By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Topeka West's boys basketball team combined outstanding defense with timely offense to open its 2023-2024 season with a home 52-37 United Kansas Conference decision over Basehor-Linwood.
West (1-0 overall, 1-0 UKC) held Basehor-Linwood (0-1, 0-1) to single-digit point totals in each of the final three quarters and just 13 points in the second half while juniors Jalen Foy and Ja'Vian Chambers combined for 38 points to lead the Chargers on the offensive end.
Junior Jalen Foy (22) scored a game-high 23 points as Topeka West opened its season with a 52-37 UKC win over Basehor-Linwood. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Junior Ja'Vian Chambers (21) scored 15 points in Topeka West's 52-37 UKC win over Basehor-Linwood Friday night. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"This time of year, in December, the defense better be ahead of your offense,'' veteran Topeka West coach Rick Bloomquist said. "I'm not saying it is, but it better be, and that was my big concern because I knew coming in we were going to play against a very well-disciplined team that's going to go inside-out and give us a lot of problems because they are big.
"I was very pleased with how when we changed defenses I thought we played it very well because I don't think we could have matched up with them too well man to man with the big guy (6-foot-6 junior Peyton Brown) inside. I'm very pleased with how we played defense against a good team.''
Basehor-Linwood, a Class 5A state qualifier last season, led 15-13 at the end of the first quarter but Foy canned a 3-pointer to open the second quarter and Chambers scored five straight points to put West in front 21-15 and the Chargers never trailed again.
West led 29-24 at the half and Basehor-Linwood got no closer than four points in the third quarter and the Chargers took a 40-33 advantage into the fourth.
The Bobcats scored the first two points of the fourth quarter to get back within five points but West outscored Basehor-Linwood 12-2 the rest of the way en route to opening up its biggest lead of the game.
Foy, one of several newcomers on the West roster, led all scorers with 23 points while Chambers added 15 points and senior Caleb Noonoo had eight points and eight rebounds.
Topeka West coach Rick Bloomquist makes a point to an official during Friday's 52-37 West win over Basehor-Linwood. [Poto by Rick Peterson/TSN]
West suffered heavy graduation losses off last year's 14-8 team and Bloomquist said he was happy with how his new-look team opened the year.
"We're really a brand new team, to be honest with you, so I'm very pleased with that win and very happy,'' Bloomquist said. "We've got some transfers and then we've got some guys that didn't play last year for different reasons, so we've got a mosh pit and I'm very grateful with the way they've handled things
"I thought they handled all the stuff that we need to do because I threw a lot at them and they responded well.''
Junior Breckin McBride led Basehor-Linwood with 15 points while Brown added 13 points before fouling out late in the game.
Topeka West will be back at home next Tuesday to host city rival Seaman in a UKC contest.
TOPEKA WEST BOYS 52, BASEHOR-LINWOOD 37
Basehor-Linwood 15 9 9 4 -- 37
Topeka West 13 16 11 12 -- 52
Basehor-Linwood (0-1, 0-1) -- Hinkle 0-0 0-0 0, Scott 0-3 3-4 3, McBride 6-14 2-2 15, Gibbs 0-2 2-6 2, Brown 4-8 5-6 13, Wilson 1-3 0-0 2, Hofer 1-3 0-0 2, Young 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 12-33 12-18 37.
Topeka West (1-0, 1-0) -- Chambers 6-10 2-2 15, Foy 10-16 1-2 23, Noonoo 4-7 0-0 8, Rowley 1-2 1-2 3, Webb 1-2 0-0 2, Young 0-3 0-0 3, McGee 0-0 0-0 0, Dillahunt 0-1 0-0 0, Duncan 0-1 0-0 0, Ford 0-2 1-2 1. Totals 22-48 5-8 52.
3-point goals -- Basehor-Linwood 1 (McBride), Topeka West 3 (Foy 2, Chambers). Total fouls -- Basehor-Linwood 15, Topeka West 15. Fouled out – Brown.
