Lee’s Summit West beats Sumner Academy at the Hy-Vee Shootout

By TOD PALMER

The Kansas City Star

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Every time Lee’s Summit West found itself in trouble Thursday against two-time Kansas 4A state champion Sumner Academy,somebody stepped up.

And almost every time, it was somebody different, which goes a long way toward explaining how the Titans have burst from the season’s starting gate with six victories in six games after a 77-68 win at the Hy-Vee Shootout at Avila University.

“It’s a luxury to have so many kids who can take over stretches of the game,” Broncos coach Mike Schieber said. “But these kids have a lot of faith in one another, and they know they can all make plays.”

Late in the first quarter, which started with the Sabres exploding to a 13-3 lead behind 5-foot-10 senior guard Benny Parker, it was junior Trevor Gregory who led the LS West charge.

Gregory scored five points during a 7-0 run that put the Titans up 16-15 lead at the end of the quarter.

When Parker, who signed with Nebraska during the November signing period, powered Sumner, 3-2, back into the lead by halftime, it was senior guard Nathan Jackson who brought LS West back with a third-quarter flurry.

Jackson, who finished with a team-high 19 points, scored eight in the third during a 12-0 run that turned a four-point deficit into a 50-42 lead.

But those performances merely set the stage for sophomore Monte Harrison in the fourth quarter after Marcus Allen tied the game at 52-52 for Sumner.

Harrison swished a deep three from the wing and powered down a transition dunk while absorbing contact during the game’s decisive 8-2 run.

“My brother (Shaq Harrison) was calling for an oop, but I thought to myself, Nah, I’ve got to take this one,” Harrison said. “… I just jumped as high as I could and threw it down. But I was kind of surprised I got it down, to tell you the truth.”

By the time Harrison was done — he completed the three-point play and added another layup — LS West was in front 60-54 and led by at least six the rest of the way.

“This win is at the top,” said Harrison, who finished with 12 while older brother Shaq, a 6-3 senior, pumped in 17 points. “They were a very good team and came out strong. Benny Parker is so fast, and it seemed like he made everything he put up.”

Perhaps easing the blow a bit, Parker, who scored a game-best 23 points, was awarded a $1,000 scholarship by Hy-Vee after the loss.

Lee’s Summit North 65, Harmon 52

LS North pulled away late in the first quarter and never led by fewer than five points during the last three periods.

Senior Will Harrington, a 6-foot-2 guard, had 18 points, nine rebounds and seven assists for the Broncos, 6-2.

Senior Matt Ellwood and junior Tyler Anderson added 11 points apiece in the win.

The Hawks, 2-3, got a game-best 24 points and nine assists from senior Branden Roark, who also grabbed five boards and had three steals.

Washington 61, Raytown 39

Washington’s players followed coach Eric King’s plan, jumping all over Raytown in the first quarter.

The Wildcats scored the first 12 points and led 22-9 by the end of the first. DeAndre King and Dominique Wilson, a 6-9 center, combined for 16 points in the first quarter.

Wilson finished with 22 points, and King added 12.

Yet it was Washington’s defense that really put the hurt on Raytown. The Wildcats forced 25 turnovers.

Trent Richardson and Jamie Nix led Raytown with nine points apiece.