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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
After a experiencing a slow start Tuesday at Junction City, No. 6-ranked (Class 6A) Washburn Rural reversed the script Friday night, jumping out to a 20-5 first-quarter advantage on the way to a 55-29 home Centennial League win over No. 8-ranked (4A) Hayden.
Senior Brooklyn DeLeye goes up for two of her game-high 18 points in Friday's 55-29 Centennial League win over Hayden at Rural. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Washburn Rural senior Chloe Carlgren draws a foul in the first quarter of Rural's 55-39 Centennial League win over Hayden Friday night. Carlgren scored 13 points for Rural. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
With the win, Washburn Rural improved to 12-4 overall and a perfect 7-0 in the Centennial League, protecting its two-game lead in the league race.
Hayden and Rural were tied at 3-3 after a 3-pointer from the Wildcats' Brylee Meier, but the Junior Blues went on a 15-0 run, including three 3-pointers and a traditional three-point play, to take command at 18-3 and was still on top by 15 at the end of the quarter after a hoop from senior Chloe Carlgren.
"I thought we had more energy tonight and I thought in the first half our defensive intensity was really pretty good,'' Washburn Rural coach Kevin Bordewick said. "We kind of had an idea of what they might do and what we could do against it.
"I thought we had a lot of energy, more intensity, and I thought everybody contributed. Outside shots, when they go in, everything loooks good.''

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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Coming off a 34-point MIAA win at Newman on Wednesday, the Washburn University men return to Lee Arena on Saturday for the first time in two weeks to host to nationally-ranked Central Oklahoma at 3 p.m.
The Ichabods are 11-11 overall and 8-8 in the MIAA after shooting down the Newman Jets 95-61 last time out while the Bronchos are 21-2 overall and sit atop of the MIAA standings with a 15-2 record.
Sophomore Andrew Orr leads Washburn with a 13.9 scoring average entering Saturday's 3 p.m. MIAA home game against Central Oklahoma. [File photo/TSN]
Central Oklahoma, ranked No 4 in one national poll and No. 6 in another, has not played since a 66-51 win over Fort Hays State on Feb. 4 in Edmond, Okla.
UCO won the first meeting with the Ichabods this season, taking a 72-57 decision on Dec. 31 in Edmond.
Sophomore Andrew Orr leads the Ichabods with a 13.9 scoring average while averaging 14.6 points in MIAA contests. Orr recorded his second double-double of the season against Newman when he had 14 points and 10 rebounds. He is third on the team in rebounds at 5.9 per game.
Tyler Nelson is averaging 12.2 points and has reached double digits in eight of his last nine games, averaging 15.7 points over that span.

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'By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
HAYDEN (7-7, 2-4) at WASHBURN RURAL (12-4, 5-1)
Sophomore Kaden Ballard (left) scored the game-winning basket at the buzzer in Tuesday night's 46-44 Centennial League win over Junction City. [File photo/TSN]
Hayden is coming off a heartbreaking 39-38 home Centennial League loss to Emporia on Tuesday while No. 10-ranked (Class 6A) Washburn Rural took over sole possession of the Centennial League lead with a 46-44 thriller at Junction City. Hayden was whistled for a foul at the .3 mark of the fourth quarter against Emporia and the Spartans hit a free throw for the game-winning point. Washburn Rural's game at Junction City also went down to the wire, with Junior Blue sophomore Kaden Ballard scoring at the buzzer to give Rural the win. Senior Joe Otting scored 12 points and freshman Ayden McGibboney 11 for Hayden against Emporia while seniors Wyatt Conklin and Jack Bachelor scored 11 and nine points, respectively, for the Junior Blues against Junction City. Rural took a 46-36 win over Hayden in an earlier game.
Senior Aron Davis scored 26 points in Seaman's 67-46 United Kansas Conference victory over KC-Turner on Tuesday. [File photo/TSN]
SEAMAN (8-7, 5-6) at TOPEKA WEST (12-4, 9-3)
Seaman moved back above .500 with a 67-46 United Kansas Conference win over Kansas City-Turner on Tuesday while No. 8-ranked (Class 5A) Topeka West is coming off a 67-48 league loss at Shawnee Heights. Senior Aron Davis scored 26 points for the Seaman in the Vikings' win over Turner while senior Malachi Berg scored 14 points and senior Sincere Austin 11 for Topeka West against Shawnee Heights. Topeka West took a 74-62 UKC win at Seaman in the first game between the Chargers and the Vikings this season.
ROSSVILLE (6-10, 2-4) at SILVER LAKE (4-12, 3-4)
Rossville and Silver Lake will both be looking to get back on track in Friday's Mid-East League rematch. Silver Lake was off Tuesday night after a 74-67 league loss to St. Mary's last Friday while Rossville is coming off a 64-45 non-league loss to Osage City. Freshman Jack Donovan scored 14 points with four 3-pointers for the Bulldawgs in the loss to Osage City. Rossville took a 50-43 Mid-East League win over the Eagles earlier this season.

