 1-1 0-0 3, Aldridge 4-10 2-4 10, Richardson 11-16 1-7 23, Kingcannon 4-8 0-0 11, Roberts 4-10 1-3 9, Clemons 0-0 0-0 0, Robinson 2-3 2-3 6, Martin 1-1 0-0 2, Anderson 0-2 0-0 0, Williams 0-0 0-0 0, Wilson 0-0 0-0 0, Taylor 0-0 0-0 2-2 2. Totals 27-51 8-19 66.
3-point goals -- Junction City 1 (Butler-Lawson), Highland Park 4 (Kingcannon 3, Adams). Total fouls -- Junction City 13, Highland Park 18. Fouled out – none.
