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Created: 15 November 2025

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Washburn women's basketball picked up its first win of the 2025-2026 season on Saturday afternoon, riding a late comeback to knock off No. 18-ranked Southwest Minnesota State 63-59 in the Ichabods' final game of the Central Region Challenge in Edmond, Okla.

Britany Kogbara

The Ichabods will return to action inside of renovated Lee Arena against Southwest Baptist at 7 p.m. next Friday at 7 p.m.  

Now 1-1 on the young season, Washburn led early Saturday thanks to points in the paint from Yibari Nwidadah and Britany Kogbara. The Ichabod lead reached six points at 15-9 after a driving basket by Brooke Gomez as WU led the Mustangs (2-2) 17-12 after the opening quarter.  

Kogbara got the first basket of the second quarter but after that Southwest Minnesota State took over, scoring the next nine points to lead by two. The deficit reached double figures at 33-22 as the Mustangs connected on five 3-pointers in the quarter. Washburn battled through the hot shooting with five more points from Kogbara in the final 90 seconds to give her 15 in the half and cut the Southwest Minnesota State lead to 35-29 at the break.  

After the first two points of the half went to Southwest Minnesota State the next 10 points went to the Ichabods as they tied the game with a bucket by Nwidadah and went in front on a pair of free throws by Payton Sterk. Southwest Minnesota State answered right back, going in front by five to end the third quarter leading 47-42.  

The Mustangs' lead reached nine with under eight minutes to play. At the 5:36 mark Sterk drilled a 3-pointer to make it 53-49 and start the Ichabod rally. Washburn got within three in the final three minutes and finally came all the way back to tie it up at 59 after Madelyn Amekporfor hit a jumper at the 1:53 mark. She followed with a fastbreak layup to put Washburn in front. The Ichabods forced three straight turnovers and sank free throws on the other end in the final minute to take the four-point win.  

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Created: 16 November 2025

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

It's hard to think of much that Ken Darting hasn't accomplished in his Hall of Fame basketball coaching career.

He's led three different schools to state tournament appearances, won five state championships at two schools, including three straight titles at Highland Park, posted a perfect 25-0 campaign and registered 603 coaching victories.

Ken Darting, a member of multiple Halls of Fame, will close out his legendary coaching career alongside his son, Kerry, this season at Shawnee Heights. [File photo/TSN]

Now, when high school practice for the 2025-2026 season starts on Monday, Darting will add what he feels is the only missing piece when his son, Kerry, joins him on the T-Bird bench in his final season at Shawnee Heights.

The 76-year-old Darting had thought about retirement the last couple of years, but wanted to finish out with this year's senior class, which has been a part of back-to-back Class 5A state tournament appearances.

"I'm looking forward to this year as much as I have any year ever and that's pretty good when you say you lost your three leading scorers, three leading rebounders, three leading percentage shooters, leading free throw shooters, leading assist guy, and I'm looking forward to it? I've got to be drunk, dumb or something,'' Darting said. "But these senior kids do everything you ask and they want to be good, they want to have a good team. Those kids have done everything that I told them is important to get good, so we're looking forward to it.

"That's why it should be nothing but fun. When I'm saying I'm looking forward to this year and I said what I lost, I ain't stupid. I'm not looking forward to it because we're going to have five All-Americans and we're going to beat everybody 60 points. I'm looking forward to it because the kind of people that I like to work with are there.''

Kerry Darting, who operates Darting Basketball Academy, will serve as an assistant coach for his father, Ken, this season at Shawnee Heights. [File photo/TSN]

And when Kerry, a former Division I assistant and the co-founder with his dad in the highly-successful Darting Basketball Academy, committed to joining his dad on the Heights bench, one more season was a done deal for Ken.

"A biggie is Kerry coming on board,'' Ken said. "That made it a no decision.''

Coaching with his son is something that Ken has thought about for a long time, but the stars just never aligned to make that possible until now.

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Created: 14 November 2025

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Rossville football is back in the Class 1A semifinals for the second straight season after a 27-20 road win at previously-unbeaten and No. 1 East seed St. Mary's Colgan Friday night in Pittsburg.

Senior quarterback Canann Mitchell scored a pair of touchdowns Friday in Rossville's 27-20 road win over previously-unbeaten Colgan. [File photo/TSN]

The No. 4-seeded Bulldawgs, now 10-1, never trailed after jumping out to a 14-0 lead over the Panthers, who had not allowed a point in their first two playoff games, but Colgan (10-1) struck with just 32 seconds left in the opening half to cut its halftime deficit to 14-6.

Rossville outscored Colgan 13-7 in the third quarter to take a 27-13 lead into the final quarter before the Panthers scored just five seconds into the fourth to cut their deficit to seven at 27-20.

But that would be the last TD of the night as Rossville was able to close out its eighth straight win.

Rossville senior Andre Johnson scored on a 15-yard run at the 8:15 mark of the opening quarter (Austin Dohrman kick) to put the Bulldawgs up 7-0 and senior quarterback Canann Mitchell scored on a 2-yard run with just 52 remaining in the half (Dohrman kick).

