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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University's men's basketball team enjoyed the heck out of Thursday's marquee MIAA matchup with No. 12 nationally-ranked Central Oklahoma, especially the outcome.
In a game that featured 16 lead changes and 11 ties, Washburn ended the game with a 16-8 run to pull out a 75-68 victory in Lee Arena.
Former Washburn Rural star Jack Bachelor (14) came off the bench to score 19 points as Washburn knocked off No. 12 Central Oklahoma 75-68 Thursday night. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
"It was super fun,'' said freshman guard Jack Bachelor, who came off the bench to score a team-high 19 points for the Ichabods. "That's what I came to Washburn for, that's what you do.
"It was the first game out of break and UCO is obviously a really good team so we knew it was going to be a really hard game. I thought we played together as a team. The 3s weren't falling as much as usually they do, but I thought we moved the ball and made winning plays at the end and got rebounds and made free throws when we needed to.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Thursday was a relatively quiet offensive night for Washburn University senior star Aubree Dewey, right up until it counted the most.
After scoring just two points in the first half and six through the first three quarters without a field goal, Dewey took over the game down the stretch, scoring 10 of her 16 points over the final 9:35, including the game-winning hoop with two seconds remaining as the Ichabods rallied for a 64-62 win over Central Oklahoma in Lee Arena.
Washburn senior Aubree Dewey scores the game-winning basket with two seconds remaining in Thursday's 64-62 MIAA win over Central Oklahoma. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Washburn's women's basketball team celebrates Thursday night's 64-62 MIAA win over Central Oklahoma. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
"I think coach (Lora Westling) put me in that position, called the right plays, everybody executed at the end and it just ended up being me for the one to put it in the bucket,'' Dewey said.
"Coach told us she wanted us to take the last shot so I kept it long as I could up top, draining the clock as much as I could, all the way down to the last seconds so I could try and get that last-second shot.''
Westling said she was proud of the way Dewey stepped up her offensive game late in the contest.
"Twenty-two (Aliyah Lianusa) is an elite on-ball defender and she was doing a great job on Aubree all night,'' Westling said. "We told her, 'The better you play, the more people are going to come after you.'
"Twenty-two was coming after her and instead of getting frustrated I think she finally just flipped the switch and said, 'Alright, enough's enough and I'm going to do what I do regardless of what you do.' ''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The Washburn Ichabods will be looking for their third straight men's basketball win as they open the new year hosting No. 12-ranked Central Oklahoma at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday in Lee Arena.
Washburn, 7-4 overall, 3-2 in the MIAA, crushed Northeastern State 84-48 in its last game on Dec. 19 and returned to practice on Dec. 28 after having time off for the holidays.
Sophomore Sam Ungashick is averaging a team-high 16.2 points for 7-4 Washburn entering Thursday's game against Central Oklahoma. [File photo/TSN]
Junior Andrew Orr (24) scored 14 points in Washburn's 84-48 MIAA win over Northeastern State and is shooting 91.1 percent from the free throw line. [File photo/TSN]
"Practice has been tremendous,'' Washburn coach Brett Ballard said. "Great energy. The guys came back ready to go, so I feel really good about what we got done coming out of break.''
The Bronchos are 12-2, 4-2 after topping Nebraska-Kearney on Dec. 29 in a 99-61 win before falling on New Year's Eve at Fort Hays State, 67-60.
The Ichabods received votes in the latest NABC Top 25 Coaches Poll.
"I think this team has learned from some of those close losses we've had and then built some positive momentum right before break,'' Ballard said. "I kind of wish we could have just kept playing but I think our guys are a confident group.
"We're playing a really good team so it will be a tough challenge, but I think our guys feel like we can play with anybody.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University women's basketball kicks off 2024 at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday in Lee Arena, hosting Central Oklahoma in an MIAA contest.
Washburn wrapped up 2023 with a 75-56 home MIAA victory over Northeastern State on Dec. 19, improving to 8-3 overall and 3-2 in the MIAA.
Sophomore Yibari Nwidadah is averaging 14 points and 9.9 rebounds for 8-3 Washburn. [File photo/TSN]
Senior Aubree Dewey is averaging 13.9 points and 6.1 assists for 8-3 Washburn women's basketball. [File photo/TSN]
"Everybody got to go home and had a nice break and everyone did a great job of kind of staying active enough that we were able to hit the ground running when we got back (on Dec. 28th),'' Washburn coach Lora Westling said.
The Ichabods are off to their best overall start since the 2017-2018 season and Westling said WU's start has helped fuel the team's attitude going into the second half of the season.
"It's definitely a lot more fun having that enthusiam going into break and coming back I've been really pleased with our team's effort and attention to detail,'' Westling said. "I think they really want to get better individually and that's showing up as we improve as a team.''
The Bronchos are off to a 2-10 start and are 1-5 in the MIAA after an 84-66 loss to No. 21-ranked Fort Hays State at home on Dec. 19.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Levi Braun feels like a recent health scare was a sign that it was time to begin the next stage in his athletic caeer.
So when Washburn University men's basketball tips off 2024 against Central Oklahoma Thursday night in Lee Arena, the former Hayden star won't be in uniform for the Ichabods but will be still be on the WU bench, beginning his transition to coaching as a volunteer assistant on Brett Ballard's coaching staff.
Former Hayden star Levi Braun will join the Washburn University staff as a volunteer assistant coach after graduating from WU in December and ending his playing career. [File photo/TSN]
Braun, who earned his degree from Washburn in December, said the timing is right to step away from playing while still remaining involved in the sport he loves.
"I was already kind of struggling a little bit this year, kind of felt my body breaking down a little bit and just kind of mentally thinking about where I was with my role on the team,'' Braun said. "I think part of that stress honestly might have helped cause some of the stuff that came about with my heart.
"I prayed a lot and then I did get diagnosed with some heart stuff, which was kind of scary at first, but I'm feeling a lot better now. I think God was telling me it was time to stop playing competitively, but I think I have a calling to coach and to teach this game so I'm very thankful for coach to kind of let me serve out the rest of this season as a volunteer assistant and continue to be around the guys. It's honestly a blessing and I'm excited about this role and just what this team can accomplish for the rest of the season.''
