WICHITA – Three seasons of basketball at St. James Academy and a fourth at Blue Valley Northwest have repeatedly put Regan Becker to the test.
 
So much so that the scenario that unfolded Tuesday afternoon at Koch Arena didn’t seem too daunting.
 
“I think we’ve been put through a lot of adversity,” Becker said of her and her Blue Valley Northwest teammates, who qualified for the Class 6A girls state tournament with an 11-13 record. “And just over my four years of high school, I think I’ve seen it all.”
 
Becker and the Huskies stood toe-to-toe with unbeaten and top-seeded Wichita Heights in the quarterfinals. And after withstanding two rallies by the Falcons that left them tied with under 30 seconds to play, Becker turned a Heights foul into the winning free throw with 14.7 seconds remaining to give Blue Valley Northwest, the No. 8 seed, a 49-48 victory.
 
Becker’s 19^th and final point – after she missed the first of two free throws – proved to be the difference after Heights (24-1) called a timeout with 1.4 seconds remaining to set up Aniyah Harris’ baseline shot, which sailed long as time expired.
 

The Huskies pulled off the upset after Harris drained a 3-pointer from a similar spot on an inbounds play with 29 seconds remaining. That tied the score at 48.
 
“I was actually under the basket on that 3 and I saw her let it go and I was like, ‘Oh, that’s in,’” Becker said. “My first thought was get the ball up the floor. I knew my coaches wanted the ball in my hands and I was like, ‘If we’re going to go out, we’re going to go out swinging.’
 
“I got the shot and fortunately got the foul. It was a foul, but I was also lucky to have the refs call it in that situation.”
 
Blue Valley Northwest, which earned a semifinal date with Wichita East on Thursday in Wichita, did plenty throughout the game to create its good fortune.
 
The Huskies hit their first four shots to take a 9-0 lead, and grew it to 15-5 on Becker’s 3-pointer midway through the opening quarter. Heights, which got 17 points from Aaliyah Waller and 16 from Harris, made its push late in the first half, closing with an 11-2 run for a 31-25 halftime lead.
 
The situation didn’t seem to faze Northwest, which used 3-pointers by Becker, Isabella Eils and Kyra Becker to regain the lead at 36-35 midway through the third quarter.
 
“We’ve been battle-tested all season,” Blue Valley Northwest coach Jeff Piggie said. “I’d put our schedule up against anybody’s. I told my girls in November, December and January that these games we’re playing right now against the top teams are going to pay off for us in the end.”
 
The Huskies pushed their lead to 46-39 on Rylie Edwards’ 3-pointer with 5:43 remaining. But Northwest had to withstand another rally by Heights, which cut the gap despite shooting just 24% in the second half.
 
Harris’ tying 3 came immediately after the Falcons called a timeout to set up a play.
 
When Harris couldn’t duplicate the feat, Blue Valley Northwest had its first girls state victory in program history after quarterfinal losses in 1996, 2011 and 2015.
 
“We know if we want to continue we’ve got to grind it out no matter who’s in front of us,” Becker said. “They could all be D-1 athletes or they could not be playing anywhere and we’ve still got to grind it out. Whatever it takes to get the win, we’re going to to do it.”
 

WICHITA EAST 55, OLATHE SOUTH 45  – After ending a 19-year state tournament drought last season, East made a successful return Tuesday with a win over a team led by one of the state’s top players.
 
Junior Eve Long scored 30 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for Olathe South, but the Falcons suffered their first loss to a Kansas team this season to finish 20-6. Senior Quinacy Galbert scored 14 points and freshman Jada Davis added 13 to counter for East, which moved to 21-5.
 
“We just wanted to dig on her and dig on her, and try to get the ball out of her hands,” East coach Willie Davis said. “We knew she would get hers. There’s no stopping her. We just wanted to make somebody else get double digits to beat us.”
 
The strategy worked, as the Blue Aces held South’s other players to 15 points on 5-of-37 shooting. East took the lead at 14-13 on Anahree Smith’s basket – the first points of the second quarter – and never trailed again, leading by as many as 13 late in the game.
 
East hit six 3-pointers while limiting South to 2 of 19 from long range. The Aces put multiple players on Long, with Davis drawing the primary assignment.
 
“She was tired,” Willie Davis said. “That took a little bit away from her offense, but we needed her on Eve.”
 

DERBY 61, TOPEKA HIGH 58 – Derby used quick strikes at the beginning of quarters to build momentum, then denied Topeka High a shot to tie when it mattered most to advance.
 
Senior Macayla Askew’s 3-pointer from the left wing gave Derby the lead for good to start the fourth quarter. But the Panthers, state runners-up last season, had to sweat it until the end. After Alex Dinsmore hit two free throws with nine seconds remaining for Derby’s final points, the Panthers forced the Trojans to pass the ball around for a potential tying shot.  Ahsieyrhaujh Rayton’s desperation 3-pointer missed wide after the buzzer sounded.
 
Derby, which trailed 34-30 at halftime, got 17 points from Askew, 13 from Siaunna Carter, 12 from Aysia Fox and 10 from Maya Harris. The Panthers committed 23 turnovers, but also forced 19 to deny the seventh-seeded Trojans the upset.
 
