BY CHARLES CHANEY
EMPORIA, Kan. — If you had told Andover Central head coach Tyler Richardson that his team would give up a 33-point performance and the opponent would’ve shot 60 percent from the field, his team would be in trouble.
Instead, they were in it until the very end.
Highland Park knocked off the eighth-seeded Andover Central Jaguars in the first round of the Class 5A state quarterfinals, 65-56, but not before the Jaguars went blow-for-blow with the top seed.
“I told him just now, you know, we lose on Wednesday or Saturday last week and we’re sitting at home right now,” Richardson said. “Instead, we hit one of our goals. We didn’t hit our ultimate goal, but we got to where we wanted to and we told him for the game, we didn’t, we didn’t come this far to come this far but I don’t think there’s a person that in that arena that can say our guys didn’t fight their tails off.”
Jaguars fought and they hit the Scots (23-0) right in the mouth on the back of back-to-back threes by senior Jace Jefferson. Andover Central built a 9-0 lead before Highland Park finally got their legs underneath.
“I don’t know if they expected that but we got guys who can shoot the heck out of the ball,” Richardson said. “Credit to those guys because they didn’t let up. We put them in a position they hadn’t really been in this season.”
Andover Central (14-9) couldn’t overcome the scorching shooting of Mikey Williams. Rated as one of the top point guards in the state, he couldn’t miss. He didn’t miss for the entire first half and it continued into the second half. Highland Park rode the senior to a 33-point performance on 12 of 14 shooting from the field, including 7 of 7 from three.
Despite all of the success from Williams, Central had matched blow-for-blow. They even led, 35-33 at the break. Williams was still able to do what was needed. He had an and-one at the start of the thrd. Then, he hit a couple of 3s as Highland Park built a six-point lead.
The Highland Park defense tried to speed up Central, getting them out of sorts and keep them off their game but the senior leadership was able to see through it. They only had nine turnovers for a Highland Park team that thrives on turning defense into offense.
“I didn’t really sense a lot of guys taking crazy shots or forcing anything,” Richardson said. “I felt pretty good about it.”
After Highland Park had built a 10-point lead with just under six minutes remaining, they decided to milk the clock. They pulled it out, swung it around the perimeter, giving everyone in the building flashbacks from their 2022 loss to Andover where they blew a 16-point second half lead.
During the ‘chew’ stage, Highland Park missed two shots, turned it over and missed a pair of free throws. They had cut off nearly three minutes but it allowed Andover Central back into the contest. Central had pulled from down seven to just down two.
Central just couldn’t find a way to stop Williams.
After a missed shot, Highland park found Williams on a breakaway, where he was fouled and made the bucket. The Jaguars could never climb out of the hole.
Jayden Brown led the Jaguars with 17 points. He went 4 of 8 from threee and was 5 of 13 from the field. Brody Degarmo finished with three points, four assists and four rebounds. Jace Jefferson was 4 of 6 from 3 as he finished with 12 points on the night. Jace Adler had 12 points, two blocks, two assists and four rebounds in the loss. Stupka finished with seven points with three assists and two rebounds.
For Richardson it was surreal being on the court today. He’s made it as an assistant but to lead the school he loves to the state tournament, it’s special for him.
“I can remember when we won our first state championship, when I was at Wichita heights,” he said. “I remember leaving here and walking outside and just giving coach our hug and saying, this is why I want to do this, not because we won, but just what the game of basketball does, what coaching does when you see the look in the kids eyes and to be to work with an amazing group of kids that buy into what you want them to do, and it gets you to where you want to be. I’m very fortunate and blessed to position to be in.”
The Jaguars season may be over for a group that was very successful on and off the court. Many of the seniors who helped Central make the state tournament also won a football title. They’re going to be pretty solid at baseball, too.
“When I kept nine seniors, probably everybody and their mother thought, what is he doing?,” Richardson said. “That’s what we’re doing. How do you cut those guys? They’re fearless and determined.”
“At the end of the day, we fell short so proud of these guys. That’s why they won a state championship in football and they’re going go do some damage in baseball, too.”
They will have to replace a bulk of their scoring but Central should expect a big influx of size from their freshman class. Carter Inslee will step into a starting position. CJ Allen continues to make strides and coach Richardson said he’s excited to see him next season. Jack Ralston will be able to show some size at 6-7.
“We have a foundation now that we didn’t have when I arrived,” Richardson said. “We only had one returning player from varsity at the time and he wasn’t my point guard. I had to make him my point guard. Now, we’ve got Carter Inslee, who anyone will say he gets down hill better than anyone on the team. CJ Allen, He’s really stepped up his game and we’re excited about Jack [Ralston].”
CLASS 5A BOYS STATE TOURNAMENT
WL WHITE AUDITORIUM
EMPORIA, KANSAS
Highland Park 65, Andover Central 56
AC 22 13 11 10 – 56
HP 24 9 18 14 – 65
Andover Central (14-9) 56: Brown 1-5 4-8 3-6 – 17; Degarmo 0-4 1-1 0-0 – 3; Jefferson 0-1 4-6 0-0 – 12; Meschke 1-2 0-0 1-2 – 3; Adler 5-10 0-0 2-4 – 12; Balke 1-2 0-3 0-0 – 2; Stupka 2-4 1-3 0-0 – 7. TOTALS: 10-28 10-21 6-12 – 56.
Highland Park (23-0) 65: Wilson 0-4 0-0 1-2 – 1; Hales 0-1 0-1 0-0 – 0; Kelley 7-9 0-0 0-1 – 14; Williams Jr. 5-7 7-7 2-6 – 33; Robinson 1-3 0-2 5-6 – 7; Jones 1-2 0-0 0-1 – 2; Brown 0-0 0-0 2-2 – 2; King-Cannon 3-4 0-0 0-0 – 6. TOTALS: 17-30 7-10 10-18 – 65.
