Perimeter-shooting Manhattan High tried to slow things down against Class 6A top-ranked Wichita Heights Thursday afternoon.
Manhattan’s tempo wasn’t to the Falcons’ liking, but it mattered little, especially when Heights has the likes of 6-foot-8 center Perry Ellis and 6-4 junior swingman Evan Wessel.
Ellis had a double-double — 20 points and 10 rebounds — and Wessel almost had a triple-double — scoring 19 points, handing out nine assists and grabbing seven rebounds, leading Heights to a 69-52 win at the Dodge City Civic Center.
Wichita Heights (7-2) takes on Hutchinson (5-2) in tonight’s semifinals at 7. Hays (8-2) plays Manhattan (3-5) today at 2 in a matinee losers’ bracket game.
Against Heights, the Indians knocked down 7 of 16 3-pointers, including 4-for-8 from Connor Brooks and 3-for-3 by Zach Nelson, but Heights countered with 8-for-17 from behind the arc and used its superior inside play to pull away.
Nelson and Brooks finished with 17 points apiece for the Tribe.
“They shot a tremendous percentage from 3,” Heights head coach Joe Auer said of Manhattan, “which they do every time we play them. We told our kids that probably won’t be able to make enough 3s to beat us, if we pay close attention defensively and rebound.
“Manhattan doesn’t play at the pace that we like to play at, or that we’re used to playing at. They had some long, long possessions.”
Terrence Moore added 12 points and five rebounds for Heights, and teammate E.J. Dobbins knocked down 3 of 4 3-pointers in the first half and totaled 11 points. Wessel and Moore each had two 3s, and Ellis had one.
“Even when they were down double-digits, they’re still sitting in a zone.” Auer said. “To score 69 points in a slow game like that, that’s a good win to start the tournament.
“That’s the unique thing about this team. They really don’t care who gets the points. Evan came out and was hot early, and we did a better job in the second half of finding Perry and he makes his free throws. Perry is very versatile.”
67th Annual Tournament of Champions
At Dodge City
Dodge City Civic Center
Thursday
Opening round
GAME 2
Wichita Heights 69, Manhattan 52
MANHATTAN
Zach Nelson 6-9 2-2 17, Connor Brooks 5-12 3-4 17, Trey Francis 0-0 0-0 0, Alec Giambrone 1-2 0-0 2, Deante Burton 0-0 0-0 0, Tyler Francis 2-3 0-0 4, AJ Stitt 2-6 0-0 4, Ryan Wilkinson 1-1 1-2 3, John Perbeck 0-0 0-0 0, Will Kern 2-4 1-4 5, Trey Connet 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 19-38 7-12 52.
WICHITA HEIGHTS
EJ Dobbins 4-9 0-0 11, Evan Wessel 7-15 3-4 19, Taylor Countee 0-1 0-0 0, Terrence Moore 4-12 2-3 12, Aaron Degraffenread 1-3 0-0 2, Jay Bradley 1-2 0-0 2, Jalen Owens 1-2 0-2 2, Keith Riley 0-2 1-2 1, Taylor Cross 0-1 0-0 0, Perry Ellis 8-12 3-3 20, Zerrance Brickhouse 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 26-60 9-14 69.
Manhattan 10 13 16 13 — 52
Wichita Heights 18 17 21 13 — 69
Three-point goals — Manhattan 7-16 (Brooks 4-8, Nelson 3-3, Stitt 0-4, Francis 0-1); Heights 8-17 (Dobbins 3-7, Wessel 2-5, Moore 2-3, Ellis 1-1, Bradley 0-1). Total fouls — Manhattan 12, Heights 10. Fouled out -- None. Rebounds — Heights 38 (Ellis 10, Wessel 7, Moore 5); Manhattan 21 (Wilkinson 5, Francis 3, Stitt 3). Assists — Manhattan 16 (Stitt 8); Heights 15 (Wessel 9). Steals —Heights 10 (Wessel 4, Dobbins 3); Manhattan 5 (Stitt 3). Turnovers — Manhattan 16, Heights 11. Blocked shots —Heights 2 (Ellis, Wessel); Manhattan 1 (Kern).
