MHS rallied from a 14-point third quarter to defeat Shawnee Mission East 52-50 in the McPherson Invitational semifinals Friday night. MHS went on a 15-0 run to take the lead and held on in the final seconds as the Lancers’ potential game-winner rimmed out.
Pierson McAtee scored 14 points for the Indians, who moved to 9-1 on the season. MHS will face tournament host McPherson in tonight’s title game. The BullPups 11-0 and ranked No. 2 in Class 4A D1. It will be a reunion for Manhattan High and former star Payton Stephens, who transferred to McPherson for his senior season.
Manhattan hasn’t beaten McPherson since 1978, and the Bullpups have won six straight in the series. It will be the Indians’ fifth appearance all-time in the title game of the McPherson Invitational. They won the tournament title in 2002 and 2008.
On the girls side, Manhattan High defeated Emporia 53-44 last night at the MHS gymnasium.
The Indians were led by Caroline Ballard, who scored 16 points. MHS led by 8 at halftime before the Spartans made a run to get within a point. But MHS controlled the game in the 4th quarter and moved to 8-2 on the year, 4-2 in league play.
