By Rick Peterson
TopSports.news
Coming off back-to-back losses to Class 5A Shawnee Heights and 6A Washburn Rural, Hayden's boys basketball team was looking for a win to regain its momentum.
Sophomore Mason Becker scored a game-high 18 points with four 3-pointers in Hayden's 65-50 Centennial League win at Topeka High Tuesday night. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/Special to TSN]
Dwayne Anthony's Wildcats got just that in Tuesday's 65-50 Centennial League road win at Topeka High.
"I just love how my guys respond to the simple things I'm trying to get them to do night in and night out,'' Anthony said. "Today they tried to do everything that I asked them to.
"As we get to know each other I get to know kind of what our capabilities are and just the fact that they came out and excuted a lot better tonight than what we've been accustomed to, I'm pleased with it.''
Hayden, which improved to 4-4 overall and 1-1 in the league, led most of the night, but the winless Trojans (0-7, 0-1) were in the hunt until the Wildcats pulled away over the final 11 minutes of the contest.
After trailing 3-2 early Hayden built a 14-11 advantage at the end of the opening quarter, before High forged a 16-all tie early in the second period.
Hayden answered with a run to go into the locker room with a 28-22 halftime advantage.
Then, after the Trojans got within five (37-32) with five minutes left in the third, Hayden went on a 13-4 run to take a 50-36 lead into the fourth.
Hayden led by as many as 20 points (62-42) in the fourth before the Trojans made up some ground late to cut their deficit to 15 points.
Wildcat sophomore Mason Becker scored a game-high 18 points with four 3-pointers to lead four double-figure scorers for Hayden.
Senior James Kuta (3) scored 14 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in Tuesday's 65-50 Hayden win over Topeka High. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/Special to TSN]
Junior Connor Hanika (5) scored 14 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in Tuesday's 65-50 Hayden win at Topeka High. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/Special to TSN]
Senior James Kuta and junior Connor Hanika added 14 points apiece for Hayden while junior Kade Mitchell had 11 points.
Hanika and Kuta also dominated the glass for the Wildcats, with Hanika finishing the night with 11 rebounds and Kuta 10 boards.
"They're starting to get their confidence up and I've got some guys that really can go,'' Anthony said of his team. "And as they get confidence I think everybody else will see that, too.''
Junior Jalen Aldridge led Topeka High with 17 points before fouling out while junior Bryson McComas added 12 points.
HAYDEN BOYS 65, HAYDEN 50
Hayden 14 14 22 15 -- 65
Topeka High 11 11 14 14 -- 50
Hayden (4-4, 1-1) -- Kuta 4-10 6-7 14, Deister 0-4 0-0 0, Hanika 5-10 4-9 14, Mitchell 5-11 1-2 11, Becker 5-9 4-4 18, Heinen 0-1 3-6 3, Zwiesler 2-3 1-4 5. Totals 21-48 19-32 65.
Topeka High (0-7, 0-1) -- Guest 2-9 0-0 5, McFadden 2-5 0-0 4, Aldridge 7-13 0-0 17, Campbell 1-2 0-0 2, McComas 5-9 2-3 12, Dingle 0-2 2-2 2, Carter 1-5 0-0 2, Caddell 1-1 0-0 2, Arnold 1-1 0-0 2, Redmond 0-1 1-2 1, Mallory0-0 1-2 1, Trotter 0-0 0-0 0, Villegas 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 20-48 6-9 50.
3-point goals -- Hayden 4 (Becker 4), Topeka High 4 (Aldridge 3, Guest). Total fouls -- Hayden 16, Topeka High 26. Fouled out -- Zwiesler, Guest, Aldridge. Technical foul -- none.
