WICHITA – For a coach whose time on the bench will wind down in a few days, Seaman’s Craig Cox isn’t above a little harsh self-evaluation.
After his Vikings outscored Maize South by 13 points after the break for a 57-46 victory in the Class 5A boys state tournament quarterfinals Tuesday at Koch Arena, Cox took a little swipe at himself.
“My final comment before we took the floor was we’ve been a really good second-half team this year,” Cox said. “Probably my fault as a coach that we’re not better in the first half. But the guys stepped up and did a great job, especially shooting the free throws as well as we did down the stretch.”
Cox, who has announced his retirement, will have a couple more chances to perfect his craft after Seaman turned it on during a pivotal third quarter. Senior standout KaeVon Bonner scored 16 of his game-high 24 points after halftime and his classmate, Landon Wiltz, hit two 3-pointers in the third quarter, the latter putting the Vikings ahead for good at 28-25.
Seaman's Landon Wiltz holds his follow-through after hitting a 3-pointer at the start of the fourth quarter in the Class 5A quarterfinals.
“That’s how we play,” Bonner said. “When Landon was feeling his shot with those two threes, it was a big momentum change for us.”
Maize South (21-5), the No. 4 seed, got 19 points from junior Jalen Batiste and never trailed in the first half. But with Seaman hitting 8 of 11 shots in the third quarter, the Mavericks began to find themselves in an uphill climb. Wiltz’s 3-pointers had an energizing effect for Seaman.
“We were 0 for 6 in the first half and the one we made we actually stepped out of bounds,” Cox said. “So we were a little bit frustrated because (Landon) is usually good for one or two and Cameron Brian, and we just didn’t hit them. For him to step up and make them was very huge momentum-wise.”
The athletic Bonner provided another spark at the end of the third quarter, taking a pass from Griffin Zuniga off a Maize South turnover and throwing down a two-handed dunk just before the buzzer to give the Vikings a 38-30 lead.
Wiltz kept the good times going on Seaman’s opening possession of the fourth with his third 3-pointer, a baseline shot in front of the Viking bench for its first double-digit lead.
Seaman shot 67% over the final three quarters and finished 19 of 36 for the game. The Vikings also made 15 of 19 free throws.
Wiltz finished with 13 points and Zuniga added 10 for Seaman, which next draws the assignment of top-seeded Kapaun Mt. Carmel in Thursday’s semifinals.
“The full amount that they allow you to play in a season,” said Cox, whose team is trying to match the 2022 Vikings as state champions. “Excited for it and know that we’ve got a tremendous challenge with the two-time defending state champions. But we get a day to prepare, so we’ll try to regroup and be ready to do the best we can on Thursday.”
Kapaun's Blaise Dalian protects the ball against Shawnee Heights' Ja'Veon Alston and Quincy Dixon during Kapaun's 53-38 victory.
KAPAUN MT. CARMEL 53, SHAWNEE HEIGHTS 38 – Kapaun moved a step closer to its third consecutive 5A championship with its trademark defense leading the way.
Senior Rocco Keller and junior Blaise Dalian each scored 16 points for the Crusaders, who won their 43rd consecutive game and ended the legendary coaching career of Shawnee Heights’ Ken Darting, a five-time state champion in previous stints at Silver Lake and Highland Park.
Kapaun, which ran its season record to 26-0, entered the tournament allowing 38.4 points per game. The Crusaders hit that number Tuesday, holding the Thunderbirds to 34.2% shooting (13 of 38). Shawnee Heights, which finished 17-9, led for just 16 seconds after Dalian answered T-Bird Jamarion Cook’s 3-pointer with one of his own midway through the opening quarter.
The Crusaders stretched their lead to 13 points late in the first half before Cook hit a high-arcing 3 at the buzzer to make it 28-18 at halftime. While just five players scored for the Crusaders, they maintained their offensive efficiency into the second half, leading by as many as 19 points, 41-22, on a break layup by Dalian.
Kapaun, which will play another United Kansas Conference team, Seaman, in Thursday’s semifinals, also got 10 points from freshman Braylon Jones. Cook led Shawnee Heights with 11 points and Camron Ross had 10.
Bonner Springs' Jason Jones hits a 3-pointer in front of the Braves' student section Tuesday during the 5A state quarterfinals at Kansas City Kansas Community College.
BONNER SPRINGS 68, KC WASHINGTON 49 — Bonner Springs fed off a packed, playoff-like atmosphere Tuesday night and delivered when it mattered most.
In a Class 5A state quarterfinal that featured two Wyandotte County teams and a gym full of energy at Kansas City Kansas Community College, Bonner Springs pulled away in the second half to defeat KC Washington 68-49 and advance to the state semifinals.
The Braves held a 27-25 lead at halftime, but outscored the Wildcats 41-24 win the second half to pull away thanks to some big shots down the stretch.
