By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
GIRLS
WASHBURN RURAL vs. TMP-MARIAN
At Hays Shootout
Senior Brooklyn DeLeye is a top returner for Washburn Rural after helping lead the Junior Blues win the Class 6A state title last season. [File photo/TSN]
Washburn Rural will open defense of its Class 6A state championship with three games in three days in the Hays Shootout. The Junior Blues, who are coming off a 23-2 season, will take on Thomas More Prep-Marian in Thursday's opening round at 3 p.m., with the winner advancing to a 6:30 p.m. semifinal on Friday to face the winner of the first-round game between tournament host Hays and Newton. The tournament championship game will be played at 5 p.m. on Saturday. Top returners for the Junior Blues include seniors Brooklyn DeLeye and MaRyah Lutz and junior Zoe Canfield. DeLeye averaged 11.8 points and 7.0 rebounds last season while Canfield averaged 10.8 points and hit ?? 3-pointers and Lutz averaged 5.5 points and hit 23 3-pointers. Canield shot 47.5 percent from 3-point range and 84.8 percent from the free throw line.
Topeka High senior Kiki Smith is back to lead the Trojans after being named the Shawnee County and Centennial League player of the year last season. [File photo/TSN]
TOPEKA HIGH at WAMEGO
Topeka High will begin the Brittney Redmond era in Thursday's 6 p.m. season-opener at Wamego. Redmond, a Topeka High graduate, takes over for Hannah Alexander, who accepted the head coaching position at Andover after leading the Trojans to four straight Class 6A state tornament berths, with a pair of state runner-up finishes. Senior Kiki Smith returns to lead High after being named the Shawnee County and Centennial League player of the year last season. Smith averaged 18 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 4.1 steals as a junior while connecting on 49 3-pointers. Smith earned first-team All-Class 6A honors from the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association. Senior Adisyn Caryl received All-Shawnee County Second 10 honors last season, averaging 8.4 rebounds and shooting 56 percent from 2-point range.
CAIR PARAVEL LATIN vs. WAVERLY
At Burlingame
Cair Paravel Latin will play three straight games in the Burlingame tournament, opening on Thursday with a 6 p.m. game against Waverly. The Lions will have to replace leading scorer Jaley Barkley (15.4 points per game), now playing at Sterling. Sophomore Gracie Babbitt averaged 5.3 points and 5.4 rebounds as a freshman while junior Allison Schwarz averaged 3.6 points and 5.2 rebounds last season. Cair Paravel will play a 6 p.m. game on Friday against host Burlingame before losing out its tournament appearance with a 10 a.m. Saturday contest against Northeast Kansas Homeschool.
BOYS
TOPEKA HIGH at WAMEGO
Topeka High grad Geo Lyons makes his debut as the Trojans new coach in Thursday's 7:30 p.m. season-opener at Wamego. Lyons, who came back to his alma mater after serving as Kansas City-Schlagle's head coach, is Topeka High's third head coach in three years, taking over for Ty Baumgardner, who led the Trojans to a 4-17 record a year ago. Topeka High suffered a blow in preseason when 6-foot-6 junior BJ Canady opted not to go out this season to deal with a foot injury. Top returners for the Trojans include senior Mason Gomez and juniors Bryson Thrasher and Isaiah Lyons. Gomez had 24 points and seven 3-pointers in a win over Emporia while Thrasher had 23 points with our 3-pointers in a win over Manhattan.
CAIR PARAVEL LATIN vs. WAVERLY
At Burlingame
Former Shawnee Heights state champ and MidAmerica Nazarene standout Trey Brown takes over as head coach at Cair Paravel Latin, which will play three straight games in the Burlingame tournament, opening on Thursday with a 7:30 p.m. game against Waverly. Cair Paravel will play a 7:30 p.m. game on Friday against host Burlingame before losing out its tournament appearance with an 11:30 a.m. Saturday contest against Northeast Kansas Homeschool. Cair Paravel suffered heavy graduation losses off last season's 16-5 team and will build about several underclassmen, including juniors Simon Everhart and Evan Will.