The Bulldawgs padded their advantage with an 11-yard TD run by Cael Horgan with 7:17 left in the third quarter (Dohrman kick) and Mitchell scored his second TD of the night at the 3:41 mark of the third on a 71-yard gallop (kick failed) to end Rossville's scoring.

Rossville will be back on the road next Friday to face No. 2 East seed Jackson Heights (11-0), a 21-14 quarterfinal winner over Riverside. 

 

 

 

 

 

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Created: 14 November 2025

By TODD FERTIG

TopSports.news

Having been blown out in the first meeting with Hayden, Jefferson West gave the Wildcats a fight in the Class 3A quarterfinal matchup Friday at Hayden. The Tigers closed to within seven points in the fourth period before ultimately falling, 43-29.

Hayden hoists the trophy after Friday's 43-29 Class 3A quarterfinal playoff win over Jefferson West Friday at Hayden. [Photo by Todd Fertig/TSN]

Hayden senior quarterback Connor Hanika ran for a touchdown and threw for two TDs in Friday's 43-29 Class 3A quarterfinal win over Jefferson West. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

The Wildcats blasted Jefferson West 42-0 in the final week of the regular season. But the Tigers followed that loss with two playoff victories to set up a rematch. The Tigers were more physical and more efficient in the second meeting, a spirited contest marred by numerous personal fouls and some bickering both during and after the game.

Leading by just seven points with 9:39 left, the Wildcats rose to the challenge, scoring twice in the final six minutes to hold Jefferson West at bay.

“That’s a good team right there,” Hayden junior Mason Becker said of the Tigers. “Last time we played them, we beat them by a little bit. But they fight hard all the way to the end. They have great coaching and great players.”

Hayden caught the Tigers with a quick strike to open the contest. On just the second play from scrimmage, Hayden quarterback Connor Hanika uncorked a bomb to Becker that resulted in a 71-yard score.

Hayden senior Jude Krentz ran for a pair of touchdowns in Friday's 42-29 Class 3A quarterfinal win over Jefferson West. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

At the close of the first period, Hanika beat the defense on a nine-yard race to the right pilon to give Hayden its second touchdown. Jude Krentz added the Wildcats’ third score early in the second period, and a rout similar to the one that occurred in late October appeared imminent.

But when Hayden turned the ball over on downs midway through the second period, life was breathed into the Tigers, who appeared on the ropes trailing 22-0.

Jefferson West freshman quarterback Brixton Schwinn, unable to get the passing game going in the first meeting, suddenly found his rhythm. A pass to Crayton Holman went for 41 yards, moving the visitors into Hayden territory for the first time on the night. Four plays later, Schwinn hit Holman for the Tigers’ first score in six periods played against Hayden this season.

The Tigers got another break when Hayden senior back Kade Mitchell came out of the locker room for the second half with his right knee tightly wrapped and packed with ice. The senior has accounted for over 1,400 yards from scrimmage and 21 touchdowns on the season, but he would make no more contributions in this suddenly competitive battle.

Shifting to running back on certain sets and producing a spark on the ground was Becker, who typically lines up on the perimeter.

“Kade went out and someone had to step up,” Becker said. “We all had to step up. I came in and was just going to give my all for the dude next to me.”

Senior Xander Blasing had a big night on both sides of the ball in Friday's 43-29 Hayden Class 3A playoff win over Jefferson West. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

Quickly after the break, Hayden added another score on a 30-yard pass from Hanika to a leaping Xander Blasing. The 29-8 lead looked safe.

But Schwinn and the Tigers benefitted from a couple of Hayden penalties to get into the red zone again. The freshman quarterback connected with his junior brother, Brody Schwinn, combining for their 18th touchdown pass of the season.

Then early in the fourth period, the Tigers capitalized on a turnover deep in Hayden territory for another score, this time a short run by the younger Schwinn. Hayden’s lead was cut to 29-22 with 9:39 remaining.

“They throw the ball all over the place,” Hayden coach Bill Arnold said of Jefferson West. “They spread you out. They get a little bit of a mismatch here and there, but I thought our kids played well.”

Hayden responded with a drive that culminated with a 16-yard scoring run by Krentz. Next, Hayden’s Logan Power picked off a Schwinn pass to set up a 3-yard touchdown by Jackson McGivern and finally Hayden could rest easy. A late touchdown by Jefferson West only narrowed the final score to 43-29.

“I felt like we played pretty good,” Arnold said. “We had to make some adjustments when Kade didn’t come back out in the second half. I thought our kids played hard. We made some mistakes. (Jefferson West) made some good plays as well. But in the end, it’s survive and advance.”

Hayden will host yet another playoff game next Friday, this time against 11-0 Santa Fe Trail, which held off Holton 28-26.

Becker produced an impressively versatile stat line on the night. In addition to the 71-yard scoring reception, he added 78 yards rushing on nine carries. He booted each of his kickoffs out of the end zone, converted all five extra point kicks he attempted, and his two punts averaged 44.5 yards.

Jefferson West’s freshman quarterback Schwinn threw for 292 yards and also rushed for 61 yards. His brother, Brody, caught eight passes for 114 yards.

The Tigers completed their season with an 8-3 record, one of the best in the school’s recent history.

HAYDEN 43, JEFFERSON WEST 29

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