High school basketball preview: Heights Falcons (+video)
Schedule
December – 4, at Kapaun; 8, West; 11, at Northwest; 15, North; 19, at South.
January – 5, Southeast; 8, East; 12, at Carroll; 14, 15 or 16, TBA at Koch Arena; 19, Kapaun (G); 21-23, at Dodge City Tournament (B); 26, Kapaun (B); 29-30, at Topeka Tournament (G).
February – 2, at West; 5, Northwest; 9, at North; 16, South; 19, at Southeast; 23, at East; 25, Carroll.
Boys
Coach: Joe Auer, 20th season
Last season: 21-4, won 5A
Top players
Davon Gill, 6-7, sr., F
Marquis McCray, 6-2, sr., G
Davis Bahner, 6-4, sr., F
Aaron Williams, 6-3, sr., F
Nine wins from becoming the City League’s winningest coach, Auer enters his 20th season as a man with a clear focus of what the past, present and future mean to him.
“I feel great,” Auer said. “I’m blessed. What a great way to make a living and what a great place to be at.”
Fresh off his fifth state championship, Auer brings back enough talent to think the Falcons could be a contender in Class 5A again. And, with 309 wins, Auer’s almost certain to pass Carl Taylor’s record of 318.
“I’m honored to be in this position,” Auer said. “And it will be an honor to pass Carl. I think that moment could be emotional, sure, because when we moved here, we didn’t know a soul. And there have been so many great people that it will represent that have touched our lives.”
Gill and Bahner return as starting forwards. Gill averaged 12.2 points and 6.8 rebounds and was dominant in the post down the stretch. Bahner averaged 3.6 points and 4.3 rebounds, and those numbers jumped to 8.5 points and 6.0 rebounds in the state tournament.
“Our athleticism last year, our strength was off the bounce with Semaj Hervey and Chris Lowe, who were probably the best guard combo in the state,” Auer said. “This year, it’s more about our length, and our ability to rebound and defend. Hopefully cause a lot of defensive havoc.”
Girls
Coach: Kip Pulliam, 11th season
Last season: 13-9
Top players
Analyss Benally, 5-8, sr., G
Athena Alvarado, 6-0, sr., F
Samauria Powell, 5-10, sr., F
Tenia Lowe, 5-4, jr., G
Trinity Conley, 5-9, so., G
It’s been two seasons since Heights last played for a state championship – or was in the state tournament – losing to South in the 2013 Class 6A title game that kicked off the Titans’ run of three straight titles.
The Falcons and Pulliam, who coached 6A titleists in 2011 and 2012, have a team that could propel them back to the state’s elite.
“These kids started playing together when they were freshmen,” Pulliam said. “Now, they’ve got a chance to do something big this year. We haven’t spent as much time teaching ... we’ve just hit the ground running, and we can do more things.”
The Falcons are led by senior guard Analyss Benally, a San Jose State signee who averaged 10.8 points. In the post, 6-foot senior forward and Pittsburg State signee Athena Alvarado averaged 11.2 points and 8.2 rebounds.
“They play well together,” Pulliam said. “They feed off of each other, and they’ll be counted on to be the leaders. And there’s plenty of others on the bench, so we can go 10-12 deep this year.”
Tony Adame
This story was originally published November 30, 2015 at 9:34 AM with the headline "High school basketball preview: Heights Falcons (+video)."