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'By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
HAYDEN (9-5, 2-4) at WASHBURN RURAL (11-4, 6-0)
Senior Chloe Carlgren and Centennial League-leading Washburn Rural will host Hayden on Friday. [File photo/TSN]
Washburn Rural, ranked No. 6 in Class 6A, maintained its two-game lead in the Centennial League race with a 46-28 league win at Junction City on Tuesday while No. 8-ranked (Class 4A) Hayden is coming off a 44-32 Centennial League loss to Emporia. Hayden got 22 points from junior Lauren Sandstrom against Emporia. Washburn Rural was on top by just a point at halftime (23-22) in Tuesday's game at Junction City but the Junior Blues outscored the Blue Jays 23-6 in the second half. Washburn Rural took a 56-32 win over Hayden earlier this season.
Freshman Maddie Gragg (left) is in the midst of an outstanding freshman season for 14-1 Seaman, which will play at Topeka West on Friday. [Photo by Brent Maycock/KSHSAA Covered]
SEAMAN (14-1, 10-1) at TOPEKA WEST (5-11, 4-8)
Top-ranked (Class 5A) Seaman is coming off a 70-8 United Kansas Conference win over Kansas City-Turner on Tuesday while Topeka West dropped a 43-26 UKC decision at Shawnee Heights. Sophomore Kinley Wilhelm and freshman Maggie Gragg scored 12 points apiece for Seaman against Turner while sophomore Maggie Moulden had a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Senior Azayah Duncan scored 10 points for Topeka West against Shawnee Heights with three 3-pointers. Seaman beat Topeka West 60-26 earlier in the year.

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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural's boys swimming team had its three-year Centennial League winning streak snapped by Manhattan Thursday at the Capitol Federal Natatorium, with the Indians winning their first league team title since 2009 by a 431-375 margin over the Junior Blues.
Washburn Rural standout Brogan Meier looks up at the scoreboard after winning the Centennial League title in the 100-yard backstroke. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Washburn Rural's Jack Miranda swims to a Centennial League title in the 500 freestyle Thursday, one of his three gold medals on the day. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
But even in defeat, Rural standout Brogan Meier feels like the Junior Blues still have plenty of confidence going into next week's Class 6A state championships and beyond.
"Last year we barely overtook Seaman and this year without Seaman (now in the United Kansas Conference) we knew it was basically going to be us and Manhattan and we were going to fight for every point, every first, every second place,'' Meier said. "Even before the meet started we were all talking to each other that every point counts.
"We still have plenty of confidence going into next week. In fact, I'll say we'll have plenty of confidence going into next year. We're all going to come back stronger, we're going to get our team better and we're going to take that trophy back.''
Both Meier and Jack Miranda captured three gold medals -- two individual wins and a relay victory -- in the league meet as both Rural and Manhattan won five events apiece.
Meier won the 100-yard freestyle (48.79 seconds) and the 100 backstroke (55.76) while Miranda won the 200 freestyle (1:46.47) and the 500 free (4:53.69). Meier and Miranda also swam on Rural's winning 400 free relay (3:26.57).
Miranda's times this season have established him as a state title contender and he said he used the league meet to tune up for the state meet.
"I've been working as hard as I can in practice,'' Miranda said. "I think today was just myself getting prepared for next week. I had a good 200 free. My 500 free wasn't the best 500 I've had but it was right there next to my best time and I think that's just because I've been training as hard as I can every single day so my body's not rested enough. But this next week that's all I'm going to be doing, resting up and getting ready to try to take that No. 1 spot.''