By ANDREW GILL
TopSports.news
Topeka High's boys basketball team gave rival Highland Park a battle Tuesday night, but missed opportunites, particularly at the free throw line, allowed the Scots to extend their winning streak to seven games with a 60-49 Centennial League win at High.
High's boys were able to penetrate and draw fouls against a solid Scots defense, which forced 12 turnovers in the game, but the struggled to capitalize on opportunities at the charity stripe, making just 15 of 31 free throw attempts (48 percent).
Highland Park, meanwhile, built an early lead and was able to survive Topeka High's second-half rally to improve to 10-5 on the season, 9-3 in the league.
Highland Park spread the wealth, with seven different players finding themselves in the scoring column, led by seniors Jahi Peppers with 13 points, MuKhajhae Daniels 12 and CJ Powell with 11 points while junior Juan’Tario Roberts also had 11 points for the Scots.
Highland Park got off to a quick start, leading 15-9 at the end of the first quarter. and the Scots took advantage of six second-quarter Topeka High turnovers to extend their lead to 32-16 at the half.
Topeka High was within 11 points (41-30) and the Trojans scored the first basket of the fourth quarter to pull within single digits for the first time since the first half and was within 45-39 with 3:19 remaining before a pair of free throw misses thwarted High's momentum.
The Trojans suffered another blow when 6-foot-5 freshman BJ Canady fouled out with 2:25 remaining and High's game-long free-throw woes, coupled with a few crucial missed field goal attempts down the stretch helped Highland Park hold Topeka High at a distance..
Senior Jayden Leesman paced Topeka High (2-12, 2-9) with a game-high 17 points and also grabbed 9 rebounds while senior Jalen Smith added 13 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds.
TOPEKA HIGH GIRLS 88, HIGHLAND PARK 20
The top-ranked Topeka High girls scored a whopping 35 points in the opening quarter while forcing 13 Highland Park turnovers and cruised the rest of the way for the Trojans' 37th straight victory.
Sophomore Kiki Smith was the star of the game for the Trojans (14-0 overall, 11-0 in the Centennial League) with 28 points, 5 assists, 5 rebounds and 3 steals and missed just one shot in the game, 15 seconds before the halftime buzzer, hitting 12 of 13 shots from the field and both her free throw tries..
Sophomore Faith Shields came up big off the bench for the Trojans, scoring 19 points and adding a pair of steals.
Highland Park senior Aisya Taylor led Highland Park (0-12, 0-11) with 12 points, 3 rebounds and an assist.
HIGHLAND PARK BOYS 60, TOPEKA HIGH 49
Highland Park 15 17 9 19 – 60
Topeka High 9 7 14 19 – 49
Highland Park (10-5, 9-3) -- Daniels 5 2-4 12, Peppers 4 5-7 13, Powell 4 3-7 11, Adams 1 0-0 3, Simms 1 0-0 3, Kingcannon 2 1-2 7, Roberts 3 4-4 11. Totals 20 15-24 60.
Topeka High (2-12, 2-9 ) -- Smith 5 3-4 13, McMillon 2 0-2 4, Walker 2 2-2 6, Phillips 0 3-5 3, Cameron 1 0-2 2, Leesman 7 3-7 17, Canady 0 4-9 4. Totals 17 15-31 49.
TOPEKA HIGH GIRLS 88, HIGHLAND PARK 20
Highland Park 9 3 3 5 – 20
Topeka High 35 27 15 11 – 88
Highland Park (0-12, 0-11 ) -- Labrador 0 2-2 2, Carter 1 0-3 2, Taylor 4 2-5 12, Schutts 1 2-2 4. Totals 6 6-12 20
Topeka High (14-0, 11-0) -- Leesman 2 0-1 4, L. Smith 3 0-2 8, Zimmerman 1 0-0 2, A. Caryl 2 0-0 4, Thomas 2 0-0 4, Fulton 1 0-2 2, Shields 8 1-1 19, Wiley 2 0-0 4, K. Smith 12 2-2 28, Lyons 1 2-4 4, Z. Caryl 4 0-0 9. Totals 38 5-12 88
