By Rick Peterson
TopSports.news
If things go as Highland Park plans, Thursday's opening game of the Topeka Invitational Tournament may be the only time the Scots play a mid-afternoon game until at least Class 5A state tournament time.
But the sunshine round didn't seem to bother top-ranked Highland Park, which rolled to a semifinal berth with a 67-36 first-round win over Shawnee Mission North at Topeka West.
Highland Park senior standout Bo Aldridge slams home a dunk in the Scots' 67-36 win over Shawnee Mission North in Thursday's first round of the Topeka Invitational Tournament at Topeka West. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Highland Park senior Quentin Adams comes up with a steal in Thursday's 67-36 first-round Topeka Invitational Tournament win over Shawnee Mission North. Adams had nine points in the win. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN
"Obviously coming out first game and getting a win, that's the most important thing and you want to play a certain kind of way as well, too,'' Highland Park coach Mike Williams said. "So you get a 30-point win at 3:15, an odd time to play at, I can't complain much about it.
"We got the first game out of the way and hopefully we can keep it rolling going into the weekend.''
With Thursday's win Highland Park advanced to the 8:30 p.m.semifinal on Friday to face Wichita Southeast, a 76-75 overtime winner over Hayden.
Highland Park, which improved to 7-0, scored the first six points of the game and never trailed against the Bison, who fell to 1-8 on the season.
The Scots built a 15-5 first-quarter advantage and took a commanding 35-20 lead at the half and a 55-26 cushion at the end of the third quarter before forcing a running clock when Highland Park went up 57-26 early in the fourth stanza on a bucket from senior Aydren Drew-Gregory.
Highland Park 6-foot-5 senior standout Bo Aldridge scored 11 points in the first quarter on the way to a game-high 22-point game and also grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds.
Senior Jahmir Kingcannon added 10 points for the Scots (six of six at the free throw line) and senior Quentin Adams had nine points.
Senior Randall Boldridge was the lone double-figure scorer for SM North, finishing with 10 points.
The Bison, coached by former Topeka High coach Pat Denney, will play a 5 p.m. consolation game on Friday against Hayden.
HIGHLAND PARK 67, SHAWNEE MISSION NORTH 36
Shawnee Mission North 5 15 6 10 -- 36
Highland Park 15 20 20 12 -- 67
Shawnee Mission North (1-8) -- Jagne 4 0-0 8, Dalley 1 0-0 3, A. Caseras 3 2-5 8, Broome 0 2-2 2, Boldridge 2 5-6 10, Doolin 0 0-0 0, Franklin 1 0-1 2, Faile 1 0-0 3, Bynum 0 0-0 0, Dyer 0 0-0 0, J. Casares 0 0-0 0. Totals 12 9-14 36.
Highland Park (7-0)-- Richardson 2 1-2 6, Aldridge 9 3-6 22, Kingcannon 2 4-4 10, Adams 2 4-6 9, Drew-Gregory 4 0-0 8, Williams 2 0-0 5, Taylor 1 0-0 3, Wilson 0 0-0 0, McMillon 0 0-0 0, Anderson 1 0-0 2, Davis 1 0-0 2. Totals 24 12-18 67.
3-point goals -- Shawnee Mission North 3 (Faile, Dalley, Boldridge), Highland Park 5 (Aldridge, Richardson, Kingcannon, Adams, Williams). Total fouls -- Shawnee Mission North 11, Highland Park 12. Fouled out -- none.
RESULTS THURSDAY
Highland Park 67, Shawnee Mission North 36
Wichita Southeast 76, Hayden 75 (OT)
Topeka West 55, Lansing 32
Lawrence 61, Topeka High 52 (OT)
GAMES FRIDAY
3:15 p.m. -- Topeka High vs. Lansing
5 -- Hayden vs. Shawnee Mission North
6:45 -- Lawrence vs. Topeka West
8:30 -- Highland Park vs. Wichita Southeast
