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Created: 12 February 2026

By VINCE LOVERGINE

TopSports.news

Seaman boys basketball, ranked No. 6 in Class 5A, has won seven of its last eight games after taking down city rival Topeka High on Thursday night at Seaman, 62-55.

 

Senior KaeVon Bonner scored a game-high 24 points in Thursday's 62-55 Seaman win over Topeka High. [File photo/TSN]

“I thought our defense was outstanding in the first half to hold them to 19 points,'' Seaman coach Craig Cox said. "They’re a team that’s capable of getting hot and getting on a run. Unfortunately, we didn’t do enough offensively to take advantage of that and build a bigger margin other than the six points … knowing they would respond, and they did. I knew it was going to be a battle and this was a good win for our guys.''

“One thing about this team this year is we have pretty good chemistry,” Viking senior Matthew McConnaughey said after finishing with 10 points.

 

The Trojans began the game with a 4-2 lead but then Seaman went on an 8-0 run to regain the lead and force a timeout for Topeka with 2:47 left in the first quarter, as the Vikings led 12-5.

It took a while for Topeka High to score its first field goal in the second quarter, scoring just three points on free throws as the Trojans trailed by eight, 16-8. They slowly crept their way back off a couple of 3-pointers from senior Bryson McComas and Elisha Guest, making it a 23-19 game.

 

But then Seaman senior Kae’Von Bonner converted a floater off the window as time expired for halftime, as the Vikings took a six-point lead, 25-19.

Bonner had a game-high 24 points, with 11 of them coming in the fourth quarter.

In the third quarter, Topeka High would re-take the lead for the first time since 4-2 thanks to a 9-2 run to begin the half, led by McComas, Guest (who had a team-high 19 points) and senior Jalen Aldridge as the Trojans went in front, 28-27.

Both teams would trade buckets but then Seaman built a little cushion off a Griffin Zuniga triple, making it 34-30, and the Vikings led 40-35 heading into the fourth.

The Vikings led by eight at one point, but the Trojans trimmed the deficit to two after Octavian McFadden drilled a three making it 47-45.

Seaman built a six point lead again off a Bonner bucket, but then McComas brought High within three (54-51).

But then Seaman got in the bonus early and made crucial free throws when needed.

Zuniga iced the game off a Trojans turnover with under 20 seconds remaining, putting home a layup as Seaman nabbed its 16th win on the year. Zuniga had 14 points for the Vikings.

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Created: 12 February 2026

By VINCE LOVERGINE

TopSports.news

Topeka High girls basketball coach Ron Slaymaker told his players said before the season started that defense had to be a big identity of this team, leading to points in transition and the fastbreak.

 

Junior Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton scored a game-high 26 points in Thursday's 61-36 Topeka High win at Seaman. [File photo/TSN]

That was the case Thursday night as the Trojans stayed hot, avenging an earlier double-digit loss to Seaman with a 61-36 romp on the Vikings' home floor.

“I’ll tell you what we were hot on and that’s defense,” Slaymaker said. “Our defense created so much of our offense. That’s what we needed to win this game because they (Seaman) are a good team.”

 

Slaymaker said one big adjustment Topeka High made Thursday was how to break the zone, something they did not do against Seaman the last time these two teams met. And Slaymaker said he faults himself for not having them prepared, but did for Thursday night’s slate.

Topeka High started the game up 8-2 and started the game in a 2-3 zone, giving the Lady Vikings problems finding easy baskets. Seaman junior Jaydin Frickey hit a three to make it an 8-6 game, but that’s the closest Seaman would get the rest of the evening.

 

After a 7-0 run, Topeka High senior Keimara Marshall finished off a layup in transition, forcing a Seaman timeout at 15-6. Topeka High led 19-6 after one quarter.

In the second quarter, it was no different as junior Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton used her speed in transition and the fastbreak to get easy baskets off Seaman turnovers, scoring 18 first-half points. She helped the Trojans to a 13-0 run, dating back to the first quarter at 21-6.

“A driving force in this game was Coach Slay said at practice to look up the court and that’s what we did in this game and make that extra pass, looking inside and out and that’s what Slay harps on a lot,” Topeka High sophomore Hailey Caryl said.

Seaman senior Maddie Gragg converted an and-one and knocked down a three to cut the Viking deficit to 24-12 with 6:05 left in the half, but the Trojans just kept scoring after a three from senior Trish Short.

Seaman called another timeout a minute later, down 18, 30-12, and the Lady Trojans took a 20-point lead into halftime, 38-18.

In the second half, the third quarter saw both teams combine for 11 points, but the fourth quarter was nothing but the clinic the Trojans put on in the first two quarters. Topeka High had its biggest lead of 28 in the game thanks to Caryl’s big quarter and continuing to force those turnovers.

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Created: 12 February 2026

By TODD FERTIG

TopSports.news

After a year’s absence, the Centennial League boys swimming championship trophy will return to the Washburn Rural trophy case. The Junior Blues took revenge on last year’s champion, Manhattan, in the league meet at the Capitol Federal Natatorium Thursday.

Washburn Rural poses for a team picture after winning the 2026 Centennial League swimming championship Thursday at the Capitol Federal Natatorium. [Photo by Todd Fertig/TSN]

Manhattan and Washburn Rural have taken turns with the trophy since 2022, and this year was the Junior Blues’ year to take the title, scoring 511 points to Manhattan’s 421.

