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By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Hayden entered Friday's Class 3A state semifinal against Santa Fe Trail without injured senior Kade Mitchell, one of its top players on offense, defense and special teams.

But Mitchell's teammates quickly picked up the slack, none more than junior Mason Becker, as Hayden rolled to its third straight state title game appearance with a 46-0 home romp past previously-unbeaten Santa Trail.

Hayden's seniors celebrate the Wildcats' Class 3A sub-state championship after Friday's 46-0 win over Santa Fe Trail. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

Taking over for Mitchell at halfback, Becker rushed for 201 yards on 14 carries, including touchdown runs of 53 and 65 yards, while also kicking a 25-yard field and three of three extra points and completing a 2-point conversion pass, as Hayden reeled off its 12th straight victory.

Hayden junior Mason Becker ran for 201 yards and a pair of touchdowns in Friday's 46-0 Class 3A semifinal victory over Santa Fe Trail. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN] 

"Kade's a good player, he's a competitor out there, but Mason's grown into it,'' Hayden coach Bill Arnold said. "He's got some speed and he does a really, really good job of reading the blocks in front of him, probably better than anybody else on the team, honestly.

"I'm proud of them. We've got some good players out here that are in a situation where they've got seniors in front of them with the experience. They're all getting better and we've still got some room for growth, so we hope this next week we get some good practices in.''

Becker played running back earlier in his carrier, which helped make filling in for Mitchell an easy transition.

"I like it,'' Becker said. "I don't care. I can play anywhere, it doesn't matter to me.''

Hayden senior Jackson McGivern (36) scored the game's first touchdown in Friday's 46-0 win over Santa Fe Trail. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

After recovering Santa Fe Trail's onsides kick attempt to open the game, Hayden scored the only touchdown it would need on a 10-yard run from senior Jackson McGivern just 1:46 in the first quarter.

Hayden senior Makhi Kidd (5) celebrates his 28-yard TD reception from Connor Hanika in Friday's 46-0 win over Santa Fe Trail. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

An interception from senior Logan Saenz set up a one-play Wildcat scoring drive, a 28-yard TD strike from senior quarterback Connor Hanika to senior Makhi Kidd followed by a 2-point conversion to put Hayden in front 14-0.

After taking over on downs after Santa Fe Trail made a rare drive into Hayden territory, Becker burst loose for his 53-yard TD two plays later and hit junior Daniel Moore for a 2-point conversion and the rout was on.

"That was a big momentum switch,'' Becker said. "I saw the seam and I just went and scored.''

Hayden forced a Santa Fe Trail punt on the Chargers' next possession and senior Jude Krentz scored from a yard out (Becker kick) to cap the Wildcats' 29-point first-quarter onslaught with 10 seconds remaining.

The Wildcats tacked on Becker's 25-yard field goal with 38 seconds left in the half to put Hayden in command 32-0 at the break.

Krentz scored his second touchdown of the night on a 15-yard run midway through the third quarter before Becker ended the scoring on his 65-yard TD with 5:05 remaining, forcing a running clock the rest of the way.

Senior Julion Daniels led 11-1 Santa Fe Trail with 59 rushing yards on 14 attempts while junior Trevin Cox, one of three quarterbacks used by the Chargers, passed for 104 yards.

Santa Fe Trail starting quarterback Rigley Sleichter did not return after being injured in the first half.

With Friday's win Hayden advances to face 12-0 Andale, a 41-7 winner over Rock Creek, in the 3A championship game for the second straight season.

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By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Washburn women's basketball made a splashing debut inside the new Lee Arena on Friday night, cruising to a 70-47 win over Southwest Baptist in the opening day of the Washburn Classic.

Washburn senior Yibari Nwidadah led the way with 19 points and eight rebounds as the Ichabods rolled to a 23-point win over Southwest Baptist Friday night. [File photo/TSN]

The Ichabods will wrap up the tournament on Saturday, facing Metropolitan State of Denver at 4 p.m.  

The first seven points in Friday game came from 2-1 Washburn, starting with a 3-pointer by Payton Sterk on the first possession.

Washburn held the Bearcats (1-2) scoreless until the 5:49 mark in the first quarter.

After Southwest Baptist got within five Washburn scored 10 points in a row, going up 22-7 after Aniah Wayne knocked down a trey. Behind an 8 of 14 shooting effort the Ichabods built a 22-10 lead after one.  

A layup by senior Yibari Nwidadah with 2:29 to go before half put Washburn up 37-18, its largest lead of the game to that point. The Bearcats finished the half on a 7-2 run to go into the break down by 14.  

Out of the break the Ichabods quickly pushed the lead back up to 19 with Britany Kogbara scoring on the inside. Washburn's defense stepped up in the third, holding Southwest Baptist to just 4 of 14 shooting in the quarter. Nwidadah got a buzzer-beating and-one conversion to go, wrapping up the quarter by extending the Ichabod lead to 20 at 54-34 with her free throw.  

The first nine points in the fourth came by Washburn, with the lead reaching 30 points after Gabi Giovannetti drilled a 3-pointer on an assist by Brooke Gomez with 5:50 to play.

All 14 Ichabods logged action on the night as the Ichabods eased into the 23-point win.

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By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

The No. 2-ranked Washburn Ichabods will be back on the road Saturday as they travel to Liberty, Mo. to face the William Jewell Cardinals at 3 p.m.

Bryson Smith scored 22 points, including the go-ahead basket, in Washburn's 85-81 win over Rockhurst Wednesday night. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

Washburn enters the game 5-0 after topping Rockhurst 85-81 on Wednesday in Lee Arena.

William Jewell is coming off a 77-72 win over Emporia State on Wednesday and is 2-1 this season.

With Wednesday's win over the Hawks, the Ichabods improved to 40-1 all-time in their home openers, including 35 straight wins.

Junior guard Jack Bachelor, a Washburn Rural product, leads the nation in 3-pointers made with 16 and sophomore Dillon Claussen is eighth in the nation in double-doubles with two. Claussen is also 13th in the nation in field goal percentage at 78.4 and eighth in total rebounds with 40.

Jeremiah Jones leads the nation in total steals with 18 and is ranked 13th in steals per game at 3.60 per contest.

Justice Sutton leads William Jewell in scoring with a 17.7 scoring average.

Isaac Patterson is scoring 14.7 points per game with a team-high 7.0 rebounding average and Kyle Scharbrough is scoring 12.7 points a game.

The Ichabods lead the William Jewell series 14-7 after winning 81-73 last season in Topeka.

The Ichabods have lost their last two games played in Liberty, with their last win coming on Dec. 1, 1988 in a 76-58 win.

Washburn turned a five-point deficit with 2:29 to play into Wednesday's four-point win over Rockhurst.

The Ichabods outscored the Hawks 11-2 to end the game, led by Smith's driving layup with 51 seconds remaining to give the Ichabods a 81-79 lead.

After a key defensive stop, Tyson Ruud hit a free throw to extend the WU lead to three and Sam Ungashick came up with a steal in the final seconds and sank two free throws with three seconds left to seal the win.

Smith led the Ichabods with 22 points, four rebounds and five assists. Bachelor added 17 points and three assists and Claussen scored 12 points, seven rebounds and four assists.

Ruud came off the bench for 13 points and six rebounds.

Washburn returns home to face Friends on Tuesday and will host Ottawa next Saturday.