Several of those came thanks to sophomore Jaiden Jones and senior Nate Ferrell. Jones finished with a game-high 22 points, while Ferrell finished with 18 points, including three 3-pointers.
Senior guard Kelan Gruver also put together a strong showing as he recorded a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
As a team, the Braves shot 62 percent from the field and were 14-for-17 from the free-throw line.
Jamari Williams was the lone Wildcat to score in double figures with 14 points and Jayden Boggess added eight in the loss.
Topeka West's Keimani Paul scored 30 points to help the Chargers outlast United Kansas Conference rival Piper in 2OTs.
TOPEKA WEST 86, PIPER 78 (2 OT) – After splitting the regular-season series, West outlasted its UKC rival in a marathon duel for a spot in Thursday’s semifinals in Wichita.
Senior Keimani Paul scored 30 points and added seven assists for the Chargers, who earned the victory at Emporia’s White Auditorium after Piper’s Derrick Jackson hit a 3-pointer at the end of regulation to tie the score at 59.
West, which improved to 23-3, placed all five starters in double figures. Loc Duncan added 17 points, Prince Lassiter 13, Jay’veon Traylor 11 and Gad Munganga 10, including a 3-pointer in the second overtime that sealed the victory.
"What a great game between two juggernaut teams," West coach Christian Ulsaker said. "You could tell Piper did not want to go home tonight and I'm just thankful we have a group of seniors that have the will to win.
"I thought we did a great job of defending the three but DJ just hit a clutch shot. Some teams after giving up a big momentum swing like that wold fold, but our players showed resiliency and battle through adversity. I'm so proud of these young men."
After Jasper Phillips 1 of 2 free throws with 7.5 seconds left in regulation to put West up three, Jackson came up huge for Piper, burying a heavily guarded 3-pointer from the right wing to send the game to overtime.
The teams traded ties in the first overtime before Jackson hit another three with a 1:10 left to put Piper up 69-66. But West immediately answered as Paul hit a 3-pointer and was fouled, converting the four-point play with 57.5 seconds to go to put the Chargers up one.
After Duncan made 1 of 2 free throws with 31.9 seconds left, Jackson played hero for the Pirates again, scoring on a layup with 8.9 seconds left to force a second overtime also coming up with a steal on West’s final possession of the OT.
West then scored the first nine points of the second overtime to take control,. The Pirates did get within three with 20 seconds left but Paul hit 2 free throws with 18 seconds left to seal it. Paul scored 11 of his 30 points in the overtime periods and had 28 of his 30 after haltime, hitting 9 of 10 free throws in the contest.
Piper's DJ Jackson celebrates after hitting a guarded 3-pointer to force overtime against Topeka West.
Jackson, a UMKC commit, scored 24 points for Piper, which edged West 61-57 on Feb. 6. The Chargers haven’t lost since, winning their ninth straight game on Tuesday.
No other state quarterfinal went beyond regulation on the opening day of the tournaments. Jackson ensured the Piper-West battle went two overtimes when his layup knotted the score at 71 at the end of the first extra period. But Jackson fouled out in the second overtime, and the Chargers outscored Piper 15-7 for the victory.
Cooper Crawford scored 19 points, Alamar Brooks added 15 and Jaylen Taylor had 11 for Piper, which finished 18-8.
CLASS 5A BOYS QUARTERFINALS
KAPAUN MT. CARMEL 53, SHAWNEE HEIGHTS 38
Shawnee Heights … 10 … 8 … 9 … 11 … – … 38
Kapaun Mt. Carmel … 12 … 16 … 15 … 10 … – … 53
Shawnee Heights (17-9) – Alston 2-6 0-0 4, Cook 3-8 3-4 11, Ross 4-9 1-1 10, Scott 2-5 1-2 6, Dixon 1-8 2-2 4, Lee 0-0 0-0 0, Terrell 0-0 0-0 0, Lincoln 0-0 0-0 0, Halloran 0-0 0-0 0, Vega 1-2 0-0 3. Totals 13-38 7-9 38.
Kapaun Mt. Carmel (26-0) – Maingu 4-6 0-0 8, Porter 0-4 0-0 0, Keller 7-11 1-3 16, Rapp 0-4 0-0 0, Dalian 7-12 0-0 16, Jones 5-9 0-0 10, Stuhlsatz 0-2 0-0 0, Cary 1-2 0-0 3, Gooch 0-0 0-0 0, Pogoue 0-0 0-0 0, Becker 0-0 0-0 0, Pelfrey 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-50 1-3 53.
3-point goals – Shawnee Heights 5-21 (Cook 2-7, Vega 1-2, Scott 1-3, Ross 1-4, Dixon 0-2, Alston 0-3); Kapaun Mt. Carmel 4-15 (Dalian 2-3, Keller 1-2, Cary 1-2, Jones 0-1, Stuhlsatz 0-1, Porter 0-3, Rapp 0-3). Rebounds – Shawnee Heights 20 (Scott 5); Kapaun Mt. Carmel 33 (Keller 11). Assists – Shawnee Heights 6 (Alston 3); Kapaun Mt. Carmel 15 (Keller 5). Turnovers – Shawnee Heights 15, Kapaun Mt. Carmel 12. Total fouls – Shawnee Heights 4, Kapaun Mt. Carmel 8. Fouled out – None.
