By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
WASHBURN RURAL GIRLS (7-2) vs. LIFE PREP (6-7)
At Shawnee Heights Lady Thunderbird Classic
Senior Brooklyn DeLeye and No. 3-ranked Washburn Rural will compete in the Lady Thunderbird Classic at Shawnee Heights this week. [File photo/TSN]
No. 3-ranked (Class 6A) Washburn Rural has been off since a 48-32 Centennial League win over Manhattan on Jan. 13 and will return to action in Thursday's 4 p.m. first-round game against Wichita Life Prep. Senior Brooklyn DeLeye finished with 16 points to lead Rural in its win over Manhattan while senior Chloe Carlgren added 12 points. The Rural-Life Prep winner will advance to a Friday semifinal to face No. 1-ranked (6A) Shawnee Mission South. The Rural-Life Prep loser will receive a bye into Saturday's fifth-place game in the seven-school tournament.
Senior Taylor Rottinghaus and Shawnee Heights will host the Lady Thunderbird Classic Thursday through Saturday at Heights. [File photo/TSN]
SHAWNEE HEIGHTS GIRLS (7-3) vs. WICHITA SOUTH (7-2)
Lady Thunderbird Classic
Tournament host Shawnee Heights, ranked No. 9 in 5A, will face Wichita South, No. 10 in 6A, in a 5:30 p.m. first-round game. Shawnee Heights will be looking to bounce back from back-to-back losses to state-ranked teams, including a 35-31 non-league loss to Hayden last Friday. Senior Taylor Rottinghaus led Heights with nine points against Hayden while senior Emari Doby grabbed 16 rebounds. The Heights-Wichita South winner will advance to a Friday semifinal to take on the winner of the first-round game between Hutchinson and Shawnee Mission North.
SEAMAN GIRLS (8-1) vs. SHAWNEE MISSION WEST (2-7)
At Emporia Glaciers Edge Tournament
Seaman, which regained the top spot in the KBCA Class 5A rankings this week, will open its tournament bid at 5:30 p.m. Thursday against Shawnee Mission West. The Vikings are coming off a 62-15 United Kansas Conference romp past Lansing last Friday, with freshman Maddie Gragg leading a balanced Viking attack with 19 points and seven rebounds. Junior Taylin Stallbaumer had 10 points and four steals while sophomore Anna Becker had nine points, nine assists, eight rebounds and five steals. Shawnee Mission West is coming off a 49-45 loss to Cardinal Ritter, Mo. The Seaman-SM West winner will advance to a Friday semifinal to face the winner of the first-round game between Derby and Shawnee Mission East.
TOPEKA WEST (2-8) vs LAWRENCE (8-1)
At Free State Firebird Classic
Topeka West is coming off its second win of the season, a 38-37 United Kansas Conference win over Leavenworth, and will face No. 5-ranked (Class 6A) Lawrence in a 3 p.m. first-round game Thursday in the Firebird Classic. Junior Brooklyn Alexander hit a game-winning 3-pointer for the Chargers against the Pioneers. Lawrence is coming off a 63-46 win over Spring Hill. The West-Lawrence winner will advance to a Friday semifinal against the winner of the first-round game between Blue Valley and Great Bend.
Senior Kiki Smith will lead Topeka High into this weekend's Firebird Classic at Free State. [File photo/TSN]
TOPEKA HIGH (8-3) WICHITA NORTHWEST (5-6)
At Free State Firebird Classic
Topeka High, ranked No. 7 in Class 6A, will take on Wichita Northwest in a 6 p.m. first-round game Thursday in the Firebird Classic. Topeka High has been off since a 60-25 win over Hayden on Jan. 13. Trojan senior star Kiki Smith led Topeka High with 25 points. The Topeka High-Northwest winner will advance to a Friday semifinal to meet the winner of the first-round game between Goddard Eisenhower and tournament host Free State.
HAYDEN (6-4) vs. NEMAHA CENTRAL (10-0)
At Wellsville Top Gun Tournament
Hayden opened its tournament bid with a 46-21 win over Lansing on Monday and will take on undefeated and No. 3-ranked (Class 3A) Nemaha Central in a 5:15 p.m. second-round game Thursday. Junior Lauren Sandstrom led the Wildcats with 23 points against Lansing. Nemaha Central, 10-0 on the season, took a 57-33 tournament victory over Lansing on Tuesday. The Hayden-Nemaha Central winner will play for the tournament championship on Saturday.
