Return Trip

The Wichita Heights boys (21-1) followed up their undefeated run through the City League with a narrow sub-state championship win over Washburn Rural on Friday, 45-41. For Heights, it was an underwhelming performance offensively -- but 21 wins is difficult to argue against. It wasn't an easy route to the No. 1 seed in the Class 6A state tournament, which starts Wednesday. After losing the 6A state consolation game to East High, 73-54, their eighth loss of the season, Heights returned only two starters this season -- senior guards Dorrian Roberts and Austin Bahner. They lost their top scorer to graduation and top two bench players to transfer. Fortunately, Perry Ellis played his freshman season this year for Heights. Ellis is averaging a double-double. The schedule was difficult -- as it always is in the city. Heights beast East twice, Southeast twice and Carroll twice. They lost to Hutchinson in the first round of the McPherson tournament, but then beat Manhattan and Shawnee Mission East to finish out the tournament. SM East beat Lawrence Friday to make the 6A state tourney, so Heights' 78-60 win over them is looking strong now. And the Hutch loss is forgivable -- the Salthawks required two buzzer beaters at the end of each half to beat Heights and they ended up making the Class 5A state tournament. 6A Boys, Wednesday at Emporia No. 1 Heights (21-1) vs. No. 8 Dodge City (13-9) No. 4 SM Northwest (18-4) vs. No. 5 Goddard (18-4) No. 2 Olathe East (19-3) vs. No. 7 SM East (16-6) No. 3 Southeast (18-4) vs. No. 6 Olathe South (17-5) Dodge City Key wins: Maize (@Northwest sub-state), 50-47 Bad losses: @Manhattan, 50-55; Collegiate, 41-64; Great Bend, 54-56; Sunrise Christian, 33-38; @Liberal, 48-73 SM Northwest Key wins: @Washburn Rural, 46-42; SM East, 58-45; Olathe East, 57-40; @Aquinas, 56-49; Olathe South, 61-54 Bad losses: @Lawrence, 56-64; @Leavenworth, 46-53 Goddard Key wins: Andover Central (@Chanute Tournament), 62-54; Carroll, 50-44; Derby, 60-38 Bad losses: @McPherson, 52-77 Olathe East Key wins: Olathe South, 53-42 Bad losses: @SM Northwest, 40-57 SM East Key wins: SM Northwest, 67-59; Olathe East, 57-46; Lawrence (@Free State sub-state), 53-52 Bad losses: BV West, 40-67; Wichita Heights, 60-78 Southeast Key wins: Carroll, 65-62; Derby, 77-62; East, 83-79, East (@Derby sub-state), 72-65 Bad losses: None Olathe South Key wins: SM East, 55-54; BV West (@Blue Valley sub-state), 42-47 Bad losses: Olathe North, 53-54; Olathe Northwest, 44-55