Who won high school basketball tournaments held throughout KC metro? Weekend recap
Several high school basketball tournament titles were up for grabs over the weekend in and around the KC metro.
Here are results and recaps from the tournament championship games...
KA-MO Classic (Girls)
In a showdown of two of the KC metro’s top girls basketball teams, Staley nabbed a big win — and a tourney trophy too.
The Falcons, ranked No. 4 in the 810 Varsity Top 25 and in Missouri Class 6, topped Blue Valley North in the title game of the KA-MO tourament 58-46 on Friday night at BV North. The previously undefeated Mustangs entered as the No. 1 team in the 810 Varsity and Kansas Class 6A rankings.
“They did a great job of sharing the basketball; they made the right pass and the right read,” stated Staley coach Mike Bennett. “It took the whole team to get this done.”
Sophomore Ava Miles scored 16 points en route to being named the tournament’s most valuable player.
“It’s great, but its a team effort. All of us did amazing,” Miles said.
Sophomore Londy Parker also netted 16 for the Falcons (15-1).
Staley played from out in front from the outset, building a 29-22 halftime lead. Despite junior Jaliya Davis scoring a game-high 25 points for Blue Valley North, the Falcons kept increasing their lead behind nine 3-pointers — including five trifectas by senior Ava Pickens, who scored 15 points.
“We worked hard in practice and prepared well,” Miles added. “This gives us a great idea of what it’ll look like in the playoffs.”
North Kansas City Invitational (Boys)
For the second straight year, the student took his teacher to school.
Shawnee Mission Northwest handled North Kansas City 63-48 in the championship game of the North Kansas City Invitational on Saturday afternoon.
Cougars head coach David Birch served as an assistant coach under NKC head coach Ed Fritz from 2016-19 at Blue Valley Northwest. In their first matchup as head coaches last year, Northwest beat the Hornets 56-55 in the semifinals of the tourney.
“It’s just good for our program to see different competition,” said Birch. “And to beat another tough team in North Kansas City and (with all that) coach Fritz does, (it) says a lot about our kids.”
The Cougars, No. 3 in the 810 Varsity Top 25, jumped ahead early thanks to inside buckets from sophomore Ethan Taylor; SMNW led North Kansas City 17-7 after the first quarter.
The 7-foot Taylor hit the game-winning bucket at the buzzer in the semifinals over Grandview and was named tourney most valuable player.
Van Collins and Keaton Wagler scored 15 points apiece and also were named to the all-tournament team for the Cougars. Samuel Dada and Kameron Tate were named to the all-tourney team for North Kansas City, ranked No. 4 in the 810 Varsity Top 25.
Viking Classic (Boys)
Blue Valley North made the final of the Viking Classic look like a breeze.
The Mustangs blew the doors off Shawnee Heights with an 82-64 win on Saturday in the championship game of the boys tournament at Shawnee Mission West. Five Mustangs scored in double figures, including all-tournament honorees in seniors Jaron Lashley, Gregory Ballard and freshman Will Davis.
North notched a big win on Friday night over Olathe West, 58-43, to advance to the final. The Owls entered as the No. 4 team in Kansas Class 6A.
“I’m proud of our team for how they bounced back over the last week,” said head coach Ryan Phifer. “The EKL (Eastern Kansas League) is just so tough but prepares us well. Today was just a total team effort.”
Des Hinson scored a team-high 17 points for Blue Valley North, while Davis (14), Ballard (13), CJ Duson (12) and Lashley (10) also broke double digits.
Other boys championship games
CW Stessman Invitational (Liberty HS): Oak Park 72, Liberty 56
Summit Grill Classic (Lee’s Summit HS): Raytown 80, Lee’s Summit North 70 (OT)
Spring Hill Classic (Spring Hill HS): Olathe South 64, Junction City 55
Valley Center January Jam (Valley Center, KS): Maize South 55, Blue Valley West 43
Orange and Black Classic (Colby, KS): Olathe North 67, Beloit 49
Ralph Miller Classic (Chanute, KS): Shawnee Mission South 68, Andover Central 47
Bill Hanson Classic (Pittsburg, KS): Owasso (Okla) 52, Blue Valley Northwest 41
Other girls championship games
Tonganoxie Invitational: St. James Academy 58, Piper 33
Burlington Invitational: Silver Lake 64, Ottawa 46
Bill Hanson Classic (Pittsburg, KS): Kickapoo 44, Blue Valley Northwest 39
For scores, stats, recaps, rankings, broadcasts and more, visit 810Varsity.com.