The Junior Blues demonstrated their depth by winning all three of the meet’s relay races. Washburn Rural and Manhattan also displayed their dominance on the all-league teams. Of the 24 swimmers and divers to receive first- or second-team All-Centennial League recognition, 12 were from Washburn Rural and eight were from Manhattan.

“It means a lot to the boys for (the trophy) to be in our trophy cabinet, for them to be able to walk by every day and see it and know that they earned it back,” Washburn Rural coach Bob Burdick said. “It leaves kind of a hollow spot when it goes away. But Manhattan’s a great competitor. Great team, great coach. So, it makes it special when you earn it.”

Junior Daniel Allen won four gold medals for team-champion Washburn Rural in Thursday's Centennial League swimming meet. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

Leading the Junior Blues was junior Daniel Allen, who placed first in two individual events and was part of two first-place relays. Other top scorers included freshman Braeden Montgomery and sophomore Thomas Appuhn, both of whom were part of two winning relays and took home a first and a second in individual events.

Sophomore Thomas Appuhn was part of three victories for team-champion Washburn Rural in Thursday's Centennial League swimming meet. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

Freshman Braeden Montgomery helped lead Washburn Rural to the Centennial League swimming title Thursday at the Capitol Federal Natatorium. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN] 

“Winning the league trophy feels great,” Appuhn said. “The team is doing really good this year and it was a team effort to get the trophy back. Getting it back was one of the key ambitions this year, so we made sure we had a diverse team that was able to swim all the events that we needed in order to get it.

“We had a developmental season last season, just trying to get more swimmers to practice and swim year round instead of just during the high school season. So this feels great.”

The only Topeka school to take home a medal was Topeka High, whose senior Will Stewart placed third in the 50-yard and 100-yard freestyle.

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Created: 12 February 2026

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

The No. 3-ranked Washburn Ichabods bounced back from their first loss of the season Thursday night in Lee Arena, pulling away in the second half to rout No. 25-ranked Arkansas-Fort Smith, 81-53.

Junior Jack Bachelor scored a game-high 16 points in Washburn's 81-53 MIAA win over Arkansas-Fort Smith Thursday night. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Washburn improved to 23-1 overall and 13-1 in the MIAA while Arkansas-Fort Smith fell to 18-5, 9-5.

Washburn trailed 31-30 at halftime after shooting just 37.5 percent in the opening half, but took control after the break, outscoring the Lions 51-22.

"The first 10 minutes of the game we were stagnant,'' Washburn coach Brett Ballard said. "And then we finally got them moving and I did think we did a good job of sharing it (22 assists on 29 field goals).

"We got some transition, which was good and converted in transition, and then we were able to execute some stuff in the halfcourt and kind of got them chasing and played a little stronger as the game went along.'' 

The Ichabods opened the second half on an 11-2 surge to build a 41-33 lead and never let the margin dip below six the rest of the way.

A 10-0 run midway through the half stretched the Washburn advantage into double figures and a later 13-3 burst pushed the Ichabods' lead past 20.

The Ichabods shot 55.9 percent in the second half (19 of 34) and 46.8 percent for the game, compared to 34.4 percent shooting by the Lions, including nine of 29 shooting in the second half (31 percent).

Washburn also heated up from deep, finishing 11 of 32 from 3-point range (34.4 percent), while holding the Lions to six of 25 (24.0 percent), including three of 14 in the second half.

Washburn rode balanced scoring to the win as junior Jack Bachelor's 16 points led the way for the Ichabods.

Bachelor, who was battling through illness, hit four of six 3-point attempts, went five of nine overall and connected on both of his free throw attempts.

"I've got some kind of bug or something,'' Bachelor said. "Luckily, my mom (Angie) is a nurse so I can just call her and feel like a little baby again and she kind of takes care of me. I'm feeling better now and I'll be good by Saturday.''

And Bachelor played a lot better against the Lions than he felt.

"My teammates were finding me tonight and the shot felt good,'' Bachelor said. "We just played a really good second half as a team and got back to what we were about after that loss Saturday and that was good. I'm just really proud of the guys and our togetherness as a team.''

Senior Bryson Smith scored 15 points Thursday night as Washburn improved to 23-1 with an 81-53 win over No. 25 Arkansas-Fort Smith. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]   

Junior Jeremiah Jones (22) and Washburn outscored Arkansas-Fort Smith 51-22 in the second half Thursday on the way to an 81-53 MIAA win. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Senior Bryson Smith added 15 points and four assists and junior Jeremiah Jones scored 14 points while sophomore Dillon Claussen had eight points, seven rebounds, six assists and three blocks.

"Coach just told us (at halftime) that we have to come out here and play with an edge,'' Jones said. "This was a good team and every game's going to be hard every night and we had to turn up the pressure and get some stops.''

Smith said the Ichabods would rather take control of games from the outset, but he said the team also knows it's capable of coming from behind to get the job done.

"We don't want to do that all the time,'' Smith said. "Coach always preaches to come out and set the tone and I think in these next couple of games we're going to find a way to come out and set the tone, but this whole year we've shown that we're a second-half team, one of the best second-half teams in the country.

"So we knew we were going to come out in the second half and be ready to go.''

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