By TODD FERTIG
TopSports.news
The Shawnee Heights girls hit 23 field goals in their 59-11 United Kansas Conference win over Lansing Friday. But the first bucket was the most important.
T-Birds make Senior Night special for injured captain Tayler Hanshaw. [Photo by Kirk Hockman/Special to TSN]
As part of the T-Birds’ Senior Night celebration, senior Tayler Hanshaw made her first start of the season. Wearing a brace on her right knee, Hanshaw jogged to the offensive end after Lansing conceded the opening jump ball. Hanshaw was fed a pass on the right block, which she laid in for her first, and only, score of the season.
Hanshaw was a key member of last year’s T-Birds that were knocked out in a Class 5A sub-state finals. She figured to be a leader for coach Bob Wells’ team in her senior season. But an injury ended her season just as it was beginning.
“Over the summer I put in a lot of work, going to the gym every day,” Hanshaw recalled. “But, like, 20 minutes into the first practice I was doing a defensive drill and I just stepped wrong and (my knee) popped. I was very disappointed because I was really looking forward to this season.”
A torn ACL deprived Hanshaw of her senior season, and deprived Shawnee Heights of an important player.
“It was really sad, especially the way it happened on that very first day of tryouts,” said fellow senior Reianna Vega. “We knew it was going to affect us a lot because she was one of our point guards and she shot a lot of threes. Knowing she wasn’t going to be back for the rest of the season, we knew we had to step up and do what we had to do to fill her spot.”
Hanshaw surrendered her position on the floor, but she wasn’t going to give up her influence on the team, which, with the win over Lansing, is now 14-4.
“I still wanted to be in that captain role,” Hanshaw said. “I knew I wasn’t going to give that up. So, I came to practice every day. I showed up to every game. I sat on the bench and supported the team. Even though I couldn’t play, I still wanted to be there for them.”
The T-Birds were able to play everyone in the romp over Lansing. Junior KK Emmot led Heights with 14 points, followed by senior Imani McGlory and Vega, who added 11 apiece. Nine T-Birds scored in the game.
Hanshaw appreciated the opportunity to get in the game, to score a bucket, and to be recognized in the post-game ceremony as one of the T-Birds’ four seniors.
“It was really exciting to go out there and even being able to shoot because I didn’t know if I would be able to do that,” Hanshaw said. “I’m really glad it worked out because I have a lot of family that came to support me.”
“I almost started to cry because she’s been with me all four years,” said Vega. “Watching her go and score a basket was a very good experience. I think with her family here watching her, it meant a lot to them.”
SHAWNEE HEIGHTS GIRLS 59, LANSING 11
Lansing 6 1 4 0 -- 11
Shawnee Heights 23 11 12 13 -- 59
Lansing (1-14) – Frederick 0-3 0-0 0, Schneider 4-7 1-4 9, Swinson 0-2 0-0 0, McLilly 1-3 0-02, Diaz 0-0 0-0 0, St. Clair 0-0 0-0 0, Cribbs 0-3 0-0 0, Pheral 0-0 0-0 0, Pierce 0-0 0-0 0, Smith 0-1 0-0 0, Kannaday 0-1 0-0 0, Tanner 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 5-20 1-4 11.
Shawnee Heights (14-4) – Emmot 4-6 3-3 14, Au. Hamilton 0-2 2-4 2, Hanshaw 1-1 0-0 2, McGlory 5-11 0-0 11, Vega 5-11 0-0 11, Carter 3-4 2-3 8, Brees 2-2 0-0 5, Schmidt 0-4 0-0 0, Karlyle 2-2 0-0 4, Al. Hamilton 0-1 0-0 0, Pierce 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 23-45 7-10 59.
3-point goals – Shawnee Heights 6 (Emmot 3, McGlory, Vega, Brees). Total fouls – Lansing 7, Shawnee Heights 9. Fouled out – none. Technical fouls – none.
