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Top-ranked Ichabods set to host rival Emporia State Wednesday night
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The newly-minted No. 1-ranked Washburn University Ichabods will host Emporia State on Wednesday night in Lee Arena at 7:30 pm in the second meeting between the Turnpike Tussle rivals in the last 11 days.
Brett Ballard's Washburn Ichabods, off to a perfect 15-0 start, earned No. 1 spot in the national ranking on Tuesday, WU's first No. 1 since 1992. [File photo/TSN]
Senior Michael Keegan (left) has climbed to No. 7 all-time on Washburn's career steals chart. [File photo/TSN]
The Ichabods improved to 15-0 overall and 6-0 in the MIAA after blasting Northwest Missouri 96-66 in a 30-point win last Saturday while the Hornets are 4-11 overall and 1-5 in the MIAA after falling 69-67 at home to Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday. Washburn defeated Emporia State 105-77 on Jan. 4 in Emporia in the second-largest victory margin in series history.
The Ichabods were last ranked No. 1 in the nation on Jan. 27, 1992. Playing as the No. 1-ranked team in the nation in the NCAA ranks, the Ichabods are 3-2, topping Central Missouri Jan. 15 in their first game as the No. 1 team before falling to Pittsburg State on Jan. 18 by one. After going 2-0 the following week with wins over Emporia State and Missouri Western, the Ichabods moved back into the top spot on Jan. 27, 1992 and topped Fort Hays State on Jan. 27 and Northwest Missouri on Jan. 29 before falling at Truman on Feb. 1.
At 15-0 the Ichabods are off to their best start to begin a season since starting the 2003-04 season 16-0 en route to the MIAA regular-season championship. The Ichabod record for the most wins to start the season is 19 coming in the 1992-93 season.
The Ichabods are now one of two undefeated teams remaining in the NCAA Division II ranks, joining No. 2 Daemen (14-0).
Senior Andrew Orr became the 28th member of the Ichabod 1,000 point club earlier this season and he now has 1,095 career points moving into 19th on the career scoring chart. The next Ichabods ahead of Orr are Todd Alexander and Tom Carlson with 1,099 points.
Senior Jacob Hanna is closing in on 1,000 points in his collegiate career between Washburn and Illinois-Springfield and has scored 962 career points.
Rural boys drop non-conference clash with Blue Valley West
By NICHOLAS GAINEY
Special to TopSports.news
Despite a strong first-quarter performance, the Washburn Rural boys basketball team fell 52-46 to Blue Valley West in a Tuesday night non-conference game at Washburn Rural.
Washburn Rural senior Kaden Ballard scored 15 points with three 3-pointers in Tuesday's 52-46 home non-league loss to Blue Valley West. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
The visiting Jaguars held a small 5-2 advantage in the opening minutes, but the Junior Blues’ offense quickly came to life.
The hosts took back the lead with a 9-0 run that included a pair of 3-pointers from senior Kaden Ballard.
Blue Valley West would cut the lead to three, but the Junior Blues scored the final seven points of the quarter to take a 20-10 lead after eight minutes.
Washburn Rural featured intense defensive pressure, forcing six turnovers in the period.
In the second quarter, the teams were evenly matched, with the Junior Blues starting to cool off from the field.
Blue Valley West was able to cut the lead down to six, but Washburn Rural added a 3-pointer and a free throw before the break to maintain a 10-point lead heading into the locker room.
The Junior Blues lead began to dwindle in the third quarter, with the Jaguars putting together better offensive possessions and limiting turnovers.
Blue Valley West center Tyler Peterson finished a layup with a foul early in the period, knocking down the free throw to complete the 3-point play and cut the deficit to six.
The Jaguars would get back within two following a 3-pointer from Luke Goodale a few minutes later.
The teams traded baskets for the next few minutes, with Washburn Rural’s Simon Rowley knocking down a turnaround jumper from the free throw line to give the Junior Blues a 37-32 lead entering the final period.
After showing signs of life in the third quarter, Blue Valley West took control of the game in the final eight minutes.
Topeka High set to induct 2025 Sports Hall of Honor class Thursday night
By Rick Peterson
TopSports.news
Topeka High will induct its second annual Sports Hall of Honor class on Thursday in the Topeka High Student Cafeteria.
The 2025 induction class will include 15 individuals and two Topeka High teams.
The school's main and Western doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and the public is welcome.
The Sports Hall of Honor inductees will also be recognized at halftime of Friday's boys varsity basketball game against Junction City, with the game starting at approximately 7:30 p.m.
The 2025 inductees include:
John Grantham, 1962 graduate, Levi Lee (1964), Carky and Marky Alexander (1980), Glen Trammel (1985), Crystal Kemp (2002), Shara Stafford (2008), Will Geary (2013), Lee Dodson (1942), Chuck Nelson (1951), Clardy Vinson (1968), Kevin Hedberg (1970), Doshia Woods (1997), Joe Waldron (1990-2005 as staff member), Jeff Jacobsen (1969), the 1955 Trojan football team and the 1974 Trojan girls track team.
