By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
With Topeka High's girls trailing Washburn Rural by eight points with six remaining Tuesday night, the Trojans' chance at a victory and any shot at a Centennial League championship looked pretty bleak.
Junior Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton, shooting over Washburn Rural's Maddie Vickery (5), came up big down the stretch in Tuesday's 59-55 Topeka High win over Washburn Rural. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
But a 15-3 game-ending run, including the final seven points, turned things around in a hurry, with the Trojans rallying for a 59-55 win to earn at least a share of the league title while stretching their winning streak to nine games.
"Defense,'' Topeka High coach Ron Slaymaker said. "We got a couple of interceptions there at a crucial time and we got the ball back and made the free throws and wow!
"From the get go we have emphasized defense. Defense is your offense and I think it maybe finally kicked in that we can score a lot of points if we're playing really good defense and the nine in a row here that's what's kicked in, that they've really bought in. We've been shooting high percentages, but a lot of it's been interceptions and layups and stuff like that.''
With Tuesday's come-from-behind victory, the Trojans, 15-8 overall and 8-2 in the Centennial League, now have a chance to win the league title if outright if Washburn Rural beats Manhattan Friday night at Rural.
"How about that?'' Slaymaker said. "This is not your chump change league and now we're yelling for Washburn Rural on Friday and that should be a good game.''
Tuesday's Rural-Topeka High game was close throughout, with Washburn Rural (15-7, 5-4) leading by two points after each of the first three quarters.
The Junior Blues opened the fourth quarter with an 8-2 run, taking a 52-44 lead with 6:23 remaining on a hoop from senior Hallie Walker.
But the Trojans fought back to tie the game at 52 on a Trish Short free throw with 4:23 left.
Then, after a 3-pointer from Washburn Rural junior Brooklyn Rutherford, Topeka High answered with a huge 3-pointer from junior star Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton to knot the game at 55 before senior Sasha Gotru put the Trojans ahead to stay with 1:29 left and Rayton clinched the win with two free throws.
"I tell you what, in the last two or three games we've had five people contribute big-time where prior to that three people contribute, so that makes a difference,'' Slaymaker said.
Topeka High senior Keimara Marshall scored 16 points in Tuesday's 59-55 win over Washburn Rural. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
"The mindset was to keep pushing and not to give up,'' said High senior Keimara Marshall, who scored 16 points.
Topeka High sophomore Hailey Caryl (40) led the Trojans with 18 points in Tuesday's 59-55 win over Washburn Rural. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
Sophomore Hailey Caryl led Topeka High with a game-high 18 points and also grabbed nine rebounds, while Rayton added 14 points.
"It feels amazing,'' Marshall said of the win. "We haven't had a conference (title) since 2022, so it feels really good to finally have one for myself.''
Freshman Brynn Anderson led Washburn Rural with 17 points in Tuesday's 59-55 loss to Topeka High. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
Freshman Brynn Anderson led Washburn Rural (15-7, 5-4) with 17 points, including four 3-pointers, while senior Ella Hirschi added 14 points with four 3s and junior Maddie Vickery scored 10 points and Walker chipped in eight points and 10 rebounds.
TOPEKA HIGH GIRLS 59, WASHBURN RURAL 55
Topeka High 14 11 17 17 -- 59
Washburn Rural 16 11 17 11 -- 55
Topeka High (15-8, 8-2) – Short 0-3 1-2 1, Marshall 6-11 2-5 16, Rayton 3-12 6-6 14, Caryl 8-14 2-3 18, Gotru 4-7 0-0 8, Triplett 0-0 0-0 0, Whayne 0-2 0-0 0, Brown 1-1 0-2 2. Totals 22-50 11-18 59.
Washburn Rural (15-7, 5-4) – Rutherford 2-3 0-0 6, Hirschi 5-11 0-0 14, Vickery 3-11 2-2 10, Walker 3-4 2-3 8, Anderson 6-8 1-2 17, Smith 0-0 0-0 0, Hinck 0-1 0-0 0, Petersen 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 19-38 5-7 55.
3-point goals – Topeka High 4 (Marshall 2, Rayton 2), Washburn Rural 12 (Hirschi 4, Anderson 4, Rutherford 2, Vickery 2). Total fouls – Topeka High 11, Washburn Rural 14. Fouled out – none. Technical fouls -- none.
