By VINCE LOVERGINE
TopSports.news
From the jump Friday night the Highland Park Runnin’ Scots couldn’t miss from anywhere on the floor, romping to a 68-19 Meadowlark Conference home victory over Kansas City-Wyandotte.
Nate Wallace's Highland Park boys snapped a seven-game losing streak Friday night with a 68-13 Meadowlark Conference rout over KC-Wyandotte. [File photo/TSN]
“For the last seven games, when we took the court all of our guys were looking up (height wise). It was really good to see the ball go in the hoop and I was really proud of how we shared it,'' Highland Park coach Nate Wallace said. "We stayed poised and that’s the testament to the work we put in. We got clean looks, everyone touched the ball often and when that’s happening this group can be really dangerous.''
“It was real fun, we were finding the open guy, making layups, making the right play and we executed,'' said Highland Park junior Kasiaun Drew, who led the Scots with 19 points. "It felt good. We were all communicating and we were all on the same page.''
Highland Park began the game up 12-1 after a Davion Anderson bucket and the rout was on from there.
Junior Jojo Kingcannon continued his strong campaign, converting an and-one, making it 15-3. After three threes, including one from Kingcannon, the Runnin’ Scots led 26-3.
In the second quarter, it wasn’t much different in terms of scoring for Highland Park. Threes were falling, as well as easy transition buckets off creating turnovers and playing an up tempo style the whole game.
Highland Park nailed four 3-pointers, two by Anderson and scored nine total in the quarter. The Scots led 47-9 going into halftime.
“It feels amazing, it takes a toll off your lungs being in the game most of the way, it certainly helps,” Drew said after finding that rhythm early in the game.
The Bulldogs did not score any more than six points in one quarter, making just eight field goals in the game and attempting six free throws, making only one.
Then to begin the second half, the running clock went into effect, but Highland Park led by 50, 63-13 before the start of the fourth with everyone getting involved in the scoring.
Kingcannon backed Drew with 14 points and Anderson dropped 11.
“We’re setting standards and there’s a certain way you have to play for Highland Park when you want to take that varsity court and we didn’t see some of the things that we would’ve liked to have seen in the fall so we’re sending a message to our program that it’s not given, everything here is earned. We’re going to play the guys that want to play Highland Park basketball and want to buy in,” Wallace said.
The Scots only scored five points in the fourth quarter but still won by 49 points, picking up win number four of the season.
“Failure is not an option… we’re going to take some losses. We’re young still, whether that’s on the court or the grade levels. Highland Park is not an easy place to play at and/or coach and you will get scrutiny when you lose any game let alone how many we’ve lost this year,'' Wallace said. "We make sure to let those guys know that the work they’re putting in is not unnoticed and they got to showcase that.''
HIGHLAND PARK 68, KC-WYANDOTTE 19
Wyandotte 3 6 4 6 – 19
Highland Park 26 21 16 5 – 68
Wyandotte -- Jaydon 1 1-2 3, Eli 1 0-0 2, Kei 3 0-0 6, Vance 2 0-0 5, Tre 1 0-0 3, Javonte 0 0-4 0.
Highland Park (4-14) -- Anderson 3 3-3 11, McMillon 1 0-0 2, Montgomery 3 3-4 9, Drew 8 0-0 19, Mitchell 1 0-0 2, Kingcannon 6 1-2 14, Nance 4 0-1 9.
3-point goals -- Wyandotte 2 (Vance, Tre), Highland Park 9 (Drew 3, Kingcannon 3, Anderson 2, Nance). Total fouls -- Wyandotte 17, Highland Park 11 . Fouled out -- none.