SEAMAN 57, MAIZE SOUTH 46
Seaman … 8 … 12 … 18 … 19 … – … 57
Maize South … 10 … 12 … 8 … 16 … – … 46
Seaman (22-4) – Wiltz 3-4 4-4 13, McConnaughey 2-3 1-3 5, Zuniga 5-7 0-2 10, Brian 1-5 0-0 3, Bonner 7-15 10-10 24, Esser 0-1 0-0 0, Scholes 1-1 0-0 2, Becker 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 19-36 15-19 57.
Maize South (21-5) – Pauly 1-2 0-0 2, Ebers 1-4 0-0 2, Batiste 7-15 1-2 19, Haynes 2-3 0-0 4, Stucky 4-8 2-4 10, Scott 3-6 0-0 6, Clinton 0-1 0-0 0, Lowe 1-2 0-0 3. Totals 19-41 3-6 46.
3-point goals – Seaman 4-14 (Wiltz 3-4, Brian 1-5, Zuniga 0-1, Bonner 0-4); Maize South 5-18 (Batiste 4-10, Lowe 1-2, Pauly 0-1, Scott 0-1, Clinton 0-1, Ebers 0-3). Rebounds – Seaman 23 (Bonner 5); Maize South 19 (Haynes 7). Assists – Seaman 11 (Zuniga, Bonner 4); Maize South 11 (Batiste, Scott 4). Turnovers – Seaman 14, Maize South 16. Total fouls – Seaman 9, Maize South 18. Fouled out – None.
BONNER SPRINGS 68, KC WASHINGTON 49
KC Washington… 14 … 11 … 12 … 12 … -- … 49
Bonner Springs… 15 … 12 … 20 … 21 … -- … 68
KC Washington (17-9) – Boggess 4-7 0-0 8, Berry 3-7 0-0 7, Williams 6-13 2-2 14, Johnson 3-8 0-0 7, Smith 0-3 0-0 0, Fields 3-5 0-0 6, Stone 3-7 1-1 7. Totals 22-50 3-3 49.
Bonner Springs (25-1) – Donnell 3-5 1-2 7, Jaiden Jones 11-14 0-1 22, Ferrell 5-10 5-5 18, Jason Jones II 4-6 0-1 9, Gruver 2-3 8-8 12, Nez 0-1 0-0 0, Cruse 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 25-40 14-17 68.
3-point goals – KC Washington 2-9 (Berry 1-3, Johnson 1-4, Williams 0-1, Stone 0-1); Bonner Springs 4-11 (Ferrell 3-4, Jason Jones II 1-3, Donnell 0-1, Jaiden Jones 0-2, Gruver 0-1). Rebounds – KC Washington 21 (Boggess 6); Bonner Springs 25 (Gruver 11). Assists – KC-Washington 6 (Boggess 3, Williams 3); Bonner Springs 15 (Ferrell 4, Jas. Jones 4). Turnovers – KC Washington 15, Bonner Springs 16. Total fouls – KC-Washington 13, Bonner Springs 9. Fouled out – none.
TOPEKA WEST 86, PIPER 78 (2 OT)
Piper … 19 … 13 … 16 … 11 … 12 … 7 … – … 78
Topeka West … 14 … 16 … 15 … 14 … 12 … 15 … – … 86
Piper (18-8) – Taylor 4-7 2-4 11, Jackson 9-23 3-6 24, Vogel 0-1 0-0 0, Brooks 5-11 5-9 15, Crawford 7-18 3-4 19, Barnes 1-3 0-1 3, Seigel 0-0 0-0 0, Sayles 3-5 0-0 6. Totals 29-68 13-24 78.
Topeka West (23-3) – Munganga 2-4 4-6 10, Traylor 4-9 1-2 11, Duncan 7-13 1-2 17, Paul 10-16 9-10 30, Lassiter 5-9 2-2 13, Phillips 1-3 1-5 3, Ware 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 30-55 18-27 86.
3-point goals – Piper 7-21 (Jackson 3-8, Crawford 2-6, Taylor 1-3, Barnes 1-3, Vogel 0-1); Topeka West 8-14 (Traylor 2-3, Munganga 2-4, Duncan 2-4, Lassiter 1-1, Paul 1-2). Rebounds – Piper 37 (Crawford, Sayles 7); Topeka West 36 (Munganga 8). Assists – Piper 16 (Jackson 5); Topeka West 20 (Paul 7). Turnovers – Piper 13, Topeka West 17. Total fouls – Piper 26, Topeka West 22. Fouled out – Piper: Jackson, Vogel; Topeka West: Traylor.