By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Seventy-two year-old Hall of Fame coach Ken Darting was bouncing around like a coach half his age Wednesday night after Shawnee Heights' 62-54 non-league boys basketball road victory over Topeka High and was quick to credit his T-Birds for the hop in his step.
"I'm having more fun than I have had in 10 years,'' Darting said after Heights improved to 2-0 on the young season. "I can't wait to go to practice every day.''
Ken Darting gives instructions to his players during Shawnee Heights' 62-54 win at Topeka High Wednesday night. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Darting, who came out of retirement to take the Shawnee Heights job in 2018, has coached five teams to state championships in his legendary career, including four titles at Highland Park with a perfect 25-0 campaign in 2007.
And while it would be unfair to compare this year's T-Birds to any of those teams, Darting said he is thrilled with the Heights players' attitude and the way they listen and try to learn every day they are in the gym.
Shawnee Heights didn't have a great night Wednesday, particularly shooting the ball, but a host of players, including multiple underclassmen, contributed as the T-Birds rallied from behind early and then withstood rally after rally by the Trojans.
Shawnee Heights hit just two of 16 3-point attempts on the night and were out-rebounded, 30-23, but the T-Birds got at least eight points from five different players and key contributions off the bench from sophomores Jayden Holly (12 points) and Jayden Moore (a huge fourth-quarter 3-pointer) and freshman Jaret Sanchez (four points).
Sophomore Brennon Dodge scored a game-high 15 points to lead the T-Birds while senior Carter Olson had nine points and nine rebounds after missing his entire junior season with a football injury and seniors Nathan Pewe and Jarin Sanders scored eight points apiece.
"Their character is great and they're having so much fun,'' Darting said. "Some of our primary players didn't play well (Wednesday), but they're in here (in the locker room) jumping on Holly and congratulating him and things like that. That's what makes it so much fun.''
Darting led Shawnee Heights to back-to-back winning records in his first two years at the school before Heights slumped to 6-11 a year ago in a COVID-ravaged season.
Darting admits that this year's T-Birds have some limitations, particularly on the offensive end, but the T-Bird coach said his team is doing the things it needs to do to give itself a chance to win.
"We're not great shooters, it's that simple,'' Darting said. "So we've got to stop you, we've got to rebound over our size, we've got to have people come off the bench and pick us up.''
Shawnee Heights will travel to Ottawa on Friday before closing out its pre-Christmas schedule with a home game against Topeka West, last year's Class 5A runner-up, next Tuesday.
Then it will be back to the gym as Shawnee Heights tries to continue making strides before starting competition in the United Kansas Conference.
"I think it's really important to us to have a good first semester, just to get started,'' Darting said.
A look at Friday's Shawnee County games:
GIRLS
SHAWNEE HEIGHTS at OTTAWA
Shawnee Heights opened its season with a tough 38-33 loss to Spring Hill, with the T-Birds going cold in thre fourth quarter. After falling behind 13-8 in the opening quarter, Shawnee Heights tied the game 19-19 at the half and took a 32-29 lead into the fourth before the Broncos outscored the T-Birds 9-1 the rest of the way. Junior Emari Doby led Heights with 10 points while senior Abby Schulte added eight points with a pair of 3-pointers.
TOPEKA HIGH at TOPEKA WEST
Topeka High, No. 8-ranked in Class 6A, rolled to an 82-24 Centennial League win over Junction City Tuesday night while Topeka West dropped a 52-17 decision at Seaman. Kiki Smith led 2-0 Topeka High against the Blue Jays with a game-high 19 points. Sophomores Ladaysha Baird and Ayana Leesman scored 17 and 13 points, respectively, off the bench for the Trojans while senior Talayah Thomas added 10 points. Sophomores Siana Sanchez and Rebecca Bearman scored six and five points for 0-2 Topeka West.
HIGHLAND PARK at WASHBURN RURAL
Highland Park dropped a 52-38 Centennial League game at home to Hayden while Washburn Rural, second-ranked in Class 6A, took control late in a 52-41 league win over state-ranked Emporia. Junior Brooklyn DeLeye scored 18 points in her first game of the year for 2-0 Rural while senior Emma Krueger added 12 points and sophomore Zoe Canfield nine. Senior Atiya Gonzales led 0-2 Highland Park with 15 points, including three 3-pointers.
