By Todd Fertig
TopSports.news
The Highland Park girls basketball team took an important first step toward a trip to state Tuesday by holding off Leavenworth 53-38 on the Scots’ home floor.
Seeded third in the Class 5A East bracket, the Scots rode a dominant performance by sophomore post Amelia Ramsey to continue the improbable turnaround of the Highland Park girls program.
Sophomore standout Amelia Ramsey scored 27 points and grabbed 27 rebounds in Highland Park's 53-38 Class 5A sub-state semifinal win over Leavenworth Tuesday night. [File photo/TSN]
It was just three years ago that the Scots could barely field five players. Now, with a roster loaded with underclassmen, they are a game away from a trip to Emporia for the state tournament.
“All along we just told the girls to trust the process,” said second-year Highland Park coach Rob Brown. “One of our goals was to host a sub-state game. And a goal was to win a sub-state game. Now we’re fortunate to get to host a sub-state championship game.”
Highland Park, which improved its record to 18-3, will host Shawnee Heights, the six seed in the East bracket, Friday.
The final margin over the 14th-seeded Pioneers was comfortable, but it took a while for Highland Park to pull away.
Leavenworth jumped on the Scots early and led 15-10 after one quarter.
Highland Park righted the ship in the second period, tying the score at 23-23 just before halftime.
“That’s certainly not the start we wanted,” Brown said. “We pride ourselves on (holding opponents) to single-digit quarters. But it’s sub-state basketball. You expect every game to be tough.”
Highland Park locked down on defense out of the intermission, surrendering no field goals and just seven made free throws over the next 12 minutes. The Scots built a 16-point lead over that stretch.
“It was a matter of just getting them calmed down. I felt like we were a little bit antsy,” Brown said. “It was new territory for us. Hosting a sub-state, it’s all new for us. Once we got calmed down, that’s when our defense had better communication. Our offense slowed down. We got the ball inside to (Ramsey), getting it kicked out at the right time.”
Ramsey scored 27 points and hauled in 27 rebounds to lead the Scots.
“It feels really good because I know (Highland Park), on the girls side, hasn’t been that good for a while,” Ramsey said. “We had really good energy in the gym and it’s really exciting.”
Highland Park did not face Shawnee Heights, which got by DeSoto 38-35 Tuesday, during the regular season.
But that doesn’t make the two teams strangers.
“Being from Topeka, we’re familiar with those girls over there,” Brown said. “I coached some of them when they were younger. We’re excited for that Friday night game with state on the line.”
“I feel like if we keep doing what we’re doing and working hard, play as a team, it’s going to be a good game,” Ramsey added. “I’m excited to have a chance to play them for a chance to go to state.”
HIGHLAND PARK GIRLS 53, LEAVENWORTH 38
Leavenworth 15 8 4 11 -- 38
Highland Park 10 13 14 16 -- 53
Leavenworth (4-17) – Barker 2-9 0-1 5, Garrett 3-11 0-1 9, Gilman 2-10 2-2 7, West 1-12 6-11 8, Thomas 3-9 2-4 9, Reneau 0-0 0-0 0, Garcia 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 11-51 10-19 38.
Highland Park (18-3) – A. Gown Britt 4-7 1-3 10, Sanders 1-5 2-2 4, Broils 2-5 0-0 5, S. Gown Britt 2-11 0-0 5, Ramsey 10-22 7-8 27, White 0-2 2-2 2, Parker-Brown 0-0 0-0 0, Rice 0-0 0-1 0, Atkins 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 19-42 12-16 53.
3-point goals – Leavenworth 6 (Garrett 3, Barker 1, Gilman 1, Thomas 1), Highland Park 3 (A. Gown Britt 1, Broils 1, S. Gown Britt 1). Total fouls – Leavenworth 19, Highland Park 20. Fouled out – S. Gown Britt, West. Technical fouls – None.
