By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Shawnee Heights' boys basketball team didn't have a memorable shooting night, particularly from 3-point range, and the T-Birds had trouble keeping Topeka High off the boards at times Wednesday night.
But Ken Darting's T-Birds got enough big plays from enough players to post a 62-54 non-league win at Topeka High, improving to 2-0 on the season.
"We had kids that came in and hit a three or got a big rebound,'' Darting said. "We had freshmen and sophomores playing with a four-point lead and two minutes to go in the game.
"This is a big step for everybody and everybody was picking up everybody that was having a bad game. That's what makes it so fun.''
Shawnee Heights senior Nathan Pewe (1) and the T-Birds celebrate Wednesday's 62-54 win at Topeka High. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Shawnee Heights hit just two of 16 3-point attempts on the night and were out-rebounded, 30-23, but the T-Birds got at least eight points from five different players, including multiple underclassmen in the win.
Topeka High, which fell to 0-3, jumped out in front 7-1, 8-2, 10-4 and 12-6 out of the gate, but 6-foot-2 sophomore Jayden Holly gave Shawnee Heights a huge lift off the bench, scoring eight points in the first quarter, including a shot at the buzzer to cut the Trojans' lead to 15-14 at the end of the quarter.
Heights rallied to take a 24-17 advantage with 5:14 left in the first half, but Topeka High was still within four points (31-27) at halftime.
After falling behind by seven early in the third quarter Topeka High battled back to tie the game at 36 with 4:52 left in the third quarter and was within a point at the start of the fourth quarter after a 3-pointer from sophomore Isaiah Lyons.
Sophomore BJ Canady put High in front 47-46 at the start of the fourth quarter but a huge 3-pointer off the bench from sophomore Jayden Moore put the T-Birds back in front, 49-47.
Lyons' fourth 3-pointer gave the Trojans a 50-49 advantage with five minutes remaining, but Shawnee Heights outscored High 13-4 the rest of the way to build its biggest lead of the night.
Shawnee Heights sophomore Brennon Dodge puts up a shot in Wednesday's 62-54 win at Topeka High. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Sophomore Brennon Dodge scored 15 points to lead Shawnee Heights while Holly had 12 points, senior Carter Olson nine points and nine rebounds, senior Nathan Pewe eight points and senior point guard Jarin Sanders eight points.
Darting gave his team credit for winning with a gutty performance.
"I think with this team that's the way it's going to be,'' Darting said.
Matt Flenoy, a 6-6 senior, led Topeka High with 14 points while Lyons and Canady both scored 12 points.
Heights will travel to Ottawa on Friday while Topeka High will take on rival Topeka West at West.
SHAWNEE HEIGHTS BOYS 62, TOPEKA HIGH 54
Shawnee Heights 14 17 15 16 -- 62
Topeka High 15 12 18 9 -- 54
Shawnee Heights (2-0, 2-0) -- Pewe 2-11 4-4 8, Sanders 4-5 0-0 8, Dodge 5-17 4-8 15, Olson 4-5 1-1 9, Kendrick 1-3 1-2 3, Ginter 0-3 0-0 0, Holly 6-7 0-0 12, Sanchez 1-1 2-2 4, Moore 1-1 0-0 3. Total 24-53 12-17 62.
Topeka High (0-3, 0-3) -- Thrasher 1-5 0-0 2, Lyons 4-6 0-0 12, Nolte 0-1 0-0 0, Flenoy 5-10 4-6 14, Canady 6-11 0-0 12. Mays 2-4 0-2 4, Cameron 1-2 1-2 3, Morales 2-3 0-1 4, Gomez 1-4 0-0 3, Esquibel 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 22-48 5-11 54.
3-point goals -- Shawnee Heights 2 (Pewe, Moore), Topeka High 5 (Lyons 4, Gomez) Total fouls -- Shawnee Heights 9, Topeka High 16. Fouled out -- none.
