By Todd Fertig
TopSports.news
WICHITA -- When the Washburn Rural girls fell behind Wichita Heights 10-0 to start Wednesday's state quarterfinal game, the Junior Blues could draw confidence from one thing. They had beaten this team, the No. 2 seed in the 6A state tournament, earlier in the season.
Washburn Rural celebrates Wednesday's 50-43 win over No. 2 seed Wichita Heights in the Class 6A state tournament. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
With that in mind, the seventh-seeded Junior Blues slowly, methodically, began to chip away at that massive deficit.
The Junior Blues put together a remarkable comeback to defeat the Falcons 50-43 at Wichita State Koch Arena. Perhaps even more remarkable: That was the same score as the Junior Blues’ win over those same Falcons in January in the Capital City Classic.
“I don’t think we’re a team that gives up real easy. We fight and we scrap,” said Washburn Rural coach Kevin Bordewick. “In the first quarter, those were our mistakes. Those were runouts that got them the lead in the first half.
“The only thing you can do at that point is just (take it) a possession on defense, a possession on offense. You just have to work in increments of one possession. That’s all you can do. Obviously, I wasn’t real thrilled with that start and I hope that doesn’t happen again. But I was real happy in how we maintained our composure.”
Nearly four minutes into the contest, sophomore Ella Hirsch finally got the Junior Blues off the mat with a 3-pointer. Those were her only points in the game, but they might have been the Junior Blues’ most important because they stopped the bleeding at 10-0.
Washburn Rural freshman Maddie Vickery scored 24 points to lead the way in Rural's 50-43 Class 6A state tournament win over Wichita Heights Wednesday night. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
After being shut out in the opening period, freshman Maddie Vickery took over, scoring 14 points in the second quarter. The Falcons couldn’t figure out how to defend her. She shot over or drove around every defender Wichita Heights sent her way.
A stern talking-to from her coach may have helped get Vickery started.
“He was like ‘Well, congrats. You’re the turnover leader for the team.’ That really set a fire in me,” Vickery said. “When I came out of the game and then went back in, I was like, ‘We have to want it more.’ That really set the tone for me.”
Coming all the way back, Washburn Rural took the lead midway through the second period. The two teams jockeyed back and forth, swapping the lead several times throughout the game. Blown defensive assignments by the Falcons allowed Washburn Rural three layups late in the game, which created some breathing room in the final minute.
“I thought we hustled after the 50-50 balls a lot more, especially in the second half,” Bordewick said. “I thought we were a little tougher on the boards in the second half. And I thought we took care of the ball better. For us that’s huge.”
Vickery led the Junior Blues with 24 points, hitting 6-12 from the field – including three 3-pointers – and 9-11 from the line.
Vickery wasn’t just playing in her first tournament; she was also attending her first. When the Junior Blues made deep runs in the tournament in previous seasons, she was forced to watch the games on the internet.
“I’ve always had spring (club) tournaments, so I’ve never been to state,” Vickery said. “It’s a great experience. You have got to soak it all in. It was a great first experience in this building.”
Bordewick wasn’t surprised that a freshman would get off to a slow state in her first state tournament game. But he also wasn’t surprised this specific freshman responded to tough coaching and wound up dominating.
“That kid is someone who will look you in the eye and take (coaching) to heart. I thought she responded well to it,” Bordewick said of Vickery. “It’s a big moment. She’s a freshman. But once she got in the rhythm and flow, she’s kind of fun to watch.”
The win over Wichita Heights earned the Junior Blues a semifinal date with Derby Friday at 6 p.m. The third-seeded Panthers got by Shawnee Mission Northwest 48-47 in the final game Wednesday.
That means the Junior Blues will finish in the top four at state once again. The coach of many big games over the years, Bordewick considered where this comeback victory fits in perspective.
“With this group, knowing the hills and valleys that we went through, I thought it was a great win for us,” Bordewick said. “It ranks up there based on the fight we had and the composure we showed after the first quarter.”
WASHBURN RURAL GIRLS 50, WICHITA HEIGHTS 43
Washburn Rural 5 18 9 18 -- 50
Wichita Heights 14 11 6 12 -- 43
Washburn Rural (16-7) – Vickery 6-12 9-11 24, Hinck 3-7 0-2 6, Ochs 0-1 0-2 0, Canfield 2-8 2-4 6, Bunck 3-5 2-4 8, Hirschi 1-4 0-0 3, Lemke 1-4 0-0 3. Totals: 16-41 13-23 50.
Wichita Heights (20-3) – Jackson 2-6 2-2 6, Mayberry 2-7 0-0 5, Walker 1-2 0-0 2, Ellis 4-15 5-8 15, Gilbert 1-4 2-2 4, Barber 0-5 0-0 0, Manuel 3-7 0-1 6, Maze 1-4 2-2 5, Brown 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 14-50 11-15 43.
3-point goals – Washburn Rural 5 (Vickery 3, Hirschi 1, Lemke 1), Wichita Heights 4 (Ellis 2, Mayberry 1, Maze 1). Total fouls – Washburn Rural 10, Wichita Heights 18. Fouled out – None. Technical fouls – None.
