Jaret Sanchez and Shawnee Heights may want to sharpen their scissors before traveling to Emporia.

The Thunderbirds fended off St. Thomas Aquinas, 49-42, in a grudge match of a Kansas Class 5A substate final on Saturday evening at Heights. For the second straight year, Shawnee Heights topped the Saints in the substate final.

Last year, Shawnee Heights (19-3) was tripped up in the first round of state, but looks to go further this year.

“It feels great to get back to state, but this year we got to get it done for last year’s seniors,” stated Sanchez, the 6-foot-5 senior standout.

Sanchez will have to work on his net cutting should the T-Birds win the title, as during the postgame celebration, either due to dull blades or bad technique, the cutting took over a minute with jeering from teammates and onwatchers.

“I was set up!” Sanchez joked afterwards.

On the court, Sanchez stepped up with big buckets late, with a driving bucket down the middle to run out the clock at the end of the third quarter, then another drive down the lane to start the fourth for a 35-27 lead. Sanchez, who entered with a 22.3 ppg average, finished with 14 points in the contest.

The Thunderbirds built a seemingly insurmountable 37-24 lead shortly after with just over six minutes left. But Aquinas, which struggled offensively most of the night, got a bucket and two free throws from Brett Yankovich, cranked up a full-court press and got a steal and layup from senior London Burton. The Rockhurst University commit later hit a baseline floater to pull the Saints to 43-40 with over two minutes to go.

But coming down the stretch, the Saints had to foul, where Ontarious Emmot canned a perfect 6-for-6 from the line, while Aquinas couldn’t connect to pull closer.

Aquinas (14-8) struggled mightily from the floor most of the game, including going scoreless for the second quarter until Collin Smith hit two free throws with :02.7 left in the half. Yet despite no baskets from the floor for nearly 12 first-half minutes, the T-Birds led just 16-10.

The Saints hung around in the third quarter due to getting Shawnee Heights in foul trouble, and hitting 11 free throws in the period. But still only managed two buckets in the quarter, while senior Deacon Pomeroy canned a baseline three, and Emmott reeled off seven points in the quarter. Emmot finished with 15 points.

“We practiced the 3-2 zone before Christmas and coach said we’d need it sometime to win state,” Sanchez said. “We saw they struggled with zone and we knew we’d have to use it tonight.”

The Thunderbirds will face United Kansas Conference rival and last year’s state runner-up Piper (19-3) in the first round of state at 4 pm on Thursday in Emporia. Shawnee Heights hopes it trip to Emporia last year carries over to this year, as Piper beat Heights, 72-71, in the first round last season.

“That helps a lot knowing we have to play hard and through the buzzer,” Sanchez said.

St. Thomas Aquinas (42)
Smith 3 6-6 13, Burton 3 1-2 7, Yankovich 1 2-2 4, Bernart 3 5-7 12, Sabers 1 1-2 3, Renze 1 0-0 3

Shawnee Heights (49)
Cook 1 2-2 4, Pomeroy 2 1-2 7, Sanchez 6 1-4 14, Ross 2 1-1 5, Alston 1 0-0  2, Emmot 4 6-6 15, Lee 1 0-2 2. 

Three-pointers: Smith, Bernart, Renze; Pomeroy 2, Sanchez, Emmot