Random thoughts on Wichita Heights basketball

Despite the Falcon girls’ loss to Bishop Carroll Tuesday night (see game story here), Heights still has a disruptive pressure defense and a strong inside game offensively.

But, as Carroll showed, the No. 1 team in Class 6A is beatable if you can get the ball up court against their press often enough and then knock down some shots to keep Heights from running its transition offense. That’s where the Falcons get most of their points. Forced to work instead in its half-court offense, Heights is in trouble. If you can pack it in and keep Jhasmin Bowen and Kamisha Richard from hurting you too much inside, Heights hasn’t shown that it has a reliable outside shooter in the three games I’ve watched this season.

But then not many teams have the guards who can handle Heights’ press. Even Carroll’s Julia Marshall, an all-state player who has signed with Boise State, had a half dozen turnovers against the press.

As for the Heights boys, they clearly have the best player in the City League in Perry Ellis. And I wonder, especially when the Falcons are in a tight game or struggling from the outside, why they don’t make sure he gets a touch on every possession. He was often unstoppable in their overtime win over Carroll (see game story), even though he was double-teamed all night.

Maybe it has something to do with team chemistry. Heights has an otherwise veteran team, and I’m sure those players want their shots too. After all, I get the sense that even opposing players and coaches are jealous of the attention Ellis gets.