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By Rick Peterson
TopSports.news
While fans, players and even some coaches may get more fired up by slam dunks, acrobatic scoring plays and long-distance 3-pointers, it's defense that excites hall of fame high school basketball coach Ken Darting more than any other facet of the game.
Sophomore Jaret Sanchez scored a game-high 18 points, with three 3-pointers and a 4-point play, in Shawnee Heights' 69-32 UKC romp past Leavenworth Friday night. [File photo/TSN]
And Darting had plenty to get excited about Friday night in Shawnee Heights' 69-32 United Kansas Conference romp past Leavenworth at Heights.
Leavenworth jumped out to a 7-2 lead in the first three and a half minutes of the game, but the Pioneers were held scoreless over the next 10 and a half minutes as the T-Birds went on a 26-2 run to take charge.
"Defense just sets up everything, it just does,'' Darting said. "We walk in and see some of those athletes and you think, 'Oh my God, what are we going to do with them?' But we just help each other so much.
"What's making the difference this year over the last four years, and certainly the last two, is the kids believe the same thing I do. They believe that defense wins, that they can't go out and get in a shootout and win.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Getting the opportunity to come home to Hayden as a school counselor wasa dream come true for Corrinne (Stringer) McGreevy.
Corrinne (Stringer) McGreevy, who helped lead Hayden to its first Class 4A state volleyball championship in 2007, has been named the Wildcats' head coach. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
And now the 2008 Hayden graduate will get the chance to guide the Wildcat volleyball program she starred in, which is icing on the cake.
"I love being a school counselor,'' McGreevy said. "I love this job so much, I can't say that enough, but now that I get to coach on top of that, too, and be a part of the game I love is just so exciting for me.''
McGreevy led Hayden to its first Class 4A state championship as a senior in 2007 after a pair of third-place state finishes and went on to play college volleyball at Kansas, Pittsburg State and Washburn.
McGreevy was coached her final three seasons in high school by Jesica Farmer-Walter and Carrie Schmidt and said the two coaches strongly encouraged to take on the coaching role.
"One hundred percent,'' McGreevy said. "They've been so positive and uplifting with it and they really encouraged me to take it. They just kept telling me all these positive things, how I could really make an impact on these girls, and they talked about how I know what it takes to win a state title and because I went here they said, 'It would be a great fit for you.' ''
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By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
SILVER LAKE – The Silver Lake boys' basketball squad cut into a substantial deficit against Clay Center late in the fourth quarter on Thursday evening, but couldn't complete its rally and secure the victory.
Despite a low-scoring second quarter, Silver Lake kept itself an eyelash away from winning in the 57-49 loss to non-conference opponent Clay Center.
Senior Troy Heiman scored a team-high 13 points in Thursdays 57-49 non-league loss to Clay Center. [File photo/TSN]
Silver Lake faced multiple double-digit deficits throughout the game, and several times throughout the game the Eagles brought the game back within either four or five points.
Clay Center sophomore Cole Pladson was a nightmare for Silver Lake in the first half. Pladson had a game-high 25 points with 20 of those coming in the first half.
"We didn't do a good job, especially against (Cole Pladson)," Silver Lake coach Johnny Roberts said. "He got downhill and attacked… did a great job and killed us. Their penetration and quickness overmatched us at times tonight.
"We tried to shut (Pladson) down in the second half, put Dayne (Johnson) on (Pladson), and it helped, but it might've been a little too late. I probably made that adjustment too late tonight, and I should've made that adjustment quicker. It's not fair to our guys, and I should've done a better job as the coach."
Silver Lake kept Clay Center scoreless for 2:46 in the first quarter. Silver Lake used that defensive momentum to key a 6-0 drive to begin the game. Clay Center took less than two minutes to bite back with a run of its own.
Pladson had all seven points in a 7-0 Tiger run. That run forced Roberts to take a timeout as Clay Center gained a 7-6 lead with 3:36 remaining in the first quarter.
In the final 3:36, 6-foot-4 Fort Hays State football signee Braxton McDaniel gave the Silver Lake offense a spark. McDaniel provided seven points off of the bench and hit a free throw to give Silver Lake a one-point lead before the first quarter clock expired.
