By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Obviously, undefeated and top-ranked Highland Park's goals are set higher than winning a Class 5A sub-state championship.
But the Scots couldn't even think about mounting a state title run until they took care of business in Saturday's sub-state final against St. James Academy, and Highland Park checked that off its to-do list with an impressive 80-52 romp past the Thunder at Hi Park.
Highland Park senior standouts Tre Richardson (0) and Bo Aldridge cut down the nets after Saturday's 80-52 home win over St. James Academy in a Class 5A sub-state championship game. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Highland Park poses for a team picture after earning a second straight trip to state with an 80-52 win over St. James Academy Saturday night at Highland Park. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"That's paramount because there's no tomorrow, there's no state tournament without tonight,'' Highland Park coach Mike Williams said about the importance of sub-state. "A lot of times in these games you run the risk of getting caught up in the moment or getting away from a game plan or get out of whack just because there's no much at stake.
"I thought our guys did a good job of staying even keel, staying poised and figuring out the game along the way.''
Highland Park improved to a perfect 22-0 on the year while earning a second straight trip to the 5A state tournament, which will be played next week at Emporia's White Auditorium.
St. James, which finished third in last season's state tourney, jumped out to 13-8 and 15-10 leads in the opening quarter but Highland Park ended the quarter with a 12-1 run to go up 22-16 and the Scots were not seriously threatened the rest of the night.
"I think that's what we've been looking for and we've seen flashes of it but I don't know if we've seen an entire four quarters like we saw tonight,'' Williams said. "Tonight was good, top to bottom, overall.''
Senior star Bo Aldridge opened the second quarter with a 3-pointer to hike Highland Park's lead to 25-16 and the Scots ended the half with an 8-0 run to take a commanding 41-25 advantage at the break.
St. James (14-8) got no closer than 13 in the second half and Highland Park led by 18 twice in the third stanza before taking a 54-37 lead into the fourth quarter.
Highland Park ended its dominating performance with a 26-15 fourth quarter, with the Scots' final 28-point margin their biggest of the night.
Aldridge finished with 28 points and 11 rebounds to lead four players in double figures for the Scots.
"We were definitely fired up just because if we don't win our season is over, so it's a different kind of feeling for real,'' Aldridge said. "Every shot feels like it's tight but for me I just play my game and let my teammates bring it all to me or what not and I thank them because they're the reason that I'm able to do what I do best.''
Senior Tre Richardson and sophomore Jacorey Robinson added 12 points apiece for Highland Park while sophomore Mikey Williams added 10 points, including a pair of 3-pointers, off the bench as 10 Scots cracked the scoring column.
Senior Gabriel Sydzyik led St. James with 13 points and 11 rebounds while senior Finn Burritt and senior Brian Hawthorne added 11 points apiece.
HIGHLAND PARK 80, ST. JAMES ACADEMY BOYS 52
St. James Academy 16 9 12 15 -- 52
Highland Park 22 19 13 26 -- 80
St. James Academy (14-8) -- Burritt 3-9 2-2 11, J. Niesen 3-13 1-2 9, Boydston 2-6 0-1 4, Sydzyik 3-12 6-9 13, Hawthorne 3-9 5-7 11, S. Niesen 0-1 0-0 0, Alters 1-2 0-0 2, Menhini 1-3 0-1 2, Dohm 0-3 0-0 0, Kwapiszeski 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 16-58 14-22 52.
Highland Park (22-0) -- Richardson 5-10 2-2 12, Aldridge 10-19 7-9 28, Kingcannon 0-4 2-2 2, Adams 4-5 0-1 8, Robinson 4-4 4-5 12, Drew-Gregory 1-1 0-0 2, Williams 4-9 0-0 10, Taylor 0-1 0-0 0, Wilson 0-2 1-2 1, McMillon 1-2 0-0 2, Anderson 1-4 0-0 3, Davis 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 30-61 16-21 80.
3-point goals -- St. James Academy 6 (Burritt 3, J. Niesen 2, Sydzyik), Highland Park 4 (Williams 2, Aldridge, Anderson). Total fouls -- St. James Academy 21, Highland Park 15. Fouled out – none. Technical fouls -- none.
