By Rick Peterson
TopSports.news
After some hiccups earlier in the season, Highland Park's boys basketball team has continued to make steady progress, as evidenced by the Scots' 8-game winning streak.
And Highland Park's latest win Wednesday night may well have been its best performance of the year, with the Scots taking control by the end of the opening quarter on the way to a 65-40 Centennial League romp over Manhattan on Senior Night at Hi Park.
“You could kind of seeing it coming and it’s been good to see the progression, to see where we were back in December and to keep building and be at the spot we’re at right now late in the season,'' Highland Park coach Michael Williams said.
“It’s just good to put a whole game together. I think over the course of the season we’ve put stretches together and put quarters together, but now to be able to put together three quarters, three and a half quarters, four quarters, I think that’s boding well.’’
Highland Park opened up a 17-8 first-quarter advantage and stretched its advantage to 30-19 at the half before turning the game into a rout with a 35-21 scoring edge over the second half, improving to 11-5 overall and staying alive in the league race with a 10-3 record.
The Scots also displayed perhaps their most balanced offensive attack of the season, with nine played cracking the scoring column and three seniors cracking double figures.
MuKhajhae Daniels led Highland Park with a game-high 15 points while CJ Powell added 14 points and Jahi Peppers 11 as the Scots shot 51 percent and canned 9 3-pointers, including 3 from Powell and 2 from junior Juan'Tario Roberts, who finished with 8 points.
"To see multiple guys involved, that was big,'' Williams said. "I think it's a testament to the kids just sticking through it.''
Senior Owen Braxmeyer led Manhattan (8-8, 6-7) with 12 points while sophomore Jack Wilson added 9 points.
Highland Park boys basketball coach Michael Williams speaks about Scot senior CJ Powell, who was honored before Wednesday's game for reaching the 1,000-point career milestone in a recent game. (Top photo by Rick Peterson/ Bottom photo by Rex Wolf)
Highland Park's Powell was honored before the start of the game for reaching the 1,000-point scoring milestone in a recent game.
Highland Park will travel to Junction City on Friday before traveling to Topeka West next Tuesday and Washburn Rural next Friday.
The Scots are currently alone in second place in the Centennial League race, two games behind West.
HIGHLAND PARK BOYS 65, MANHATTAN 40
Manhattan 8 11 9 12 -- 40
Highland Park 17 13 14 21 -- 65
Manhattan (8-8, 6-7) -- Braxmeyer 4-10 3-7 12, Perkins 2-7 0-0 5, Reid 0-2 0-0 0, Carr 3-5 0-0 6, J. Wilson 3-3 3-4 9, Hall 0-1 0-0 0, Campbell 0-0 0-0 0, Wilcoxsen 0-1 0-0 0, Brown 1-5 0-0 2, C. Wilson 1-2 2-3 4, Coonrod 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 15-38 8-14 40.
Highland Park (11-5, 10-3) -- Peppers 5-10 1-1 12, Powell 5-12 1-2 14, Simms 1-3 0-0 2, Daniels 6-7 2-3 15, Flores 2-3 0-0 4, Prosper 1-2 0-0 2, Roberts 3-7 0-0 8, Richardson 2-4 0-0 5, Adams 1-2 0 0-0 3, Davis 0-1 0-0 0, Carter 0-0 0-0 0, Gregory 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-51 4-6 65.
3-point goals -- Manhattan 2 (Braxmeyer, Perkins), Highland Park 9 (Powell 3, Roberts 2, Peppers, Adams, Richardson, Daniels). Total fouls -- Manhattan 8, Highland Park 13. Fouled out -- none.
