Highland Park spoiled Senior Night for the Emporia High Spartan and Lady Spartan basketball teams Friday night.
The Lady Spartans fell behind early and never recovered in a 57-44 loss. Coach Carolyn Dorsey says her team played well offensively. That did not carry over to the defensive side of the ball.
The Lady Spartans trailed 20-14 after one quarter, but the deficit went to double digits in the second quarter and Emporia High never got within less than 10 the rest of the night.
Rayanna Breshears led the Lady Spartans with 9 points, followed by Drue Davis and Taylor Milleson, who scored 8 points each. Allie Christensen added 7 points.
In the boys game, Emporia High fell behind by eight points early but rallied to trail 30-29 by halftime. They they took a 52-48 lead into the fourth quarter and expanded the lead to 8 points early in the fourth, only to see Highland Park tie the game less than 90 seconds later. Highland Park won the game 66-64. Spartan Coach Beau Welch called that the deciding point of the game.
Emporia High almost had five players score in double figures Friday. Dylan Farr and Jake Stewart each had 14 points to lead the way. Ja’Len Carter added 13 and Jay Wilson had 11. Brent Hastert chipped in 9 points.
There’s not much turnaround time before the last game of the regular season as Emporia High travels to Topeka High in a doubleheader originally set for Tuesday. Bad weather forced two postponements — one from Tuesday to Wednesday and the other from Wednesday to Saturday. Game times are 1 and 3 pm.
Substate play is next week.
