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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Both Washburn University men's basketball coach Brett Ballard and 6-foot-2 guard Jack Bachelor thought the former Washburn Rural star might be wearing a redshirt during his first season of college basketball.
Former Washburn Rural star Jack Bachelor is off to a solid start for Washburn University as a true freshman, averaging 10.3 points and 3.3 assists for the 2-2 Ichabods. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
But Bachelor's strong summer and preseason performance quickly changed those thoughts and Bachelor has quickly cemented his place in Ballard's rotation for the 2-2 Ichabods after scoring 12 points off bench in his college debut.
Entering Tuesday's 7:30 p.m. home non-conference game against Ottawa, Bachelor has played 21.3 minutes per game while averaging 10.3 points and 3.3 assists on 65.2 percent shooting from the field and 85.7 percent from the free throw line.
"We did (consider redshirting him), honestly,'' Ballard said. "We had talked about that being a potential option and Jack has been a pleasant surprise. I knew he'd be good, but I didn't know he'd be this good, this early.
"I thought maybe the biggest challenge would just be athletically, but he's held his own from that standpoint and is heady, high IQ and not afraid.''
Bachelor also thought it might take a while to get on the floor for the Ichabods.
"It was a consideration redshirting, just because I'm not physically the biggest, strongest guy and we have a lot of really good guards, but I decided I wasn't going to,'' he said.
Bachelor, whose father Aaron and mother Angie both played at WU, said he proved to himself in the season-opening pair of games in the Central Region Crossover in Kansas City, Mo. that he could be successful at the Division II level.
"I had an idea that I might play so I was ready to just give whatever I could to the team and when I got in I was ready to go,'' Bachelor said. "I surprised myself a little. I have confidence in myself, but it was a really good two first games and I couldn't ask for more.
"I was talking to my parents and I was like, 'I don't know what my expectations were, but that was really fun.' ''
Washburn Rural product Jack Bachelor drives to the basket in last Saturday's 82-66 win over Rockhurst. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Bachelor has cracked double figures in three of four games and is coming off a 10-point, five-assist performance in last Saturday's 82-66 win over Rockhurst.
"He loves to compete,'' Ballard said. "You can tell he enjoys being in the gym and likes the competition. I think that part of it gives you a chance to get better every day and gives me confidence as a coach to put him in the game.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Finn Dunshee
FINN DUNSHEE, Hayden
A 5-foot-10, 185-pound senior, Dunshee carried the ball 13 times for 129 yards and scored four touchdowns as Hayden advanced to the Class 3A state football championship game with a 42-14 playoff win over Holton Friday night at Hayden. Dunshee, who saw his most extensive action since suffering a knee injury in Week 5, scored on a 65-yard run on the Wildcats' first play from scrimmage and also added a 4-yard TD run and hooked up with Connor Hanika for 4 and 30-yard TD passes.
Yibari Nwidadah
YIBARI NWIDADAH, Washburn University
Nwidadah, a 6-2 sophomore center, was named the Most Outstanding Player in the Hansen Speark Funeral Home Classic at Quincy, Ill. after helping lead the 3-1 Washburn women's basketball team to a pair of lopsided wins and the Ichabods' third straight win overall. Nwidadah, an Olathe North product, scored 10 points and grabbed five rebounds in just 14 minutes of action in Friday's 80-64 win over McKendree and scored 15 points and grabbed eight rebounds in 20 minutes in Saturday's 97-62 win over Quincy, Ill. Nwidadah is averaging 13.5 points and 10.5 rebounds, with two double-doubles.
Jensen Schrickel
JENSEN SCHRICKEL, Hayden
A 5-10, 150 junior, Schrickel scored a pair of touchdowns in Friday's 42-14 Class 3A state semifinal win over Holton at Hayden. Schrickel returned a kickoff 60 yards for a TD after Holton had scored its first touchdown of the night to cut Hayden's lead to 21-7 and Schrickel scored on a 28-yard touchdown pass from Connor Hanika to help Hayden put the game away after Holton had cut the Wildcats' lead to 28-14. Schrickel also scored on a two-point conversion pass from Hanika.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The Washburn Ichabods were the drama queens on Sunday at Yager Stadium, rallying from a 2-0 halftime defict to stun Central Missouri 3-2 in double overtime and move on to the third round of the NCAA Division II Soccer Championships.
https://www.topsports.news/news/washburn-rallies-from-2-0-deficit-in-ncaa-soccer-championships-to-stun-central-missouri-3-2-in-ot
Washburn's Khloe Schuckman (11), who scored two goals, including the game-winner, and her teammates celebrate the goal by Aubrey Tanksley (9) that forced overtime Sunday against Central Missouri. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
The Ichabods, who improved to 18-3-1, forced overtime on a goal from sophomore Aubrey Tanksley with just two seconds remaining in regulation and got the game-winning goal with just 1 minute, 25 seconds remaining in the second 10-minute overtime period on an acrobatic shot from junior Khloe Schuckman, her second goal of the game that capped an improbable comeback.
"We just focused on ourselves and they produced an incredible effort,'' Washburn coach Davy Phillips said of the Ichabods' performace in the second half and the overtimes. "I've been telling them all year, when we do what we're supposed to with high energy, we're as good as anybody in the country and I think for certain periods of the game today we showed that quality.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Carlos Kelly confirmed to TopSports.news Sunday that he has resigned as Topeka High's head football coach after four seasons at the Trojan helm.
Carlos Kelly confirmed to TSN that he has resigned as Topeka High's head football coach after four seasons. [File photo/TSN]
Kelly said he submitted his resignation after a meeting with Topeka High's administration on Friday.
"After meeting with the administration it was decided that it was probably a good time for a new coach to come in and get a fresh start,'' Kelly said.
Kelly, who previously served as an assistant at Topeka High under former Trojan coach Walt Alexander, posted a 6-27 record in his four seasons as High's head coach, including back-to-back 1-8 seasons the past two years.
The Trojans' lone win this fall came in Week 4, with Topeka High rolling to a 39-10 Centennial League win over Emporia.
Topeka High played arguably what was one of the state's toughest schedules the past two seasons, with High's foes compiling a 136-60 overall record over that span.
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By Todd Fertig
TopSports.news
Runners of all ages, as well as a few animals, enjoyed unseasonably warm weather for the 10th annual Winter Wonderland 5K at Lake Shawnee Saturday night.
Participants line up for the start of Saturday's 10th annual Winter Wonderland 5K at Lake Shawnee. [Photo by Todd Fertig/TSN]
Participants took advantage of warm weather and the chance to show their holiday spirit in Saturday's Winter Wonderland 5K. [Photo by Todd Fertig/TSN]
Decked in garish Christmas sweaters and tutus, adorned with strands of lights and reindeer antlers, the runners navigated their way through the holiday light display, enjoying the temperature that hovered around 60 degrees at the start of the race.
Funds raised from the race, sponsored by the Sunflower State Games, support TARC, a program dedicated to the service of children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. That cause is dear to a few of the participants, including Topekan Meagan Busey, whose son received services from TARC when he was young.
“It’s a great cause,” Busey said. “It was a great benefit to our son when he was a little guy, and we continue to support it. This race is fun because you get to dress up. Everyone can put their own spin on it and get into the holiday cheer.”
