Varsity Kansas has introduced a new series, Moment of the Year. The series will highlight the top moment or performance from the 2017-18 high school sports season for each of the Wichita-area schools. And now, the Heights Falcons.
The City League had three state tournament representatives in 2017-18 and probably should have had a fourth.
The league was loaded with boys basketball talent, but Heights topped them all. The Falcons won the City League after splitting with Carroll and Southeast and holding steady throughout the regular season.
Heights was the epitome of consistency in 2017-18. The Falcons' most glaring loss didn't come until the Class 5A quarterfinals, 54-46 against eventual runner-up Salina Central. Their other three losses seemed to be toss-ups on paper.
Heights finished the season 19-4. The Falcons swept South, Kapaun, North, East, Northwest and West in league play and beat Maize South, Leavenworth and Hays outside of the City League.
But the dagger for the title came on one of the last days of the regular season. Heights seeked revenge against Southeast after the Buffaloes' Israel Barnes hit a late jumper to help clinch an important 69-64 early-season win.
Barnes didn't play in the reverse game, but the Falcons were dominant throughout en route to a 52-44 win that put the league out of reach for Southeast and the rest of the City League.
The Falcons' defense was stout, holding the Buffaloes to their third-lowest scoring output of the season — 23.3 points below their season average.
Seniors Devin Davis, Braxton Kirkendoll and Curtis Profit led the way for Heights in 2017-18. Together, they combined to average 31.8 points per game with Davis at the top with 14.5.
The City League title was the Falcons' second in three years.
Other Key Moments
- Heights baseball finishes fourth in Class 5A baseball. The Falcons won the City League and their regional tournament to qualify. They beat Maize 1-0 in 12 innings before losing to Carroll in the semifinals.
- Heights football clinches a 5A regional title with a 41-26 win over Newton. The Falcons were eventually bounced in the sectional round by Maize, 41-14.
- The Falcons' boys swimming and diving team comes fourth at the 5-1A meet. Heights came third in the 200-yard medley relay at 1:40.81 and fifth in the 200 free relay at 1:32.51. Junior Aidan Gantenbein won the 100 backstroke at 50.97 seconds and finished second in the 100 free at 46.47 seconds. Junior Kamren Hall came fifth in the 500 free at 4:57.60.
- Falcon wrestlers Aevodric Gilkey (145 pounds) and Dejuan Scott (195) finish fourth and fifth in their respective 5A weight classes.
- Heights freshman swimmer Cindy Broadrick came third in the girls 5-1A 100-yard butterfly at 1:00.84.
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