Well, it's 10:39 p.m. on Saturday and the Topeka Expocentre has long been deserted by the throng of fans and players that packed this place a couple of hours ago. It's been a bittersweet day for Bishop Miege, which saw its girls team win the 5A state title and its boys team lose a heart-breaker in the final seconds. I've spent the last 30 minutes typing up the following recaps of today's action, so feel free to shoot me an e-mail at tpaylor@kcstar.com if you have any thoughts.

BISHOP MIEGE GIRLS 69, GREAT BEND 48

Quick Recap: The score was tied 9-9 after a close first quarter, but that's when 5-foot-9 sophomore post Shandelyn "Shaq" Stewart and senior guard Ashley Thayer started carrying water for the Stags' offensively. The two combined to score all 25 of Bishop Miege's points during a crucial second quarter in which they distanced themselves from the Panthers and took a 34-22 lead into the break.

Great Bend managed to cut its deficit to six early in the third quarter, but Miege responded with a 19-3 run that all but put the game away. Stewart (26 points) and Thayer (21 points) combined to score 14 of the Stags' 24 third-quarter points.

MVP: Much like the real Shaq at this year's NBA All-Star Game, Stewart is going to have to share the spotlight with a teammate. Thayer was huge on Saturday, making six of her seven three-point attempts and ending her high school career on a high note. 

Quick thoughts:

1. One thing that's easy to forget in the midst of Stewart and Thayer's offensive explosion is Bishop Miege's renewed commitment to defense in the second quarter. Bishop Miege coach Terry English was upset at his team's effort on that side of the ball in the first quarter and let them know about it before the second, and his team responded by holding Great Bend to 13 in each of the next three quarters.

"We talked about things in the huddle - I thought we were lazy on defense," English said, referring to his team's play in the first quarter. "We gave them too much room to drive to the basket. They didn't have a lot of outside scoring options, so we knew that's what they wanted to do. We just weren't cutting off the lanes very well. But we picked it up from there."

2. This is probably a good place to point out some notable performances from players not named Shandelyn or Ashley. Junior post Adri Maurer was limited to only seven minutes in the first half due to foul trouble, but rebounded in the second half to finish with 12 points. She was the only other Bishop Miege player in double figures. Junior guard Rosie Youngstrom didn't score, but had six assists.

3. Bishop Miege is going to be really good next year. Coach English probably doesn't want me to say that, but it's the truth. The Stags lose some key contributors in Thayer, Jessica Raplinger (who also started on the Stags' 2007 state title team) and Hannah Westhoff. However, Stewart, Youngstrom and Maurer all return next season to defend the crown.

Stewart, in particular, could be poised for a breakout season. She's still not in the shape she was before she suffered a season-ending knee injury last season, but with another offseason of conditioning, she could be terrific.

Still, they better not get too cocky. Great Bend returns a bunch of players and Aquinas (which was eliminated in the first round) returns everybody.

HIGHLAND PARK 54, BISHOP MIEGE BOYS 52

Quick Recap: When Bishop Miege led Highland Park 48-41 midway through the fourth quarter, it looked like the Stags were on their way to winning their first state title since 2001. However, you can't underestimate the heart of a champion. Highland Park knows how to win, and used an 11-2 run to take a 52-50 lead with 43 seconds left. Bishop Miege junior forward Justin McCay made two clutch free throws to tie the game with 32 seconds left, but Highland Park senior Michael Copeland made a short layup in the closing seconds to clinch the Scots' third straight title.

MVP: McCay was incredible for the Stags, scoring a game-high 17 points and pulling down a game-high 13 rebounds. Junior guard Trevor Releford (15 points, seven rebounds, four assists) was good, too. Junior guard Rodney Givens had 12, while 6-foot-8 senior center Hal Payne (six points, seven rebounds, two blocks) was a force at times.

Quick thoughts:

1. OK, I'll admit it - I was not sure Highland Park got that game-winning shot off in time. I mean, was anybody really looking at the light on the backboard while Copeland was shooting? However, Bishop Miege coach Rick Zych promptly pooh-poohed that idea, saying the refs looked at the replay and confirmed the basket was good. So much for that, I guess. 

2. The loss of Payne and Jack Brown to graduation will hurt, but the Stags return their own version of the "Big Three" (Releford, Givens and McCay) and always seem to have some capable talent on JV. I privately had some doubts about whether McCay, who is a big-time football prospect (he reportedly has a football offer from Florida), will really play basketball next season. But it appears he will return.

"It's very disappointing, but we have next year," McCay said.

3. Highland Park junior guard Rico Richardson deserves credit for a gutty performance on Saturday. Richardson, who has been battling bronchitis and had been held to a grand total of eight points in his previous two games, started the game on fire, scoring the Scots' first seven points and all of his team-high 14 by halftime. Richardson's teammates seemed to be inspired by the 5-foot-10 guard's play, and Highland Park had a 28-22 lead midway through the second quarter.