By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
There wasn't a message that echoed as loud in the Highland Park girls basketball locker room more than, "trust the process."
Highland Park poses for a team picture after punching its ticket to the Class 5A state tournament with a 51-50 win over Shawnee Heights. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Sophomore Amelia Ramsey (32) led Highland Park with 16 points and 10 rebounds in Friday's 51-50 sub-state win over Shawnee Heights. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
It wasn't long ago when Highland Park could barely fill a roster to suit up to compete.
However, after a winless 2020 season and a four-win 2021 season, the Scots have tallied 19 wins in the 2022-2023 season and clinched a spot in the Class 5A state tournament with a 51-50 nailbiting win over Shawnee Heights Friday night at Highland Park.
"A lot of mixed emotions, this was a long process," second-year Scots coach Rob Brown said. "Some of these girls I've been coaching since they were fifth, fourth grade. I just felt it all day long. I knew this was going to happen. I just had a good feeling. It's just meant to be. Like I've been saying, trust the process, baby.
"They just bought in. They let us do what we got to do with them on the court, off the court. They let us try to teach them how to grow up as young ladies. It's a lot of work. They did a lot of work over here. That's why you see my emotions right now. I'm proud of these girls; I'm proud of all of them."
Admittedly, the Scots' had a chip on their shoulders from their doubters this year. Highland Park went undefeated in Meadowlark Conference play this year and was motivated by the people who didn't believe that competition wasn't valid enough.
Fast forward to Friday night's sub-state championship win, the Scots' can pat themselves on the back for their historic victory.
"As a team captain, this win means the world to me, and I feel like we just made history," Highland Park sophomore guard DeAsia Sanders said. "I feel like I did something right. We played together, stayed together and believed in the process. It hit me all at once that we got the dub. We are going to state."
For a team with no seniors on the roster, the fact they were playing in one of, if not the biggest game, of their lives, was nerve-wracking. But they handled the pressure when it mattered the most.
"I'm just happy they did what they needed to at such a young age," Brown said. "I'm just so happy. We can't wait until next week. We are going to get ready. But for now, we are just going to soak this in and party tonight."
Highland Park survived a missed Shawnee Heights' 3-point shot attempt to tie the game with 9.7 seconds in one of the most physically and emotionally draining contests of the year. Then, the Thunderbirds got a 2-pointer to fall, but Highland Park knew that wasn't relevant to their celebration.
One of the critical factors in Highland Park punching its ticket to Emporia was the play for sophomore post player Amelia Ramsey.
Ramsey had a team-high 16 points and secured the double-double with 10 rebounds.
Ramsey, who leads all classes in rebounding (16.2) and is one of the leaders in points and blocks, expected herself and the team to execute their big moments.
"I feel amazing, and I'm so excited for us to go to state," Ramsey said. "I knew we could do it. I'm crying happy tears. All of the hard work that we went through was worth it. It took me a minute to realize we won after the final buzzer went off. I blacked out, but I was so happy when I realized we won."
Right out of the gate, the 5A sub-state championship was highly physical. However, even though bodies were flying all around the court, both teams played clean and limited their fouls throughout the opening quarter.
Highland Park and Shawnee Heights were able to play aggressively, which paid off for both squads in a 10-9 Thunderbird first-quarter lead.
The second quarter was a back-and-forth affair with great defense, similar to the first. After having a nearly unblemished opening quarter with turnovers, each team struggled with holding the ball because of the successful on-ball pressure from the teams.
Shawnee Heights senior Emari Doby had the first three buckets of the second quarter and was successfully attacking Highland Park's interior defense.
Highland Park would gain the hot hand, with Shawnee Heights holding an 18-16 lead with 2:46 to go until the halftime break. A 3-point shot from sophomore Tahtionna Broils got the Scots a temporary lead.
Shawnee Heights would answer back with an immediate hoop just eight seconds later. Then, junior Se'Ona Gowan-Britt gave the Scots a lead right back. With 2:32 to go, Highland Park had a wave of momentum side with them.
After a timeout called at the 2:32 mark, Shawnee Heights rolled to a 7-2 run to close out the quarter. A 3-pointer from junior Audrey Schulte, a hoop from Doby and two free throws from 6-foot-1 sophomore Kaydence Torrez gave Heights a 23-20 lead going into the break.
In the third, Torrez set the tone defensively for the Thunderbirds off the bench. Torrez returned a pair of steals and a block giving Shawnee Heights some juice.
Highland Park relied on Ramsey to create some opportunities down low, and the sophomore didn't disappoint. Ramsey came up with four points offensively and had three blocks defensively in the quarter.
