By Rick Peterson
TopSports.news
Even though top-ranked Highland Park had rolled to seven straight victories to open the 2022-2023 season, the Scots entered Friday night's Topeka Invitational Tournament semifinal against Wichita Southeast feeling like there were still more than a few doubters.
After seven straight routs, between 19 and 62 points, Friday night was expected to be Highland Park's first real test, but it was anything but, with the Scots rolling to Saturday's tournament championship game with an 86-48 romp past the Golden Buffaloes.
Highland Park senior Bo Aldridge slams home one of his eight dunks in Friday's 86-48 Topeka Invitational Tournament win over Wichita Southeast. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Highland Park celebrates on the bench towards the end of Friday's 86-48 win over Wichita Southeast. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Highland Park, which will meet Lawrence in Saturday's championship game at Topeka West, jumped out to a 21-13 lead at the end of the first quarter and led 43-26 at the half and 68-41 after three quarters before forcing a running clock early in the final stanza.
Hi Park coach Mike Williams said he's heard the naysers and said Friday was a chance to make a statement against a Class 6A opponent with a proud tradition, including the Topeka Invitational title in 2021.
"I've heard all of that,'' Willliams said. "I'm a Topeka guy. I'm like 10 toes down in the town so we hear all of that and we've heard it all year, heard we didn't play nobody. We hear that all the time and we heard that this was going to be a close game.
"We take pride in hearing those things and then making sure that we bring it every single day to prepare ourselves for these moments. Did I doubt what I saw the guys do out there? No. Now there may be some people in the community that did but I hope after tonight they understand that we are for real.''
Highland Park senior Bo Aldridge, who scored 27 points, said the Scots were ready to go Friday night.
"It was just sticking to the game plan,'' Aldridge said of the rout. "Coach Mike puts us in the best position possible. He prepares us like no other coach ever, so it's all props to him for real. We just go out and do the job.
"He just tells us what we need to do and we get the job done. That's all it was.''
Aldridge recorded an amazing eight dunks on the night, but said he doesn't keep track of how many slams he gets.
"I actually don't,'' Aldridge said. "I just hoop. That's all I do, I just hoop.''
Aldridge was one of four players in double figures for Highland Park, with seniors Jahmir Kingcannon and Tre Richardson scoring 15 and 13 points and junior Tamir Anderson coming off the bench to score 12 points on four 3-pointers.
Senior Judah Love led Southeast with 13 points while senior Mason Le added 11 points.
Highland Park will face a Lawrence team that advanced to the 1:45 championship game with a 45-43 win over tournament host Topeka West, the 2022 champion.
HIGHLAND PARK 86, WICHITA SOUTHEAST 48
Wichita Southeast 13 13 15 7 -- 48
Highland Park 21 22 25 18 -- 86
Wichita Southeast (5-7) -- I. Berry 1 3-4 6, Le 4 2-3 11, Dinh 1 1-2 3, Brown 2 2-2 7, Love 6 1-2 13, Arnold 0 0-0 0, J. Berry1 1-2 3, Okiashomb0 0 0-0 0, Gardener 0 0-0 0, Shaw 0 0-0 0, Holliday 0 0-0 0, Drury 2 0-0 5. Totals 17 10-15 48.
Highland Park (8-0)-- Richardson 5 2-3 13, Aldridge 12 2-2 27, Kingcannon 6 1-2 15, Adams 1 3-5 5, Drew-Gregory 1 1-1 3, Williams 2 1-2 6, Taylor 0 1-2 1, Wilson 1 2-2 4, McMillon 0 0-0 0, Anderson 4 0-0 12, Davis 0 0-1 0. Totals 32 13-20 86.
3-point goals -- Wichita Southeast 4 (I. Berry, Le, Brown, Drury), Highland Park 9 (Anderson 4, Kingcannon 2, Richardson, Aldridge, Williams). Total fouls -- Wichita Southeast 16, Highland Park 13. Fouled out -- none.
RESULTS FRIDAY
Topeka High 63, Lansing 37
Hayden 55, Shawnee Mission North 45
Lawrence 45, Topeka West 43
Highland Park 86, Wichita Southeast 48
GAMES SATURDAY
12 p.m. (main gym) -- Topeka West vs. Wichita Southeast (third)
12 p.m. (auxiliary gym) -- Shawnee Mission North vs. Lansing (seventh)
1:45 (main gym) -- Lawrence vs. Highland Park (championship)
1:45 (auxiliary gym) -- Hayden vs. Topeka High (fifth)
