By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Shawnee Heights still has some work to do offensively, but defense continues to be a T-Bird strength and paved the way for Friday's come-from-behind 47-42 home United Kansas Conference win over Topeka West.
Shawnee Heights junior Jaret Sanchez scored 22 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in the T-Birds' 47-42 UKC win over Topeka West Friday night. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
"I think our team takes pride in defense this year,'' said Heights junior standout Jaret Sanchez, who recorded a double-double with 22 points and 11 rebounds. "I think we're a way better defensive team than last year.
"Everybody contributed this game and the bench players came in and everybody did their role.''
Heights, which had opened its season with UKC losses to De Soto and Piper, appeared as if it might be looking at a third straight loss when 2-0 Topeka West doubled up the T-Birds at 24-12 with 6:58 left in the first half.
But the T-Birds stepped up their defensive pressure, forcing a rash of West turnovers, and cut their deficit to just two points (26-24) at the half while allowing just five Charger points in the second quarter.
West continued to struggle offensively in the third period, with another five-point quarter, as Shawnee Heights opened up a 39-31 lead at the start of the fourth quarter.
Shawnee Heights took a 10-point lead on two Deacon Pomeroy free throws with 7:18 left in the game, but this time it was Topeka West's turn to mount a comeback.
The Chargers scored eight straight points to get within two points (41-39) with 4:03 remaining on a Jalen Foy bucket and West missed two shots on its next possession with a chance to forge a tie or take the lead before Sanchez went six of six at the free throw line over the final 2:15 as Heights held on for the win.
Shawnee Heights senior Brennon Dodge scored 13 points and hit three 3-pointers in the T-Birds' 47-42 UKC win over Topeka West Friday night. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Sanchez, who was 10 of 12 at the free throw line, led all scorers with 22 points and recorded a double-double with 11 rebounds while senior Brennon Dodge added 13 points, including three 3-pointers to lead Heights, which picked up its first win despite shooting 28.6 percent from the field.
"Sometimes we have no offense, but defensively we're good and it's been good all three games,'' Shawnee Heights coach Ken Darting said. "It's the reason we've been in every game and we got after it rebounding hard, too, for being out-sized.''
Junior Ja'Vian Chambers was Topeka West's lone double-figure scorer with 10 points, all in the first half.
Topeka West coach Rick Bloomquist said the Chargers' turnover woes were a major factor in Friday's loss.
"You don't have to be a basketball genius to see how we lost that game,'' Bloomquist said. "We played a wonderful first quarter and a half. Then they made a run at us, which I knew they were going to make a run at us, and the crowd got into it and my guys just started folding a little bit. They let the atmosphere bother them, and that's part of being young.
"But what happened tonight can be fixed. Credit Shawnee Heights. They hadn't played well the first two games and they played like I knew they could play.''
Topeka West will be at home Tuesday to host Lansing in a UKC game while Shawnee Heights will travel to Basehor-Linwood for a conference game.
SHAWNEE HEIGHTS 47, TOPEKA WEST 42
Topeka West 21 5 5 11 -- 42
Shawnee Heights 12 12 15 8 -- 47
Topeka West (2-1, 2-1) -- Paul 2-5 2-3 7, Chambers 5-8 0-0 10, Foy 2-10 2-2 6, Ford 1-3 1-2 3, Noonoo 1-4 1-2 3, Rowley 0-1 0-0 0, Young 0-0 0-0 0, McGee 1-3 2-2 5, Duncan 3-5 2-3 8, Ross 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 15-39 10-14 42.
Shawnee Heights (1-2, 1-2) -- Pomeroy 1-6 2-4 4, D. Sanchez 1-4 0-2 3, Dodge 5-17 0-0 13, J. Sanchez 5-11 10-12 22, Lee 2-3 0-2 4, Delgado 0-2 0-0 0, Ross 0-1 1-2 1, Emmot 0-2 0-0 0, Moore 0-1 0-0 0, Austin 0-0 0-0 0, Cook 0-2 0-0 0, Alston 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 14-49 13-22 47.
3-point goals -- Topeka West 2 (McGee, Paul), Shawnee Heights 6 (Dodge 3, J. Sanchez 2, D. Sanchez). Total fouls -- Topeka West 16, Shawnee Heights 16. Fouled out – Lee.