Highland Park held a slim 33-32 advantage at the end of the third quarter.
The Scots played incredibly efficiently to begin the final quarter. Highland Park jumped in front with an 8-2 run on four of four shooting to gain a 41-35 lead with 5:05 to go, forcing a Thunderbird timeout.
Shawnee Heights kept inching back with its tenacious defense, but the shots weren't falling. Luckily for Shawnee Heights, Highland Park hit a slump for the next two minutes. The Thunderbirds were down 44-38 with 2:40 left.
Shawnee Heights would force two consecutive Highland Park turnovers. Even with suspenseful hesitation, Doby put in a layup over a towering Ramsey through contact with 1:59 to go, with Highland Park holding a 44-40 lead.
After a pair of Thunderbird fouls and missed shots, Sanders (1) and Angelique Gown-Britt (2) would hit three free opportunities extending Highland Park's lead to 47-40 with 1:06 left in the game.
Breezy Canady would make one free throw on the other side for Shawnee Heights and intentionally fouled Highland Park's A. Gown-Britt immediately afterward. After that, the horizon was bright for the Scots and dark for the Thunderbirds, with a 49-41 Scots lead with 40.8 to go.
Canady hit a 3-point shot with Sanders all over her from near the left corner trimming the Thunderbird deficit to 49-44 with 36.4 to go before Shawnee Heights took a timeout.
After two missed Thunderbird 3-point attempts following a jump ball that favored Shawnee Heights, Canady crashed the board, scooped the offensive rebound and put in the shot from the paint on a bank shot. Now it was just a 49-46 Highland Park lead with 24.6 remaining.
Shawnee Heights would have no choice but to intentionally foul Sanders with 17.9 left. Sanders would hit one of two, giving the Scots a 50-46 lead. With just 19.6 seconds remaining, Shawnee Heights would need a miracle.
The Thunderbirds attempted a three-pointer, but it was air-balled underneath the basket. Scooped up by Doby, she got fouled on the shot. However, Doby would keep Shawnee Heights within striking distance by hitting both free throws. Highland Park had a 50-48 lead with just 9.8 seconds left.
A. Gown-Britt would hit one of her intentionally fouled free throws giving the Scots a 51-48 lead with 9.3 remaining and Shawnee Heights an opportunity to send the game into overtime.
Shawnee Heights missed a 3-pointer from the right corner but put in a putback field goal, but it only counted for two points.
The Highland Park faithful rushed the court to celebrate its 51-50 win over Shawnee Heights.
Unofficially, Highland Park (19-3) will be a five-seed in the 5A state tournament playing St. Thomas Aquinas at 4 p.m. at Emporia State University on Wednesday.
A. Gown-Britt would hit one of her intentionally fouled free throws giving the Scots a 51-48 lead with 9.3 remaining and Shawnee Heights an opportunity to send the game into overtime.
Shawnee Heights missed a 3-pointer from the right corner but put in a putback field goal, but it only counted for two points.
The Highland Park faithful rushed the court to celebrate its 51-50 win over Shawnee Heights.
Unofficially, Highland Park (19-3) will be a five-seed in the 5A state tournament playing St. Thomas Aquinas at Emporia's White Auditorium on Wednesday.
HIGHLAND PARK GIRLS 51, SHAWNEE HEIGHTS 50.
Shawnee Heights 10 13 9 18 – 50
Highland Park 9 11 13 18 – 51
Shawnee Heights (15-7) – Rottinghaus 2-9 0-1 5, Showalter 1-4 0-0 2, Doby 9-20 4-6 23, Canady 3-14 1-2 8, Fleischer 3-3 0-0 6, Torrez 0-4 2-2 2, Schulte 1-3 0-0 3, Rantz 0-2 1-2 1. Totals – 18-58 8-12 50.
Highland Park (19-3) – A. Gown-Britt 1-4 9-12 11, Sanders 3-7 2-4 8, Broils 3-4 0-0 8, S. Gown-Britt 2-5 0-0 5, Ramsey 6-10 3-6 16, Parker-Brown 0-1 0-0 0, White 1-2 1-2 3. Totals – 16-33 15-24 51.
3-point goals – Highland Park 4-13 (Broils 2, A. Gowan-Britt, Ramsey), Shawnee Heights 4-18 (Doby, Rottinghaus, Canady, Schulte). Total fouls – Highland Park 12, Shawnee Heights 14. Fouled out – Highland Park: Broils. Technical fouls – none. Turnovers – Highland Park 18, Shawnee Heights 13.
