Northeast News
February 21, 2012

After winning their first Interscholastic League championship in five seasons, the Northeast High School varsity boys’ basketball team will now set their sights on claiming the Class 4 District 14 championship.

The Viking boys, with a 19-4 record, will play Lincoln Prep in the district semifinals at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the Interscholastic League Fieldhouse, 6410 Swope Parkway, Kansas City, Mo. East High School – a surprise 79-42 winner over Central – will play Center in the other semifinal play at 7 p.m. on Wednesday.

The two winners of the two Wednesday district semifinal games will play in the championship game at 7 p.m. on Thursday.

To claim the Interscholastic League title, the Vikings defeated East 52-41 Tuesday (mostly on the strength of a 21-7 effort in the third quarter) and Southwest 59-48 on Friday. Northeast ended up with a 7-1 league record and Lincoln Prep was second with a 6-2 record.

This is Coach Phil Morgan’s second season at Northeast and prior to leading NEHS to a league championship, he guided the Central Blue Eagles to a league championship during the 2009-2010 school year. Throughout his career, he has coached four Interscholastic League championship teams, including two championship teams at Westport.

The Viking girls ended their season with an improved effort in a 46-33 loss against Southwest in a first-round district game on Monday. Coach Shavon Robinson helped the Viking girls finish with their best in six seasons – 8 wins and 17 losses.

In three other Monday games, the Center girls edged Central 51-42, Notre Dame de Sion girls defeated East 72-9, and Lincoln Prep boys outscored Southwest 66-45. Southwest girls outscored Northeast 46-33 and East boys beat Central 79-42.

The district tournament will resume Tuesday at the Interscholastic League Fieldhouse with two girls’ semifinal games. Southwest will play Notre Dame at 5:30 p.m. and Lincoln Prep will play Center at 7 p.m.