With as much talent and depth as the Emporia High girls have, it would seem there’s no reason for them not to be the aggressors against just about every team they play.
But on Friday night, it was Shawnee Heights taking it to the Lady Spartans, and EHS couldn’t find the response it needed. Nor could the Spartans seem to get the referees to stop blowing their whistles.
Shawnee Heights led for most of the game, and the T-Birds put EHS away during a futile fourth quarter for the Spartans to earn a surprising 55-40 victory, giving Emporia its first Centennial League loss.
“They attacked the basket, we didn’t,” EHS coach Bill Nienstedt said. “Therefore, they got to the foul line; we didn’t. ... We didn’t shoot it well, but we didn’t get anything (on) the offensive (boards), and then while we’re not getting offensive boards, we’re also getting beat in transition. I just didn’t think we played hard.
“Give Shawnee Heights credit. They come in off of two losses... they came in and just ripped us.”
Emporia (5-2, 3-1 Centennial) had trouble scoring in the post and missed some open jump shots, finishing 16-of-46 from the floor. The Spartans’ last lead came early in the second quarter, when Hilary Heinrichs drove to her left and threw in a layup to make it 15-14. Shawnee Heights responded by with back-to-back baskets, the last a 3-pointer by Sara Schreiner, to build a 19-15 lead. An Alli Armitage three off a kickout from Heinrichs brought EHS back within one, but Schreiner knocked down another trey before the half ended, helping the T-Birds build a 25-20 advantage by halftime.
Emporia stayed close in the third quarter, but could never get closer than two points. Heinrichs provided a highlight when she deflected a pass by Schreiner in the backcourt, then drove for layin to make it 31-29, and Amber Miller drove around a screen in the lane for a layup to bring in EHS within 33-31. But after that, Heights went on a backbreaking 15-0 run, leading 37-31 at the end of the third and scoring 11 more unanswered to start the fourth. Baskets by Taylor Floyd, Cassidy Downing and Cierra Ceazer got the T-Birds started in the fourth quarter, and Floyd scored inside and was fouled by Lexi Hileman on the play. Her free throw made it 48-31 with 4:56 left in the game, and EHS was all but done after that.
“We knew they had come off a two-game losing streak, and they were hungry for a win,” said Lindy Arndt, who led Emporia with 17 points. “And I think they just out-competed us. We didn’t play hard, and that just came down to that.”
There was also the matter of a glaring foul disparity that frustrated EHS. The Spartans were whistled for 22 fouls on the game, and frontliners Heinrichs, Lexi Hileman and Courtney Waldner all picked up two fouls in the opening quarter. Hileman and Heinrichs each eventually picked up their fourth foul, and Armitage fouled out with 1:09 left to play. Traveling was a popular call, too, and the Spartans were visibly frustrated by all the whistles against them.
“I wouldn’t have minded it if it was even, but when it’s not even, and it’s kind of being played one-sided...” Armitage said. “But you can’t complain about it now, since the game’s over. But I think that got us down a lot. But, nothing you can do about it.”
“They were the aggressor,” Nienstedt said. “They were the aggressor from the get-go at both ends of the floor. The team that’s back on their heels and reacting generally is going to get in foul trouble.”
Arndt was the only Spartan who shot better than 50 percent, going 7-for-13 from the floor. Armitage added 11 points and had three 3-pointers. No other Spartan had more than four points.
Ceazer led Heights (4-2, 1-2) with 15 points, Floyd had 13 and Schreiner added 12. The T-Birds shot a robust 19-of-32 from the floor and took advantage of all the fouls called on Emporia, adding 15 points at the free throw line on 24 tries.
“Some of us just didn’t give any effort and give any heart, and we lacked that majorly tonight,” Armitage said. “And they just killed us. We can’t do it like that. We gotta play with full heart, and we gotta all be into it. And if one’s out, everybody’s out, and it doesn’t work out.”
Shawnee Heights girls 55, Emporia 40
Shawnee Heights 10 15 12 18 — 55
Emporia 8 12 11 9 — 40
Shawnee Heights (4-2, 1-2) — McHenry 2-4 1-2 5, Ceazer 6-8 3-6 15, McGinnis 0-0 2-3 2, Schreiner 3-5 4-5 12, Floyd 5-9 3-3 13, Ryce 1-1 1-2 3, Downing 1-2 1-2 3, Miller 0-0 0-1 0, Maxwell 1-2 0-0 2, Sumpter 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 19-32 15-24 55.
Emporia (5-2, 3-1) — Armitage 4-12 0-0 11, Leihsing 1-3 0-0 2, Arndt 7-13 2-2 17, Heinrcihs 2-7 0-0 4, Hileman 1-2 0-2 2, VanGundy 0-3 2-2 2, Waldner 0-1 0-0 0, Scheve 0-0 0-0 0, Miller 1-4 0-0 2, Kolmer 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 16-46 4-6 40.
3-point goals — Shawnee Heights 2-3 (Schreiner 2-3); Emporia High 4-15 (Armitage 3-10, Arndt 1-2, VanGundy 0-3). Fouled out — Emporia: Armitage. Rebounds — Shawnee Heights 21 (McGinnis 7), Emporia 15 (Heinrichs 4). Total fouls — Shawnee Heights 8, Emporia 22.
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