Early struggles hamper Blue Valley West boys in Kansas 5A state semifinal loss

A stone cold second quarter doomed Blue Valley West in its Kansas 5A boys state semifinal game against Wichita Heights on Friday at the Kansas Expocentre.

The Jaguars managed just three points in the second quarter, all on free throws by senior Connor Kaiser. That left them in a 10-point halftime hole. Despite a spirited third quarter, Blue Valley West never fully recovered and lost 53-38.

“I thought Wichita Heights really played well,” BV West coach Donnie Campbell said. “I thought their zone created some problems for us tonight. We didn’t attack like we normally do.”

BV West was hampered by missed free throws, making just 10 of 24 from the line.

“We shot free throws well all year,” Campbell said. “It was one of those nights where that’s the way it goes.”

Blue Valley West, 16-8, will play Bishop Carroll for third place at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

For a few minutes in the third quarter, it appeared the Jaguars were going to catch Wichita Heights. Senior center Blaise Gammon powered his way inside for two straight baskets at the start of the third quarter, pulling the Jaguars to within six points at 28-22.

And sophomore point guard Michael Chalupa hit a three-pointer at the top of the key, slicing Wichita Height’s lead to 30-25.

“We made a little run to start the second half, but it never came to fruition,” Campbell said.

Blue Valley West got no closer after that. The dagger fell just before the third-quarter buzzer, when Wichita Heights senior Chris Lowe threw up a desperation shot that went in. It sent the Falcons into the fourth quarter with a 37-27 lead.

This story was originally published March 13, 2015 at 10:29 PM with the headline "Early struggles hamper Blue Valley West boys in Kansas 5A state semifinal loss."