By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
Highland Park's girls' basketball team's impressive first quarter in its 2022-2023 home opener couldn't hold up against Bonner Springs' as the Braves flashed for the next three quarters and left Topeka with the 53-36 victory Tuesday night.
Amelia Ramsey led Highland Park with 16 points in the Scots' 53-36 season-opening loss to Bonner Springs. [Photo by Isaac Deer/TSN]
Highland Park came out red-hot to start its season off. The 3-point shots were falling, the Scots were driving to the paint, the transition offense was stellar and Highland Park looked like it was on a mission to take a victory in its home opener.
Highland Park's hot start became cold as the scoring would become increasingly more sparse as the game went on. However, the Lady Braves gained a giant momentum swing in the second quarter, and every aspect of Bonner Springs' game improved.
"We did want to come out with the win, but we will take this as a learning experience," Highland Park coach Robert Brown said. "We had a couple of girls go down with an injury, which hurts us. It's a long season, and we have plenty of time and opportunities to bounce back.
"We are going to watch the film, and we will be able to grow once we see what we need to do better. We need to do better in transition, get the ball to Amelia Ramsey more and learn our roles better."
Game planning against Bonner Springs (3-0) star Mariyah Noel is challenging. Noel dropped 34 points on the Lady Scots on Tuesday night. So Highland Park knew containing Noel had to be the Lady Scots' number one priority.
"Mariyah Noel was a tough matchup for us," Brown said. "She got hot in that second half. She's a great player for (Bonner Springs)."
The Ole Miss commit has tallied 96 points in Bonner's first three games this year. On Tuesday night, Noel had 14 points in the first half and 20 points in the second half. Playing one of the top players in the state this early could be beneficial for the Scots. But, as Brown said, it was a learning experience.
"We knew we would have to come in here, work against the crowd and fight off a good team," Noel said. "The key for me for tonight was to create opportunities for my team. My team was able to find me a lot in the second half. When it was time for me to step up, I stepped up. I look at myself as a leader of this team, and I knew there was a time for me to finish the game. I had to take that leadership role on and finish that game."
Highland Park had a special spark in the first quarter that helped them earn a 16-11 lead by the end of the quarter. De'Asia Sanders and Amelia Ramsey combined for 11 of the first 16 points. After that, the Lady Scots were aggressive beyond the perimeter, and the shots fell.
Noel had the hot hand in the second quarter giving the Lady Braves a considerable boost. Noel had six points in the first quarter and eight in the second. Highland Park had a difficult time containing Noel in and outside the perimeter.
Luckily for Highland Park, they could keep their foot on the gas and contain the lengthy and athletic Bonner Springs squad. The defense was superb, and they could crash the Lady Braves' passing lanes and force Bonner Springs to take uncomfortable forced shots.
Overall, Highland Park had rejuvenated energy, aggressiveness and confidence. Highland Park shot the 3-point ball 16 times and converted five of them before the first half was over.
Highland Park would have a 23-21 lead over a motivated Bonner Springs team.
The Highland Park offense was ice-cold in the third quarter. Shots were not falling in like they were in the first half and the team became increasingly frustrated due to some miscues on offense and Noel taking the game over.
Highland Park was fatigued by the time the fourth quarter hit, and a couple of players went down due to injury. However, Bonner Springs would run away with its opportunity and would go on to beat Highland Park 53-36.
Highland Park (0-1) will host Southeast KC next Tuesday before its three-game road stretch.
BONNER SPRINGS 53, HIGHLAND PARK 36
Bonner Springs (3-0) 11 10 12 20 – 53
Highland Park (0-1) 16 7 5 8 – 36
Bonner Springs (3-0) – Noel 10 11-13 34, Campbell 4 2-8 10, Leslie 1 1-3 3, Anderson 1 0-0 3, Van Cleare 1 1-2 3.
Highland Park (0-1) – Ramsey 5 4-4 16, Gown-Britt 3 0-2 7, Parker-Brown 2 0-0 6, Sanders 2 0-0 6, White 0 1-2 1.
3-point goals – Highland Park 7 (Ramsey 2, Parker-Brown 2, Sanders 2, Gown-Britt). Bonner Springs 3 (Noel 3). Total fouls – Highland Park 17, Bonner Springs 13. Fouled out – none.