MANHATTAN at HAYDEN
Hayden opened its season with a 52-38 Centennial League road win over Highland Park as seniors Macy Smith and Carly Stuke scored 18 and 13 points, respectively, for the Wildcats. Smith was playing her first game since suffering an ACL injury early in the 2020-2021 season. Manhattan is 0-2 after losing to Topeka High in its season-opener and dropping a 55-49 decision to Lawrence last Saturday.
SEAMAN at EMPORIA
Seaman improved to 2-0 with a 52-17 win over Topeka West on Tuesday, with freshman Anna Becker scoring 17 points and sophomore Taylin Stallbaumer adding 13. Emporia fell to 1-1 on the season with a 52-41 loss at Class 6A power Washburn Rural despite a 21-point night from guard Gracie Gilpin, who hit five 3-pointers.
RILEY COUNTY at SILVER LAKE
Silver Lake improved to 2-0 with a 60-42 win over Council Grove and will host an 0-1 Riley County team, which dropped a 52-29 decision to Valley Heights in its opener. Junior Taylor Ross scored 16 points and grabbed nine rebounds for the Eagles while junior Mariah Farmer also had 16 points and sophomore MaKenzie McDaniel scored 14 points and grabbed 16 rebounds.
ROSSVILLE vs. SACRED HEART
At Chapman
Coming off a 54-24 win over Bishop Ward, Rossville will take on Sacred Heart in the Irish Classic. Sophomore Kinsey Perine led Rossville with 16 points against Ward while senior Caylee Douglas and freshman Shyanne Haehn added 10 points apiece. The Bulldawgs will complete play in the Irish Classic on Saturday against the host team.
BOYS
SHAWNEE HEIGHTS at OTTAWA
Shawnee Heights improved to 2-0 on Wednesday night with a 62-54 non-league win at Topeka High. Sophomore Brennon Dodge led the T-Birds with 15 points while senior Carter Olson added nine points and nine rebounds. Ottawa opened its season with a 73-53 loss to Piper.
TOPEKA HIGH at TOPEKA WEST
Both the Trojans and Chargers are coming off losses entering Friday's rivalry game. The 0-3 Trojans are coming off a 62-54 non-league loss to Shawnee Heights on Wednesday while 1-1 Topeka West dropped a 69-59 Centennial League decision at Seaman Tuesday night. Senior Matt Flenoy scored 14 points for High against Heights while sophomores Isaiah Lyons and BJ Canady added 12 points each. Senior Elijah Brooks led West with 22 points against Seaman while junior Xavier Alexander added 16 points.
HIGHLAND PARK at WASHBURN RURAL
Both Highland Park and Washburn Rural are coming off Centennial League victories, with Highland Park outlasting Hayden 60-51 in overtime while Rural rolled to a 65-34 win over Emporia. Senior Juan'Tario Roberts scored 17 of his game-high 23 points in the fourth quarter and overtime for the Scots while junior Jahmir Kingcannon had 18 points with four 3-pointers. Junior Jack Bachelor led Rural with 14 points while Tre Morris added 13 with three 3-pointers.
MANHATTAN at HAYDEN
Hayden dropped a tough 60-51 overtime decision at Highland Park in Dwayne Paul's debut as the Wildcats' head coach. Senior Trent Duffey scored 12 points and junior Joe Otting 10 for Hayden. Manhattan is 1-1 on the season, posting a victory over Topeka High last Friday before dropping a 65-55 decision to Lawrence on Saturday.
SEAMAN at EMPORIA
Seaman bounced back from a season-opening loss at Junction City to take a 69-59 Centennial League win over Topeka West on Tuesday. Senior Mateo Hyman led Seaman with 25 poiints and junior Kaeden Bonner was right behind with 22 points. Emporia is 0-2 after a 65-34 loss at Washburn Rural on Tuesday.
RILEY COUNTY at SILVER LAKE
Silver Lake is coming off a 63-46 loss to Council Grove on Tuesday Junior Kamryn Kaniper paced Silver Lake with 13 points while senior Luke Womack added 10 points and junior Troy Heiman nine. Riley County is 1-0 on the season after a 54-25 win over Valley Heights last Friday.
ROSSVILLE vs. SACRED HEART
At Chapman
Coming off a 74-44 loss to Bishop Ward, Rossville will take on Sacred Heart in the Irish Classic. Junior Kade Perine and freshman Brock Bush both scored 11 points for the Bulldawgs against Ward. The Bulldawgs will complete play in the Irish Classic on Saturday against the host team.
