By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The top-ranked and undefeated Highland Park boys got off to a slow start in Monday's home Meadowlark Conference game against Kansas City-Schagle, which didn't come as a big shock to Scots coach Mike Williams.
Highland Park coach Mike Williams talks to his team during Monday's 63-25 win over KC-Schlagle. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
After all, Highland Park was playing the first varsity game of the night, about two hours earlier than normal, in front of a small crowd with zero pre-game fanfare.
But after scoring just eight first quarter points and trailing by a point, Highland Park got things cranked up in the second quarter and never looked back, improving to 16-0 overall and 8-0 in the conference with a 63-25 romp past the Stallions.
"It's an early game, a different environment,'' Williams said. "We're used to everybody being in it and the band around, but it's the type of game you've got to figure out how to play. There will be a 3 o'clock game at state, a 5 o'clock game at state and there's no energy and then you're complaining about why you didn't play well and who knows what happens in that environment and that situation.
"So I thought our guys did a good job. It's unfortunate that some games are a little bit harder to get up for. Every game aint like playing Topeka High or Topeka West, where everybody's in the gym and we're also dealing with teenagers, but I thought we did a good job of answering the call.''
After trailing 9-8 at the start of the second period, the Scots held a 23-6 scoring margin in the quarter, including the first 12 points, to open up a commanding 31-15 halftime advantage.
Highland Park, which did not allow more than nine points in a quarter, proceeded to outscore Schlagle (5-9, 2-5) by a 32-10 margin after halftime, forcing a running clock (30-point margin) with 7:11 remaining.
Senior Mikey Williams scored a game-high 18 points with three 3-pointers in Monday's 63-25 win over KC-Schlagle. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Senior Isaiah Kelley puts in two of his 16 points in Monday's 63-25 Highland Park win over KC-Schlagle. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Highland Park senior Ja'Corey Robinson scored 12 points and grabbed seven rebounds in Monday's 63-25 win over KC-Schlagle. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Senior Mikey Williams led three double-figure scorers for Highland Park with a game-high 18 points while fellow seniors Isaiah Kelley and Ja'Corey Robinson added 16 and 12 points, respectively.
Robinson also grabbed seven rebounds as four Scots grabbed at least five boards.
Schlagle did not have a player with more than six points as the Stallions committed 20 turnovers.
"We ran some good stuff defensively and actually worked on a lot of stuff defensively,'' Williams said. "All we're trying to do now is clean up maintenance, stay away from the injury bug, stay in shape and just make sure we're handling February the right way as we move towards the end of the regular season and into postseason.''
HIGHLAND PARK 63, KC-SCHLAGLE 25
KC-Schlagle 9 6 8 2 -- 25
Highland Park 8 23 19 13 -- 63
KC-Schlagle (5-9, 2-5) -- Taylor 1-6 0-0 3, Bush 3-8 0-0 6, Lewis 0-2 0-0 0, Dyer 0-4 0-0 0, Ross 1-2 2-5 4, Richardson 2-7 1-2 6, Jones 1-3 1-1 4, White 1-1 0-0 2, Johnson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 9-33 4-8 25.
Highland Park (16-0, 8-0) – Wilson 2-5 0-0 5, Hales 2-7 0-0 6, Kelley 7-9 2-2 16, Williams 6-12 3-5 18, Robinson 6-9 0-3 12, Brown 0-1 0-0 0, Montgomery 0-0 0-0 0, Thomas 3-5 0-2 6, Drew 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 26-55 5-12 63.
3-point goals – KC-Schlagle 3 (Richardson, Taylor, Jones), Highland Park 6 (Williams 3, Hales 2, Wilson). Total fouls – KC-Schlagle 12, Highland Park 13. Fouled out – Bush. Technical fouls – none.
