By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
Topeka High is heading to the Class 6A state tournament for the fourth straight season after a 67-46 victory over the Liberal Redskins in Friday's sub-state final at High..
The Trojans have advanced to the semifinals the past three seasons with a pair of runner-up finishes. High, which will open state tournament play at Wichita State's Koch Arena next Wednesday, was 23-0 in 2020 when the tournament was canceled after the first round due to COVID-19 and finished second a year ago.
Junior guard Kiki Smith fired Topeka High Friday against Liberal, scoring a game-high 33 points as the Trojans improved to 20-2.
“After the first two shots I made and then the 3-pointer right after that, I knew it was going to be a great game,” Smith said. "Everything came together so fast and it felt good, as a team, to get the win and go to state.”
Junior Kiki Smith (23) poured in 33 points Friday night as Topeka High earned a Class 6A state tournament berth with a 67-46 win over Liberal. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Smith’s stellar first quarter was good, but her fourth quarter was even better, with her 13 points in the quarter all coming from the paint.
“I know (Smith) was disappointed in the Junction City game and she really wanted to get back out there, show herself and everyone else how good she truly is,” Topeka High coach Hannah Alexander said. “Most of our starters didn’t get the playing time they wanted, so they all wanted to go out on the court tonight and give everything they had.
“They gave it their all and I’m proud of Kiki and our girls for that.”
Topeka High got off to a tremendous start right from the tipoff, opening with a 12-2 run. Smith had the first seven of the team’s points. Tae Thomas followed up Smith’s rapid start with two-3-pointers of her own.
Liberal would fire back with a 10-3 before the first quarter ended.
It was Smith and Thomas who would force the pressure on Liberal right away in the second quarter.
Thomas would drive to the paint and get four free chances at the charity stripe, where she would convert. Smith would find herself with more open opportunities in the paint where she would convert two shots.
Liberal would call a timeout with 3:55 to go in the second quarter after Topeka High went on a 10-2 run.
Topeka High would swarm Liberal after the timeout. The Lady Trojans forced four Liberal turnovers after the timeout and the frustration seemed to be mounting for the Redskins. Topeka High’s physical defense kept Liberal to just nine total points in the second quarter.
After leading Liberal by just three points at the end of the first quarter, Topeka High would separate themselves with a 13-point haltime lead.
Liberal did not back down coming out of halftime, putting together a 10-2 run thanks to the shooting of senior Ashley Carrillo to cut its deficit to five points.
“Once you think you’ve put (Liberal) away, you didn’t,” Alexander said. “They made us work for every possession. This game was as physical as I’ve ever seen the game played today. Liberal is an extremely tough and physical team.”
The fourth quarter was all Topeka High. The offense ran right through Liberal with 24 points. The Trojans consistently drove the ball right at Liberal and the Redskins had no answer.
At the end of Friday night’s contest, the Lady Trojans were able to cut down the nets and celebrate their successes.
“This game took a lot of heart and guts,” Alexander said. “We had to dig deep for this win. We’ve done that all year. We’ve played our hearts out and we just keep fighting.”
Senior Tae Thomas drives to the basket in Friday's 67-46 Topeka High win over Liberal in a Class 6A sub-state final. Thomas finished with 15 points. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
As much fun as the Lady Trojans had earning a berth into the 6A tournament, they knew the job isn’t done yet.
“This championship run has been something we’ve been working for,” Alexander said. “This culture and program that we’ve built here will prepare us for the task at hand next week. It’s taken a lot to build up to and it’s taken a lot of very important people to help us get where we have wanted to be.”
“Next week, our team needs to go out there and play their tails off.”
State tournament pairings will be released at the conclusion of sub-state tournaments.
TOPEKA HIGH GIRLS 67, LIBERAL 46
Liberal 12 9 12 13 – 46
Topeka High 15 19 9 24 – 67
Liberal (15-7) – Carrillo 8 2-3 19, Hall 0 5-10 5, Hatcher 2 0-0 4, Contreras 2 0-0 4, Horyna 2 5-6 9, West 1 0-0 3, Cisneros 1 0-0 2.
Topeka High (20-2) – Wiley 5 0-0 10, Caryl 1 0-1 2, Thomas 4 5-5 15, Shields 0 1-2 1, Smith 14 2-3 33, Leesman 2 2-3 6.
3-point goals – Topeka High 5 (Smith 3, Thomas 2), Liberal 2 (Carrillo, West). Team fouls – Topeka High 20, Liberal 17. Fouled out – none.
