Highland Park girls basketball coach Mike Calhoun obviously is chomping at the bit to get his Lady Scots back at full strength.
But the fact that Highland Park is off to a 3-0 start without standouts Dariauna Carter and Jae'Mya Lyons could bode well for the Scots later in the season.
With Carter and Lyons, both second-team All-City picks a year ago, on the sidelines while recovering from ACL injuries, several Scot newcomers have been thrust into varsity playing time while other returners have stepped up to take on more prominent roles as team leaders.
Calhoun believes both of those things will make Highland Park stronger when Lyons and Carter are ready to return.
Despite being short-handed, the Scots have dominated their first three games, including a 61-42 win over city rival Shawnee Heights on Wednesday night.
Junior Cierra Sherman scored a game-high 23 points with five 3-pointers against the T-Birds while junior Ariyana Grassity added 11 points.
The Scots could face their biggest test thus far on Friday when Topeka West visits Highland Park for a 6 p.m. contest.
Friday's game will be the season opener for David Meseke's Chargers and it will be the Centennial League opener for both schools.
Topeka West junior Miyah Larson was a second-team All-City pick a year ago while senior Gabby Rivera was third-team All-City for the Chargers, who were 4-17.
The girls game will be followed by a 7:45 p.m. boys league game between the 0-2 Scots and Topeka West, which will be playing its first game of the year.
Highland Park is coming off a 55-53 road loss to Ottawa, with sophomore CJ Powell scoring 17 points and senior Jai'Shaun Spicer adding 11 points.
Rick Bloomquist's West team was 15-7 last season, but the Chargers graduated four senior starters off that team. Senior Korbin Kido is West's lone returning starter, but the Chargers look to reload from freshman and junior varsity teams that were a combined 34-6.
Washburn Rural improved to 2-0 with a 52-38 win over Shawnee Mission Northwest on Tuesday while Hayden opened its season with a 56-35 loss to Lawrence. Senior Carly Bachelor led Rural with 17 points and 10 rebounds while junior Kasey Hamilton added 16 points and freshman Emma Krueger 10. Junior Sophia Purcell led Hayden with 11 points against Lawrence while sophomore Rhen Calhoon added 10 points. Friday’s game will be the Centennial League opener for both schools. Game time: 6:15 p.m.
Shawnee Heights is coming off a 61-42 loss to Highland Park on Wednesday, with sophomore Adysen Burghart leading the T-Birds with 11 points. Sophomore Tatum Brown added eight points and junior Kam Wells seven. Ottawa dropped a 55-26 decision to Highland Park on Tuesday. Game time: 5:30 p.m.
Topeka High improved to 2-0 with a 72-59 non-league Tuesday night win over Kansas City-Schlagle, a Class 5A state tournament participant last season. Freshman NiJaree led the Trojans with 27 points while senior Jaryn Benning added 18 points. Junction City is coming off a 60-25 loss to Great Bend on Tuesday night. Both teams will be opening Centennial League competition. Game time: 6 p.m.
Seaman dropped a 56-54 road decision to Lansing on Tuesday in the Vikings’ season opener, with junior Chloe Carter leading the Vikings with 18 points while senior Megan Skoch added 11 points with three 3-pointers. Manhattan went 2-1 in last week’s Hays Shootout, with the Indians dropping a 48-36 decision to 5A power Aquinas on Saturday. Friday’s game will open Centennial League play for both teams. Game time: 6 p.m.
Washburn Rural posted its second straight decisive non-league victory, taking a 67-44 home decision over SM Northwest on Tuesday. Seniors Jordan White and Savian Edwards scored 15 and 12 points for the Junior Blues while junior Drew Bortz scored a career-high 11 points. Hayden, last year’s 4A Division II state champion, will be opening its season. Senior Levi Braun leads the Wildcats as Hayden’s lone returning starter. Friday will be a Centennial League game for both schools. Game time: 7:45 p.m.
Shawnee Heights was off Tuesday after romping past United Kansas Conference foe DeSoto in the T-Birds’ season opener last Friday. Sophomore Harvey Davis Jr. and senior Isaiah Bonjour both scored 14 points for Heights against DeSoto while junior Marquez Barksdale added 12 points. Ottawa beat Highland Park 55-53 on Tuesday, with Kobe Johnson scoring 18 points and Jayson Brown adding 12 points with three 3-pointers. Game time: 7:45 p.m.
Seaman opened its season Tuesday with a 68-47 non-league win at Lansing, with seniors Kobe Bonner and Trey Duffey scoring 27 and 15 points for the Vikings. Manhattan went 2-1 in last week’s Hays Shootout, winning its first two games before dropping a 60-55 decision on Saturday to Millwood, Okla. Both the Indians and Vikings will be opening their Centennial League schedule on Friday. Game time: 7:45 p.m.
Note: Topeka High will continue play in the Leavenworth tournament, facing Raytown South (Mo.) at 4 p.m.