By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Shawnee Heights' boys basketball team was solid offensively against Leavenworth Tuesday night, shooting just under 50 percent from the field while having four players crack double figures.
But it was the T-Birds' defense that turned what could have been a nail-biter into a 66-44 home United Kansas Conference romp past the Pioneers as Heights improved to 6-1 overall and 2-0 in the UKC while equaling its win total from the entire 2020-2021 season.
Shawnee Heights pestered Leavenworth (3-4, 1-1) into a 16 of 57 shooting night and 15 turnovers while holding the Pioneers to just 22 points in both halves.
"Look, how many times are we going to lose or anybody else is going to lose when when (the other team) gets 44 points?'' Shawnee Heights coach Ken Darting said. "We held a team to 39 last week, 23 in another game, 35 in another game.
"We just flat play hard and tough. That's all there is to it.''
Senior Carter Olson scored 14 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in Shawnee Heights' 66-44 UKC win over Leavenworth Tuesday night. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Nate Pewe tied for team-high scoring honors with 14 points in Shawnee Heights' 66-44 UKC win over Leavenworth Tuesday night. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Leavenworth took an early 3-0 lead and there were ties at 4-4 and 6-6 before Shawnee Heights got back-to-back baskets from junior Jeremyah Kendrick to take the lead for good.
Shawnee Heights led by just a 17-15 lead at the end of the opening quarter but opened up an 11-point (30-19) advantage late in the first half before taking a 30-22 lead to the locker room at halftime.
The Birds went in front 39-24 with 2:16 left in the third quarter on a 3-pointer from sophomore Brennon Dodge, took a commanding 42-29 advantage into the start of the fourth quarter and turned the game into a rout down the stretch.
Seniors Carter Olson and Nate Pewe scored 14 points each to pace the T-Birds while Kendrick finished with 13 points and Dodge 12.
Olson registered a double-double, grabbing 11 rebounds on the night.
Darting was pleased with the fact that the T-Birds got contributions from players up and down the Heights bench.
"You know how I feel about defense and if you will rebound and defend, I'm not afraid to put you in the game,'' Darting said. "You will luck into two or three baskets, just on putbacks or interception layups or whatever.
"In our top 12 I would say we've got 10 that can score seven or eight.''
Junior Eddie McLaughlin led Leavenworth with 17 points, including three 3-pointers, but was just seven of 25 from the field.
Junior Jeremiah Lewis added 11 points, including three 3's, for the Pioneers.
Shawnee Heights will return to action Friday, traveling to Turner.
SHAWNEE HEIGHTS BOYS 66, LEAVENWORTH 44
Leavenworth 15 7 7 15 -- 44
Shawnee Heights 17 13 13 23 -- 66
Leavenworth (3-4, 1-1) -- Darthard 3-10 1-6 8, Miller 1-5 1-2 3, Chapman 0-1 0-2 0, Lewis 3-13 2-5 11, McLaughlin 7-25 0-0 17, Jackson 0-0 0-0 0, Bethea 0-0 1-3 1, Crawford 2-3 0-0 4. Totals 16-57 5-18 44.
Shawnee Heights (6-1, 2-0) -- Pewe 7-15 0-0 14, Sanders 1-2 0-0 2, Dodge 4-11 2-2 12, Olson 6-12 2-2 14, Kendrick 6-9 1-6 13, Moore 0-1 0-0 0, Ginter 1-1 0-0 2, Pomeroy 0-0 1-2 1, D. Sanchez 0-0 0-0 0, Holly 1-1 0-1 2, Malcom 1-3 0-0 2, J. Sanchez 1-1 0-0 3, Cooper 0-1 0-0 0, Purdie 0-0 0-0 0, Poyner 0-1 0-0 0, Terry 0-0 1-2 1. Totals 28-58 7-15 66.
3-point goals -- Leavenworth 7 (McLaughlin 3, Lewis 3, Darthard), Shawnee Heights 3 (Dodge 2, J. Sanchez). Total fouls -- Leavenworth 15, Shawnee Heights 14. Fouled out -- none.
