By Rick Peterson
TopSports.news
Despite playing its third game of the week and on back-to-back nights, Topeka West's boys came out with plenty of energy Friday night, pressing all over the floor with great success and scoring at will in an 81-30 home United Kansas Conference romp past Kansas City-Turner.
Sophomore Keimani Paul (13) scored 22 points with four 3-pointers in Topeka West's 81-30 win over Turner Friday night. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Junior Jalen Foy (22 right) scored 20 points in Topeka West's 81-30 home UKC win over Turner Friday night. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Of course, veteran Charger coach Rick Bloomquist had an explanation for the unbridled enthusiasm of his team, which was coming off a 25-point loss at Piper Thursday night that ended West's five-game win streak.
"We actually had played two in four days but participated in a third,'' Bloomquist cracked, alluding to the Piper loss. "Our legs were rested. We didn't play well the night before, we played the complete opposite so we had plenty of energy for Friday.
"I didn't tell them to save their energy at all, it wasn't by plan. They just happened to do it but we had plenty of energy tonight.''
West, which improved to 10-5 overall and 8-3 in the UKC, controlled Friday's game from the offset, running off the first 12 points of the game on the way to a 19-6 first-quarter advantage while forcing 10 turnovers by the Bears.
The Chargers then hit Turner with a 20-9 second quarter to open up a 39-15 halftime advantage and exploded for an amazing 37 points in the third quarter in a 37-8 onslaught to take a 76-23 lead into the fourth stanza, forcing a running clock over the final eight minutes.
West forced 28 turnovers on the night while not allowing any Bear to score more than eight points.
"That's the way we have to play,'' Bloomquist said. "We have a lot of upside, but we don't always play to that upside yet.
"It was good we came back and played the way we played.''
Offensively, 13 players saw action for the Chargers with 10 players cracking the scoring column, including three in double figures and five with at least seven points.
Sophomore Keimani Paul led the way with 22 points, including four 3-pointers, while junior Jalen Foy added 20 points and senior Johnny Young 10.
Topeka West will return to action Tuesday night at West, hosting Shawnee Heights.
TOPEKA WEST BOYS 81, KC-TURNER 30
KC-Turner 6 9 8 7 -- 30
Topeka West 19 20 37 5 -- 81
KC-Turner (2-9, 1-7) -- Pittman 2-7 1-1 5, Hassler 1-1 2-2 4, Seamster 1-4 0-0 3, Berry Jr. 2-7 1-1 5, Harris 0-3 0-0 0, Scott 0-4 2-2 2, Cheatom 0-1 0-0 0, McGee 3-5 2-3 8, Follick 0-1 0-2 0, Marshall 1-2 1-2 3, Garrett 0-4 0-0 0, George 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 10-39 9-13 30.
Topeka West (10-5, 8-3) -- Young 5-11 0-0 12, Paul 7-10 4-4 22, Chambers 4-6 0-0 8, Foy 8-11 3-5 20, Noonoo 1-4 1-2 3, Duncan 1-3 0-0 2, McGee 1-3 0-2 2, Ford 3-6 1-2 7, Traylor 1-1 0-0 2, Guest 1-3 0-0 3, Davis 0-1 0-0 0, Munganga 0-2 0-0 0, Webb 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 32-63 9-15 81.
3-point goals -- KC-Turner 1 (Seamster), Topeka West 8 (Paul 4, Young 2, Foy, Guest). Total fouls -- KC-Turner 12, Topeka West 16. Fouled out -- none. Technical foul -- none.
