Timmons erupts for 43 points to tie Wichita Heights basketball scoring record
Jalihn Timmons walked into rare air this past Friday night, the kind reserved only for Wichita Heights royalty.
In a program that has produced All-Americans and NBA talent like Darnell Valentine, Antoine Carr, Aubrey Sherrod and Perry Ellis, it was the 6-foot-1 senior guard who authored one of the greatest single-game scoring performances in school history. Timmons erupted for 43 points in an 82-63 road win over Andover Central, tying the program record and stamping his name into the record books.
The record-tying mark matched the 43 points scored by C.J. Martin in an 70-37 win over Wichita South on Dec. 15, 1998. Before that, the gold standard belonged to Valentine and Sherrod, who each scored 41 in a game during their decorated careers.
“It is a big deal, but if you were to ask Jalihn, he would just smile and say it was a special night, but you wouldn’t get much more out of him,” Heights coach Gary Thomason said. “He’s a pretty humble, quiet guy. He has this silent determination about him and that’s what I’ve really enjoyed this season.”
Considering the circumstances, Timmons’ outburst was needed to win.
Heights entered the game shorthanded without two starters in Timmons’ younger brother, Jordan, and first cousin, Jorelle Hadley, both sidelined by injury. With two key pieces out, the offensive burden naturally shifted to the senior lead guard.
That aggressive mindset was reflected in his shooting volume, as Timmons converted 17 of his 35 shots, including four 3-pointers. He went 13-of-19 inside the arc, to go along with seven rebounds, two assists and three steals. His scoring balance was impressive: downhill drives, transition finishes, pull-up jumpers and deep, contested 3s.
The night didn’t begin like a record one, as Heights trailed 35-33 at halftime with Timmons sitting at just seven points.
He opened the second half with a steal and coast-to-coast layup. A smooth pull-up jumper followed. Then came another transition finish and a tough step-back. Once he saw a couple go down, he sidestepped well behind the line and buried a deep 3. Moments later, he hit another. Layups followed. By the time the third quarter ended, Timmons had detonated for 18 points on 8-of-10 shooting.
The heater only intensified in the fourth.
Facing a zone, he drilled a deep 3 with two hard contests closing out on him several feet beyond the arc. On the next possession, he grabbed the defensive rebound himself, pushed the ball up the floor, went between his legs, sidestepped the defender and rose into a rhythm 3 that splashed cleanly. The Jaguars called timeout, but the damage was done: A close game had been blown up with Heights up 63-48 early in the fourth.
Timmons eventually tied the record at the foul line, knocking down three straight free throws late to reach 43 and seal both the win and his place in history.
“He has such a quick first step, he can get in and then extend going to the basket,” Thomason said. “He is just so fast. He can take one dribble from the 3-point line and next thing you know he’s at the rim.”
Timmons is averaging 20.9 points per game to go along with 4.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.8 steals, emerging as the clear engine for a Heights team that is 13-2 this season, ranked No. 3 in Class 6A and sits atop the 6A West standings.
After playing a supporting role last season alongside college-bound talent like Chase Robinson and Amalachi Wilkins, Timmons entered this winter as the most experience returner. He has shown plenty capable of shouldering the load as the No. 1 option in his senior year.
“We ask him to do everything for us,” Thomason said. “He’s our primary ball handler. He gets us into our shapes. He’s an excellent on-ball defender. He does it all.”
The record night wasn’t even his only dramatic takeover lately.
In the January Jam tournament against Mill Valley, Timmons was held to 10 points entering the fourth quarter, with Heights facing a 17-point, second-half deficit. He exploded for 15 points in the final period to fuel a comeback win. With Heights down nine in the final four minutes, he drilled a deep 3, added two free throws to tie the game at 54, then used a screen to pull for another deep 3 that put the Falcons ahead 57-56 with 1:46 remaining. It proved to be the winning basket in a 58-56 win.
What made it even more impressive is that it came a day after Timmons requested out of a game because he was feeling so ill, something his coach had never seen before.
“When he said he couldn’t go, it was like, ‘Wow,’” Thomason said. “Because if you were to take basketball away from him, part of him would cease to exist. That’s how much he loves to compete and he loves the game.”
They are just the latest in a growing list of clutch performances, which also included a 31-point explosion against East, 29 in a ranked win over Maize and 26 against Southeast.
Timmons has helped steady Heights through a coaching transition, teaming with junior big man Tyson Phillips, his brother, Jordan, Ahjaylyn Walker and Hadley to keep the Falcons in the 6A title chase as the program has shifted from legendary coach Joe Auer to Thomason, his longtime assistant. With Timmons leading the way, the Falcons are showing they’re still as much of a threat as ever.
“The one thing about this group is that they’ve always been able to compete with anybody,” Thomason said. “I think (this season) has told a lot of people around the state that Wichita basketball is pretty good.”
This story was originally published February 3, 2026 at 6:01 AM.
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