When It Counted, the Big Names Delivered: Tuesday in Kansas City

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What could have been the biggest night of high school basketball in the metro this season delivered plenty of dramatic finishes and impressive performances. Below, I'll recap the area's top games and spotlight the players who took over the night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Shawnee Mission South 55, Olathe North 54</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>What felt like two games in one unfolded on the floor, with Shawnee Mission South controlling the opening half and Olathe North taking charge for much of the second. The Raiders set the tone early by spreading the floor and creating constant matchup problems for the Eagles, particularly in ball-screen actions and five-out sets that were difficult to cover.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='2205710' first='Conor' last='Kerrigan'], who finished with 25 points, put his full offensive arsenal on display. He consistently attacked the rim with power, playing through contact and getting downhill where he was most effective operating off two feet. Kerrigan also capitalized at the free-throw line, creating easy scoring opportunities, and added another layer by popping out to space and knocking down shots from deep, making him an extremely tough cover throughout the night.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Still, it was Ben Allen who delivered the decisive moment for the Raiders, knocking down the game-winning midrange jumper with 23 seconds remaining to seal the victory.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>For Olathe North, the night belonged to [player_tooltip player_id='2958641' first='Sam' last='Simmons Jr']. He led the Eagles with an impressive 34 points and made his presence felt all over the floor. Simmons played at a relentless pace, flying from end to end while pairing dynamic scoring with impactful defensive plays. This may have been his best performance in an Eagles uniform, as he showcased unlimited shooting range and connected on a high volume of three-pointers, both off the catch and off the dribble. He also pushed the ball in transition and thrived in late-clock situations, getting defenders on his hip and finishing with a variety of in-between shots in the paint.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>The game served as clear confirmation that both teams are firmly in the mix for a state title and, regardless of classification, may very well be the top two teams in the state.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Blue Valley Northwest 54, Blue Valley 52</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Two more teams firmly in the 6A title conversation on the Kansas side went toe-to-toe Tuesday night in a hard-fought battle that came down to the final seconds. Blue Valley Northwest needed every bit of the clock to escape with the win, as the two teams traded big basket after big basket for nearly the entire fourth quarter.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Both squads showcased the depth and talent on their rosters, getting strong two-way contributions from their cores and adjusting well to different situations throughout the night. However, when the game was on the line, it was [player_tooltip player_id='2234471' first='Enoch' last='Rodriguez'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1530221' first='Ayden' last='McGibboney'] who rose above with timely, game-altering plays.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Rodriguez continued to build on an impressive recent stretch, shooting the ball efficiently from beyond the arc while also attacking the rim with confidence. He looked poised with the ball in his hands, embraced the responsibility of making plays late in the game, and played with visible passion. Even when he wasn't scoring, he made his presence felt by being disruptive on the defensive end and consistently impacting the flow of the game.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Ultimately, though, it was McGibboney who delivered the final blow, knocking down the game-winning shot as time expired. Once again, he proved to be the steady leader of a Blue Valley Northwest team that already boasts an impressive list of wins and appears capable of competing with — and beating — anyone they face the rest of the way.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Lee's Summit 70, Staley 69</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Another marquee matchup, this time on the Missouri side, featured Lee's Summit traveling to Staley in a meeting of two teams that believe they can make a deep postseason run this spring. The game see-sawed throughout, with each team making runs and the other responding, and it never felt out of reach for either side at any point.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='2114720' first='Kenison' last='Stone'] was electric off the bounce, relentlessly attacking Lee's Summit defenders and blowing by them on his way to the rim. He finished on both sides with impressive touch and body control, and his suddenness with the ball consistently put pressure on the defense and forced rotations. Stone also made his presence felt on the glass, creating extra opportunities around the rim, while his nonstop motor showed on the defensive end as he covered ground all over the floor.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>For Lee's Summit, [player_tooltip player_id='2534722' first='Keller' last='Daugherty'] once again led the way, imposing his size and length throughout the night. He was effective crashing the boards and punishing the Falcons on the interior, and he also flashed a quick first step, attacking from the perimeter and generating contact as he got to the basket.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>The second half and overtime saw two more players rise to the moment. [player_tooltip player_id='2966429' first='Kameron' last='Johns'] caught fire from beyond the arc for Lee's Summit, while [player_tooltip player_id='2334971' first='Jackson' last='Smith'] took control in the paint for Staley, using his strength and relentless effort to finish through traffic and earn repeated trips to the free-throw line.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>In the end, Lee's Summit pulled out the win in overtime, but don't be surprised if these two teams cross paths again — potentially in a postseason matchup with everything on the line.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list -->