Karlie Demel added 14 rebounds and Askew had 10 to fuel Derby’s 44-35 advantage. In addition to a 5-0 run to start the fourth quarter, the Panthers erased their halftime deficit with six straight points in the opening minute of the third. But Topeka High rallied for a 44-38 lead on Rayton’s 3-pointer with 3:18 to play in the third.
 

 

SHAWNEE MISSION SOUTH 52, BLUE VALLEY NORTH 27 — Shawnee Mission South showed exactly why it believes another championship run is possible Tuesday night. 

In a matchup of the last two Class 6A state champions, the Raiders turned a tight game into a rout with a dominant second half, pulling away for a 52-27 victory over Blue Valley North in the state quarterfinals at Kansas City Kansas Community College. 

With the win, Shawnee Mission South (22-3) moves into the semifinals and remains in position to capture its second state title in the last three seasons. 

The game began as a defensive battle. Blue Valley North and South traded blows in the opening quarter and were tied 11-11 after the first eight minutes. But the Raiders gradually began to take control, using a strong defensive effort and depth to wear down the Mustangs. 

South edged ahead 26-17 by halftime before completely taking over in the second half. The Raiders held North to just 10 total points after the break, including only four in the fourth quarter, while steadily extending the lead. 

“Our goal was to be strong on defense, make the right play and not force anything,” said South freshman Amiyah Carter. “I think we checked all the boxes on our game plan and we are just really excited to move on to the next part and keep going.” 

Carter helped spark the Raiders offensively with a team-high 16 points, continuing her strong freshman campaign. Kylenna Potts added nine points, while Laila Berndt and Ella Jack controlled the boards with eight rebounds apiece. 
 

But South’s biggest strength was its balance. Eight different Raiders scored, a reflection of the deep rotation that has fueled the team all season. 

“It is pretty nice to have so many talented girls,” South coach Mark Western said. “I am pretty spoiled. When you have eight kids that play how ours have played, it has been great to see. They have compromised on minutes all season and that has helped us.” 

That depth also allowed South to apply constant pressure defensively, particularly against Blue Valley North freshman standout Harper Winter. The Raiders rotated defenders on the highly touted guard and limited her to 11 points on 2-of-11 shooting from the field. 

“We tried to lean on her, rotate bodies on her and make it difficult,” Western said. “Harper has an unblockable mid-range shot, so you’re kind of at the mercy of whether it goes in or not. She’s a special player and someone we have a lot of respect for.” 

South also dominated the glass, outrebounding the Mustangs 42-34 and collecting 18 offensive rebounds, another key factor in slowly pulling away. 

For Carter, the victory reflected the growth the Raiders have shown late in the season. 

“I think valuing the ball was key for us,” Carter said. “We struggled a little bit at the beginning, and I think the first team that was able to settle in was going to win. Our confidence just kept growing throughout the game and we just kept making the right plays with each other.” 

Western said Carter’s performance on the state stage was no surprise. 

“Amiyah is a real special kid,” he said. “In the freshman class, Harper might be No. 1 in the state, but Amiyah is right there behind her. What she did tonight is what I see in practice all the time. It was kind of a coming-out party for her.” 

For the Raiders, the focus now quickly shifts forward. 

“I told the girls it was just awesome to be able to earn another practice,” Western said. “We have been waiting for our opportunity to get to state and try to finish this thing. But it’s still one day at a time.” 

Shawnee Mission South will face Derby in the Class 6A state semifinals Thursday in Wichita. 

CLASS 6A GIRLS QUARTERFINALS
  
WICHITA EAST 55, OLATHE SOUTH 45
 
Olathe South … 13 … 9 … 8 … 15 … -- … 45
 Wichita East … 12 … 15 … 7 … 21 … -- 55
 
Olathe South (20-6) – Pflumm 0-7 0-0 0, Zollicoffee 0-1 0-0 0, Maupin 2-7 0-0 5, Long 11-20 7-9 30, Price 0-10 1-2 1, Halliday 0-2 0-0 0, Allen 1-4 3-3 5, Bates 2-6 0-0 4. Totals 16-57 11-14 45.
 
Wichita East (21-5) – Lucas 3-7 0-0 8, Galbert 4-11 5-8 14, J. Davis 3-8 6-9 13, Smith 1-4 2-2 4, Respress 0-5 4-8 4, Landrum 1-1 0-0 3, Kates 2-4 2-2 6, Selmon 1-3 0-0 3, A. Davis 0-0 0-0 0, Ellison 0-0 0-0 0, Stallings 0-0 0-0 0, Henderson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 15-43 19-29 55.
 
3-point goals – Olathe South 2-19 (Long 1-2, Maupin 1-4, Halliday 0-1, Bates 0-2, Pflumm 0-4, Price 0-6); Wichita East 6-20 (Lucas 2-6, Landrum 1-1, Selmon 1-2, Galbert 1-5, J. Davis 1-5, Respress 0-1). Rebounds – Olathe South 39 (Long 8); Wichita East 36 (Respress 10). Assists – Olathe South 10 (Pflumm, Maupin, Long, Price 2). Turnovers – Olathe South 17, Wichita East 14. Total fouls – Olathe South 19, Wichita East 14. Fouled out – None.
 