"Braxton has been huge for us off the bench," Roberts said. "He's really stepped into his role. He knows his role and does a good job. He did a better job today of knowing when the defense was going to come and collapse. He did a great job of attacking and squaring up while knowing where everyone was."
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By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
SILVER LAKE – It was just another night in the office for Class 3A's No. 6-ranked Silver Lake's girls' basketball team on Thursday night as the Eagles swiftly took care of business over non-conference opponent Clay Center, 64-38.
Silver Lake junior Makenzie McDaniel led the way with 19 points as the No. 6-ranked Eagles to a 64-38 win over Clay Center Thursday night. [File photo/TSN]
The Lady Eagles notched another dominant win in a near unblemished season while Clay Center was worn down, out-worked and needed help to keep up with Silver Lake's aggressive fastbreak offense.
Since the Lady Eagles lost its first and only game of the season on Jan. 13 against Mid-East League foe Riley County, they've smothered the opposition.
After its only loss of the 2022-2023 campaign eight games ago, Silver Lake has had a positive point differential of 163.
"You learn from every game, and we learned a lot from Riley (County)," Silver Lake coach Kyle Porter said. "I don't know if it was a turning point for us; I just think it was a game for us to learn from and get better. I think what we are seeing right now is a result of coming in and getting better each and every day.
"I mean, there is no magic from that loss, and now everything is great. I think it's just playing more consistent basketball, getting better shots on the offensive end, and we are really improving our defense and finding out what we have to do to get consistent stops against quality teams."
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
MANHATTAN (8-6, 2-2) at HAYDEN (6-6, 1-3)
Hayden was off Tuesday after a 58-51 non-league home loss to Shawnee Heights last Friday. Manhattan is coming off a 67-59 loss to Blue Valley, its third straight loss. Senior Joe Otting and junior Jacob Padilla scored 14 points apiece in the Wildcats' loss to Shawnee Heights, with Otting going six of six at the free throw line. Senior Jake Muller also cracked double figures for Hayden with 11 points.
Washburn Rural senior Jack Bachelor is coming off a 27-point performance in Tuesday's 65-60 non-league road win at Blue Valley. [File photo/TSN]
EMPORIA (10-4, 3-1) at WASHBURN RURAL (10-4, 3-1)
Senior Jack Bachelor scored 27 points in Washburn Rural's 65-60 non-league victory over Blue Valley on Tuesday. Bachelor went nine of 13 from the field and six of seven from the free throw line against the Tigers while sophomore Kaden Ballard added 13 points while hitting four of seven 3-point attempts. Emporia is coming off a 41-39 win over Manhattan.
LEAVENWORTH (4-9, 2-8) at SHAWNEE HEIGHTS (10-4, 7-3)
Shawnee Heights posted a 57-48 United Kansas Conference road win at Basehor-Linwood on Tuesday, giving the T-Birds a regular-season sweep over the Bobcats. Sophomore Jaret Sanchez led Heights with 16 points while junior Brennon Dodge added 15 points, seniors Jeremyah Kendrick and Q Stovall eight points apiece and sophomore Deacon Pomeroy seven. Leavenworth has lost four straight games, including a 67-60 non-league loss to Bonner Springs on Tuesday. Heights beat Leavenworth 61-40 in an earlier game between the two teams.
Senior Jahmir Kingannon scored 18 points with five 3-pointers in Thursday's 79-48 Meadowlark Conference win over KC-Schlagle. [File photo/TSN]
HIGHLAND PARK (13-0, 6-0) at KC-WYANDOTTE (3-10, 3-4)
Highland Park, top-ranked in Class 5A, will be playing its third game in four days. The Scots are coming off a 79-48 Meadowlark Conference home win over KC-Schlagle Thursday night, with seniors Tre Richardson and Jahmir Kingcannon scoring 18 points apiece and senior Bo Aldridge adding 11 points. Kingcannon canned five 3-pointers on the night. Highland Park took a 95-42 win over Wyandotte earlier in the season. The Bulldogs are coming off a 65-62 league win over KC-Harmon on Tuesday.
