SM North boys win, earn rematch with Lawrence in Kansas 6A state semifinals

Perhaps it was the nerves that contributed to the Shawnee Mission North boys basketball team’s slow start at the Kansas Class 6A state tournament on Wednesday.

Coach Steve Stitzer attributed those to the Indians’ inexperience, since no one on the team had been to a state tournament.

However, a pair of back-to-back dunks by SM North’s Michael Weathers in the second quarter brought fans that traveled in five busses to their feet. It also gave the Indians the spark they needed to defeat Derby 65-51 in a quarterfinal at Wichita State’s Koch Arena.

“We had some issues there before that, but the bottom line is when they have to do it, they have been doing it,” Stitzer said. “The Weathers brothers have been coming through, but I attribute a lot of that to Nick Perez stepping up and making steals and Will Schneider, who stepped up big too.”

Michael Weathers led the team with 26 points on an 11-for-15 performance from the field. His brother, Marcus, added 23 points, with 11 rebounds and went seven-for-12 from the field.

SM North improved to 16-7 and advanced to the state semifinals, where the Indians will face Sunflower League foe Lawrence at 8:15 p.m. on Friday. Lawrence won the first matchup between the two teams, 70-66, on Feb. 17.

This story was originally published March 11, 2015 at 10:31 PM with the headline "SM North boys win, earn rematch with Lawrence in Kansas 6A state semifinals."