By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
The last time the Topeka West girls basketball team defeated Leavenworth, the game went down to the wire in a 38-37 Charger win.
However, Friday night's 54-40 victory over Topeka West's United Kansas Conference foe was a different story.
Freshman Imani McGlory (5) led Topeka West with 14 points in Friday's 54-40 UKC win over Leavenworth. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Senior Jazmyn Ford (44) celebrated Senior Night with 14 points in Friday's 54-40 UKC win over Leavenworth. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
For Topeka West coach Jeff Skar, sweeping Leavenworth in the regular-season series felt great. And despite a collectively good Leavenworth third quarter, Topeka West took complete control of the contest right away.
"I was pleased," Skar said. "Our goal is to win every quarter, and I think we were close to doing that tonight. The last time we played them, we had to survive a last-second 3-point attempt to beat them. And (Leavenworth) looks a lot like us at times.
"They got some athletes and kids that can play. So for us to get the win, it's good for the kids. It's a reward for all of their hard work."
Leavenworth got the game within a single possession a pair of times throughout the game, but Topeka West would answer any run the Pioneers would get with scoring bursts of its own.
Freshman Imani McGlory and senior Jazmyn Ford impacted the Chargers in the first half. McGlory and Ford were catalysts in helping Topeka West maintain a comfortable first-half lead.
The duo shot a solid eight of 16 from the field in the first half while combining for 18 of Topeka West's 21 points.
"We felt like Jazmyn had an athletic advantage in the post," Skar said. "We thought that she'd be able to score against their posts. And Imani is going to be good. Nothing really rattles her, she doesn't get sped up, and she's composed. Imani really got us going early and often."
As good as McGlory and Ford were for Topeka West, the team itself played stellar in the opening half.
In the game's first two possessions, Topeka West turned the ball over twice. But after those two possessions the Chargers only turned it over twice more for the remainder of the half.
While the eight of 30 shooting from the field for Topeka West wasn't terrific, Topeka West's defense was imposing in the first two quarters.
The Chargers forced Leavenworth to four of 23 shooting from the field and forced the Pioneers to seven early turnovers.
"The last game (Leavenworth) shot 30 free throws, and I felt like if we played solid defense and stayed in front of them, they would have a hard time scoring on our length," Skar said. "If we could do that without fouling, we would be in good shape. So we did that for the most part."
At the halftime break, Topeka West held a 21-11 lead over a Leavenworth team that was in a funk offensively.
Topeka West would have its 11-point lead condensed down to three points in the third period at one point out of the halftime break. Leavenworth played a much cleaner style of basketball in the third quarter and even outscored Topeka West 12-11.
Leavenworth scored more points in the third quarter than the Pioneers did in the entire first half.
"We got too comfortable," Skar said. "We let up a little bit. We put them at the line and gave them some and-ones. But I thought we did well for the most part."
Although the Pioneers were able to put some points on the board and had a slim three-point deficit in the middle of the quarter, Topeka West got rolling and extended its lead to nine points before the quarter ended.
Junior Zoe Clark pushed the tempo offensively for the Chargers, leading the team with four points in the quarter.
In the final quarter, both offenses played the best basketball that they'd played throughout the game.
Three straight field goals from senior Ala'Jah Brooks helped Topeka West establish its offense and create opportunities on its fastbreak offense.
Topeka West won the fourth quarter shootout, outscoring the Pioneers 22-17, and would give a proper sendoff to its seniors with the 14-point home conference victory.
Three Chargers ended their nights with double-digit scoring. McGlory had a game-high 14 points, Ford was next in line with 13 and Clark finished with 10.
Topeka West will learn who it will face in the first round of Class 5A sub-state on Saturday.
"We know that we will be playing a good team," Skar said. "If you're a competitor, that's what you want. We've played some good teams this year and have battled some good teams. So, we know whoever we play will be good. This is what you work hard for. So, we will see what happens."
TOPEKA WEST GIRLS 54, LEAVENWORTH 40.
Leavenworth 6 5 12 17 – 40
Topeka West 10 11 11 22 – 54
Leavenworth (4-13) – Barker 1-6 3-4 6, Garrett 3-12 1-1 8, Gilman 5-13 1-2 13, West 1-4 1-2 3, Thomas 3-10 2-2 10, Green 0-2 0-0 0, Garcia 0-1 0-0 0, McKinley 0-1 0-0 0. Totals – 13-49 8-11 40.
Topeka West (7-14) – Brooks 3-7 1-4 7, McGlory 6-17 1-1 14, Duncan 1-13 3-4 5, Clark 1-10 8-10 10, Ford 6-12 1-1 13, Bearman 1-5 1-2 3, Bogart 0-1 2-2 2. Totals – 18-65 17-24 54.
3-point goals – Topeka West 1 (McGlory), Leavenworth 6 (Gilman 2, Thomas 2, Barker, Garrett). Total fouls – Topeka West 13, Leavenworth 17. Fouled out – none. Technical fouls – none.
