Wichita Heights girls basketball keeps perfect season alive with OT theatrics
Every perfect season needs a little luck somewhere along the way.
The Wichita Heights girls basketball team got its break on Tuesday, but earned every bit of it with pressure defense, a deflection and a buzzer-beating score out of chaos to win 57-55 in overtime over Kapaun Mt. Carmel.
The final sequence, with the clock dwindling in the final seconds of overtime, was the difference between an undefeated season staying alive and a signature Kapaun upset.
With the score tied at 55, Kapaun called timeout with 12 seconds left and prepared to hold for the last shot. But on the inbounds from under the basket, Heights’ pressure cracked the possession. Jocelyn Rose disrupted the catch, then senior Terri Brown deflected the entry pass and the ball spilled into a scrum in the corner.
Bodies dove on the floor. Hands reached from both teams. It was Heights freshman Aaliyah Waller who emerged with the ball.
At the same time, Ashlynn Reed recognized what was developing and leaked out. Waller kept her composure with the final seconds ticking off the clock, fired a pass ahead to Reed, whose layup went through the net as time expired, giving the Falcons a dramatic road win to keep their unbeaten season alive.
Heights, ranked No. 1 in Class 6A, improved to 21-0 overall and 15-0 in the City League with a chance to finish off a perfect regular season Thursday against Northwest. Kapaun, ranked No. 7 in Class 5A, dropped to 16-6 overall and 11-4 in league play.
For much of the night, Heights looked in real danger of taking its first loss.
Kapaun came out sharp and built a 21-8 lead early in the second quarter, but Heights steadied itself behind star Destiny Maze, who helped fuel a rally that trimmed the deficit to 27-24 by halftime.
Maze then took over key moments in the third quarter, hitting a 3 to tie the game at 29 and another 3 to tie it again at 34. Freshman Aaliyah Waller followed with a layup that gave Heights its first lead, 36-34, late in the third quarter.
But Kapaun kept answering.
McCoy Phister and Gracie Bezdek drilled 3s to push the Crusaders back in front early in the fourth, then Phister added a driving bank shot plus a free throw for a three-point play to extend Kapaun’s lead to 46-42. After Heights tied it, Kapaun junior star Zoey Buckner-Franklin scored four straight points to put the Crusaders ahead 50-46 with 3:21 remaining.
It was Heights’ turn to respond.
Maze knocked down another timely 3, then Reed delivered a huge late sequence in regulation with a spin move in the post for a basket and foul. Her three-point play put Heights ahead 52-50 with 41 seconds left.
After a timeout, Kapaun executed a well-designed set for Buckner-Franklin, who took a handoff going downhill and pulled up for the game-tying jumper with 27 seconds left.
Both teams had a chance to win in the closing seconds of regulation, as Heights missed a 3-pointer for the lead, which led to a long rebound that sparked a Kapaun fast break. Phister had a look in transition, but the shot rolled off, sending the game to overtime.
Again, both teams had chances to win it late. But it was the Falcons who came up in the clutch to preserve their dream season.
Wichita high school basketball league champions
Note: Here is a look at the full league standings.
Boys
City League: Kapaun Mt. Carmel (22-0, 15-0)
AV-CTL Div. 1: Maize South (19-4, 11-1)
AV-CTL Div. 2: Salina Central (14-8, 10-2) and Andover (13-9, 10-2)
AV-CTL Div. 3: Still up for grabs between Augusta (14-8, 7-2), McPherson (13-9, 7-2) and Buhler (13-9, 7-2). Buhler plays at Augusta on Thursday, while McPherson plays at Winfield.
AV-CTL Div. 4: Collegiate (22-1, 10-0)
Central Plains League: Cheney (16-6, 8-0)
Central Kansas League: Hesston (21-2, 8-0)
Heart of America League: Sterling (22-0, 11-0)
Girls
City League: Heights (21-0, 15-0)
AV-CTL Div. 1: Derby (20-3, 11-1) and Maize South (19-4, 11-1)
AV-CTL Div. 2: Andover (20-1, 12-0)
AV-CTL Div. 3: McPherson clinched at least a share of the title with a 48-42 win over Mulvane on Tuesday. The Bullpups (12-10, 8-1) can win it outright with a win at Winfield, while Mulvane (14-8, 7-2) can share with a McPherson loss and a win vs. Circle on Thursday.
AV-CTL Div. 4: Wellington (19-1, 9-0)
Central Plains League: Garden Plain (16-7, 8-0)
Central Kansas League: Halstead (22-0, 8-0)
Heart of America League: Moundridge (20-2, 11-0)
Wichita high school basketball scores (Tuesday, Feb. 24)
City League
Boys
Bishop Carroll 51, South 37
Kapaun Mt. Carmel 54, Heights 35
North 62, West 58
Southeast 58, East 54
Girls
Bishop Carroll 56, South 22
East 55, Southeast 48 (OT)
Heights 57, Kapaun Mt. Carmel 55 (OT)
North 46, West 19
Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail League
Boys
Andover 60, Goddard 33
Andover Central 72, Eisenhower 68
Augusta 65, Circle 37
Collegiate 54, Andale 46 (Monday)
Buhler 61, Winfield 41
Derby 60, Salina South 55
Maize 69, Hutchinson 48
Maize South 66, Campus 40
McPherson 68, Mulvane 46
Rose Hill 65, El Dorado 54
Salina Central 62, Newton 42
Valley Center 75, Arkansas City 52
Wellington 46, Clearwater 42
Girls
Andale 56, Collegiate 29 (Monday)
Andover 65, Goddard 30
Buhler 49, Winfield 35
Circle 38, Augusta 25
Derby 54, Salina South 19
Eisenhower 65, Andover Central 64 (OT)
Maize 49, Hutchinson 46
Maize South 67, Campus 31
McPherson 48, Mulvane 42
Rose Hill 44, El Dorado 41 (OT)
Salina Central 60, Newton 29
Valley Center 63, Arkansas City 36
Wellington 53, Clearwater 16
This story was originally published February 25, 2026 at 6:02 AM.
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