Highland Park boys basketball loses to reigning state champion Maize at state tournament
No. 5 seed Highland Park (18-5) took on reigning state champion and this year's No. 4 seed Maize (18-4) on Wednesday. The Topeka team fell 53-47 to end the season.
Highland Park couldn't pull away early, and a strong second half from Maize saw them take the lead for good late in the third quarter.
"You're playing to keep your season going," said Highland Park coach Mike Williams. "They weren’t gonna give up. They play well and they're coached well."
A three-pointer from Highland Park's Ketraleus Aldridge put them up 9-4 early in the first quarter, and they stretched the lead to 13-6 after a bucket from junior Aydren Drew-Gregory, eventually taking a 16-11 lead after the first quarter.
Both teams scored 11 points in the second quarter to keep Highland Park's lead at five at halftime, 27-22.
Maize's last points came on a three-pointer from junior Avery Johnson, to make it 25-22. That was answered by an offensive rebound and put back from Highland Park junior Jahmir Kingcannon, to make it 27-22.
"They played extremely hard, they got to the 50-50 balls we missed," said Williams. "They rebounded the ball very well. It's more so the tenacity and the great fight they played with, finishing possession all the way through. They're state champs for a reason."
In the second half, Maize came out showing a zone.
Highland Park had gotten better at scoring against the zone over the course of the season, but it still slowed them down and turned them into a half-court team rather than the run-and-gun style that can make Highland Park so dangerous.
A 9-1 Maize run to end the third quarter, capped off by an offensive rebound and put back from senior Sam Schmidt, gave them their first lead, 39-38, since 4-3 early in the first quarter, and they wouldn't trail for the rest of the game.
"They made a good run on us to end the third quarter," said Williams. "Made it tougher on us down the stretch. We got a little closer in the fourth, just couldn’t get over the hump."
In the fourth quarter, a jumper from Highland Park, senior Juan'Tario Roberts, made it 49-45 with 3:00 to go before a timeout. Drew-Gregory had an offensive rebound and put back after a Maize turnover to make it 49-47, but that's the closest it would get.
Roberts led Highland Park with 17 points, adding three assists and three rebounds. Aldridge added 11 points, six rebounds, two blocks and two steals.
Maize was led by senior Jaden Gustafson, with a double double, 13 points and 11 rebounds. Seniors Sam Schmidt (14) and Kyle Grill (12) also scored in double digits.
Junior Avery Johnson added nine points, eight rebounds and four assists.
"It was kind of just empty possessions, we turned the ball over 3-4 times to start the second half," said Williams. "The missed dunk in the first half, that comes back and looks different now. We had a couple bunny lay ups (we missed). It's that time of year, have to finish around the rim better at a higher percentage, we missed those.
"You can’t discredit our kids' fight. Can’t discredit the effort our guys played with all year. We just came up a little short this year.
Maize ended the game on a 6-0 run, to end Highland Park's season, 53-47. That put them at 18-5.
A team that was ranked among the best in 5A all season long, Highland Park graduates just two seniors from this year's team.
"We got a good amount of guys in that locker room that was around here when we weren’t doing what we did (making it to) tonight or this season," said Williams. "They had to fight and put a lot of work in to get where were at right now. Credit to our kids, they didn't transfer, they didn't leave. They didn't complain. They stuck to it and showed up everyday."
Contact Seth Kinker at skinker@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @SethKinker
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Highland Park boys basketball loses to Maize in state quarterfinals
