By Todd Fertig
TopSports.news
Shawnee Heights earned a shot at the Class 5A state tournament by rolling over St. James Academy 63-40 in the opening round of boys sub-state Tuesday at Heights.
Senior Brennon Dodge scored 23 points to lead the way in Shawnee Heights' 63-40 sub-state win over St. James Academy. [File photo/TSN]
Junior Jaret Sanchez scored 25 points as Shawnee Heights advanced to a sub-state final with a 63-40 win over St. James Academy Tuesday night. [File photo/TSN]
The T-Birds will host St. Thomas Aquinas Friday with the tournament berth on the line.
St. James had no answer for the T-Birds' defense and couldn’t stop Shawnee Heights’ one-two punch of Brennon Dodge and Jaret Sanchez. The pair combined for 38 points, nearly matching the Thunder’s total for the game.
In six seasons at Shawnee Heights, coach Ken Darting has yet to see one of his teams qualify for the state tournament. Winner of five state titles at other schools, Darting said it was a good thing the T-Birds were so good on defense Tuesday, because their offense left something to be desired.
“To be honest, I saw a lot of things I didn’t like,” Darting said. “Aside from Jaret and Brennon, we didn’t have anybody shoot it very well. But defensively we scrambled and hustled.”
The T-Birds held St. James to just seven points in the opening period, and a mere four points in the second period. The visitors made just four shots on 22 attempts in the first half. Only their two buckets just before halftime kept the Thunder from being shut out in the second quarter.
Brennon Dodge connected on five of his eight shots in the first half to provide Shawnee Heights with 12 points.
The Thunder began to find the range in the third period, but Shawnee Heights exploded for 24 points to build a 52-25 advantage. The fourth period was played largely by reserves from both schools.
Sanchez, who scored 15 points, said defense was the key to the T-Birds’ success this season.
“We just gotta keep playing defense hard,” Sanchez said. “We’ve been playing it all year. We turned the switch after (we started the season) 0-2. We just gotta keep it going with everyone off the bench playing their role.”
Dodge connected on 10 of 16 attempts, leading the T-Birds with 23 points.
"He’s quiet but he gets the job done. He’s a silent killer,” Sanchez said of the T-Birds’ senior guard. “He leads when he needs to. He gets buckets when he needs to. He’s a good, reliable first option.”
The T-Birds now have a couple of days to prepare to face Aquinas, which was seeded sixth in the 5A East bracket. The Saints have four losses on the season, but those losses came to some of the best teams in Kansas City.
The Saints are led by 6-foot-9 Will Goode and 6-3 Isaiah Freeman.
“Without question, you start with size. That worries you,” Darting said about Aquinas. “But they’re a good team. They’re not just a bunch of giants. They’re well-coached, they defend well. They can do a lot of things.
“But for every advantage, there’s a disadvantage. We have to not let them play the way they want to play.”
“We just gotta finish the job,” Sanchez said. “We were in the same place, right here, my freshman and sophomore years. Now we just gotta finish the job and get to state.”
SHAWNEE HEIGHTS BOYS 63, ST. JAMES ACADEMY 40
St. James Academy 7 4 14 15 -- 40
Shawnee Heights 17 11 24 11 -- 63
St. James (4-17) – Fratzel 3-9 3-4 10, Niesen 1-6 0-0 2, Alters 1-6 0-0 3, Hornback 3-5 3-7 10, Dejmal 1-3 0-0 2, Dohm 0-2 0-0 0, Kolich 0-6 1-2 1, Menghini 1-7 0-0 3, Kwapiszeski 2-4 0-0 5, May 1-1 0-0 3, Lemmon 0-0 1-2 1, Howard 0-2 0-0 0. Totals: 13-51 8-15 40.
Shawnee Heights (18-3) – Pomeroy 1-1 0-0 3, Dodge 10-16 1-1 23, Ross 1-4 0-0 2, Emmot 1-6 0-0 3, J. Sanchez 6-14 1-2 15, D. Sanchez 1-4 0-0 3, Holly 2-2 1-2 5, Lee 2-6 0-0 4, Moore 1-4 0-2 3, Cook 0-1 0-0 0, Scott 0-1 2-2 2, Parker 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 25-60 5-9 63.
3-point goals – St. James 6 (Fratzel 1, Alters 1, Hornback 1, Menghini 1, Kwapiszeski 1, May 1), Shawnee Heights 8 (Dodge 2, J. Sanchez 2, Pomeroy 1, Emmot 1, D. Sanchez 1, Moore 1). Total fouls – St. James 13, Shawnee Heights 16. Fouled out – None. Technical fouls – None.
