SM East boys rise to third-place challenge

The end of a boys basketball season, in which Shawnee Mission East claimed a share of the Sunflower League title, returned to the state tournament and reached the Kansas Class 6A semifinals, came less than 15 hours after a stinging defeat.

The Lancers lost their semifinal contest to Wichita Southeast, playing the late game last Friday night in Emporia. At noon on Saturday, they were back on the court for one more game, and they made it count.

SM East punctuated a successful season with a 53-51 win over SM Northwest in the 6A third-place game. The Lancers finish the season 18-7 and with their second-best state finish in coach Shawn Hair’s 13 seasons.

“They had always risen to the challenge all season. They had always responded,” Hair said afterward. “This was probably the most difficult challenge. … We had a lot of tears in that locker room (Friday) because they wanted to have a chance to play for a state title.”

After losing to Wichita Southeast in the semifinals, though, the Lancers found a way to close their season with one more win. It was a season in which they won more games than many probably expected.

“This is pretty meaningful because we came from nowhere,” said senior Curran Darling, who scored the game-winner off a rebound before the buzzer last Saturday. “We had no recognition, no respect coming into the season. I think (we) really came out and proved ourselves.”

SM East, relying on its balance from the first game to the last, earned the best state finish of any Kansas City area 6A boys team.

“We were just playing for pride,” Hair said. “… It’s big for our kids obviously, big for our school, big for our community to take third place. It’s great. It says a lot about our program.”

submitted by RYAN YOUNG - 2009-03-19 20:11:02

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