BLUE VALLEY NORTHWEST 49, WICHITA HEIGHTS 48
 
Blue Valley Northwest … 17 … 8 … 18 … 6 … -- … 49
Wichita Heights … 11 … 20 … 6 … 11 … -- 48
 
Blue Valley Northwest (12-13) – K. Becker 2-5 3-4 9, Edwards 3-10 1-2 8, R. Becker 8-17 1-2 19, Numrich 3-10 0-1 6, Domazet 2-5 0-0 4, Ellis 1-4 0-0 3, Dahl 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 19-52 5-9 49.
 
Wichita Heights (24-1) – Maze 2-8 2-2 6, Harris 5-14 4-4 16, Waller 6-12 3-4 17, A. Reed 1-7 0-0 2, Rose 1-7 0-0 2, Brown 1-1 0-2 2, Dingle 1-5 0-0 3, Z. Reed 0-0 0-0, Banks 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 17-54 9-12 48.
 
3-point goals – Blue Valley Northwest 6-20 (K. Becker 2-4, R. Becker 2-6, Ellis 1-3, Edwards 1-4, Dahl 0-1, Numrich 0-2); Wichita Heights 5-18 (Waller 2-3, Harris 2-5, Dingle 1-4, Rose 0-1, Reed 0-2, Maze 0-3). Rebounds – Blue Valley Northwest 33 (Domazet 7); Wichita Heights 39 (Harris 12). Assists – Blue Valley Northwest 10 (R. Becker 5); Wichita Heights 9 (Harris, Waller 3). Turnovers – Blue Valley Northwest 14, Wichita Heights 12. Total fouls – Blue Valley Northwest 10, Wichita Heights 13. Fouled out – None.

 
DERBY 61, TOPEKA HIGH 58
 
Topeka High … 16 … 18 … 14 … 10 … – … 58
Derby … 15 … 15 … 16 … 15 … – … 61
 
Topeka High (17-9) – Short 1-5 2-4 4, Marshall 4-13 2-3 11, Rayton 7-22 1-2 17, Caryl 5-7 5-5 15, Gotru 4-7 1-2 9, Brown 1-3 0-0 2, Whayne 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 22-58 11-16 58.
 
Derby (23-3) – Demel 1-10 1-2 3, Fox 5-7 2-3 12, Dinsmore 0-3 4-4 4, Carter 5-12 2-4 13, Askew 7-14 0-0 17, Harris 4-8 0-0 10, Graham 0-6 2-2 2, Clingan 0-0 0-0 0, Watie 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 22-60 11-15 61.
 
3-point goals – Topeka High 3-14 (Rayton 2-6, Marshall 1-3, Whayne 0-1, Short 0-2, Caryl 0-2); Derby 6-22 (Askew 3-6, Harris 2-4, Carter 1-2, Fox 0-1, Dinsmore 0-2, Demel 0-3, Graham 0-4). Rebounds – Topeka High 35 (Marshall 11); Derby 44 (Demel 14). Assists – Topeka High 9 (Caryl 3); Derby 11 (Askew 3). Turnovers – Topeka High 19, Derby 23. Total fouls – Topeka High 15, Derby 16. Fouled out – None.
 

SHAWNEE MISSION SOUTH 52, BLUE VALLEY NORTH 27 

Blue Valley North… 11 … 6 … 6 … 4 … -- … 27 

Shawnee Mission South… 11 … 15 … 14 … 12 … -- … 52 

Blue Valley North (20-6) – T. Schroering 0-3 0-0 0, Hinson 3-7 0-0 7, Kincaid 0-5 0-2 0, M. Schroering 3-8 3-8 9, Winter 2-11 6-6 11, O’Rourke 0-2 0-0 0, Woods 0-2 0-0 0, Breitenstein 0-0 0-0 0, Cabrera 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 8-38 9-16 27. 

Shawnee Mission South (22-3) – Kirkwood 1-4 0-0 2, Slaven 3-5 0-0 7, Potts 3-10 0-0 9, Jack 3-8 0-1 7, Berndt 1-9 3-4 6, Kramer 1-5 2-2 4, Carter 7-13 0-2 16, Jouras 0-5 1-2 1. Totals 19-59 6-11 52. 

3-point goals – Blue Valley North 2-11 (Hinson 1-3, Winter 1-6,  Woods 0-2); Shawnee Mission South 8-23 (Potts 3-7, Jack 1-3, Slaven 1-1, Berndt 1-3, Carter 2-6, Kirkwood 0-1, Kramer 0-2). Rebounds – Blue Valley North 34 (T. Schroering 10, M. Schroering 10); Shawnee Mission South 42 (Berndt 8, Jack 8). Assists – Blue Valley North 5 (Winter 3); Shawnee Mission South 10 (Berndt 4). Turnovers – Blue Valley North 20, Shawnee Mission South 13. Total fouls – Blue Valley North 10, Shawnee Mission South 18. Fouled out – None.