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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Parirings have been released for this week's sub-state high school basketball tournaments, with 11 Shawnee County teams earning home court advantage for at least the first round of sub-state.
Both Highland Park teams, Seaman's girls, Topeka High's girls and Washburn Rural's boys could all stay at home through both rounds of sub-state competition.
Silver Lake and Rossville will both compete in the Class 3A Perry-Lecompton sub-state while both Cair Paravel Latin teams will compete in the 2A St. Marys sub-state
Here's a look at sub-state tournaments involving Shawnee County teams:
Brittney Redmond's Topeka High girls will open Class 6A sub-state competition at 6 p.m. Wednesday against Garden City. [File photo/TSN]
CLASS 6A GIRLS
West sub-state No. 4 -- Topeka High, which will be shooting for a fifth straight state tournment berth, is in the same sub-state with defending Class 6A champion Washburn Rural.
No. 4 West seed Topeka High will open postseason at 6 p.m. Wednesday at High, with the 15-5 Trojans hosting Garden City (6-14) in a semifinal.
No. 5 seed Rural (14-5) will host Centennial League rival Manhattan (7-13) at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
The winners of those two semifinals will advance to a Saturday championship game.
CLASS 6A BOYS
West sub-state No. 1 -- Topeka High, the No. 16 seed at 3-17, will go on the road Tuesday for a 6 p.m. sub-state semifinal against No. 1 Garden City (19-1).
The winner of that game will advance to a Friday final to meet the winner of the semifinal between No. 8 Junction City (11-9) and No. 9 Free State (11-9).
West sub-state No. 4 -- Washburn Rural is the No. 4 seed in the west at 14-5 and will open its postseason bid at 6 p.m. Tuesday at home against No. 13 Campus (7-13).
The winner of that semifinal will advance to a Friday sub-state championship game to take on the winner of the semifinal between No. 5 Derby (14-6) and No. 12 Wichita West (8-12).
Junior Taylin Stallbaumer and the Seaman girls will enter Class 5A postseason as the top east seed at 19-1. [File photo/TSN]
CLASS 5A GIRLS
East sub-state No. 1 -- Seaman is the No. 1 seed in the east at 19-1 and will be at home for a 7 p.m. Tuesday semifinal to face No. 16 Kansas City-Schlagle (1-15).
The winner of that game will advance to a Friday final to face the winner of the semifinal between No. 8 seed KC-Sumner (14-6) and No. 9 Piper (14-6).
Rob Brown's Highland Park girls, 17-3 on the season, will be at home for Tuesday's Class 5A sub-state semifinal against Leavenworth. [File photo/TSN]
East sub-state No. 3 -- Highland Park (17-3) is the No. 3 east seed and is in the same 5A sub-state bracket with No. 6 seed Shawnee Heights (14-6).
HIghland Park will face No. 14 seed Leavenworth (4-16) in a 7 p.m. semifinal on Tuesday at Hi Park while Shawnee Heights will host No. 11 De Soto (13-7) in a 7 p.m. Tuesday contest.
The two semifinal winners will move on to a Friday championship game.
West sub-state No. 2 -- Topeka West is the No. 15 seed at 6-14 and will travel to No. 2 seed Andover (18-2) for a 6 p.m. Tuesday semifinal. Andover is coached by former Topeka High coach Hannah Alexander.
The winner will advance to Friday's sub-state final to face the winner of the semifinal between No. 7 Goddard Eisenhower (14-6) and No. 10 Salina Central (10-10).
Senior Tre Richardson and the Highland Park boys are a perfect 20-0 entering Class 5A postseason competition. [File photo/TSN]
CLASS 5A BOYS
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
PARK CITY -- Star Seaman wrestler Jaxson Thomas knew he was taking a chance when he decided to jump up two weight classes for his senior season.
That gamble paid off with a state title celebration that isn't likely to end any time soon.
Seaman senior Jaxson Thomas beams after ending his Class 5A 285-pound state championship match with a second-period pin. [Photo by Scott Paske/KSHSAA Covered]
Seaman senior Jaxson Thomas (right) went wire to wire for the Class 5A 285-pound state title, opening up a 9-3 lead over Blue Valley Southwest's Torin Forsyth before recording a second-period pin. [Photo by Scott Paske/KSHSAA Covered]
"I don't think it's actually set in yet,'' Thomas said. "I shared some tears with my family right when it happened, but I don't think it will set in until I'm at home and realize what I achieved. It will be nice when I'm sitting at home in the bed and not aching.
"It definitely brought on some confidence, realizing I could make that move and I could still compete at a different level, a different weight and realizing it's not about how big the dude is I'm facing, it's about who wrestles longer, who's faster and who's more prepared.''
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By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
Topeka West boys basketball coach Rick Bloomquist most likely slept easier on Friday night after his Chargers snapped a four-game losing streak with a 53-48 home overtime victory over United Kansas Conference rival Leavenworth.
It's been a while since Topeka West (13-7) has experienced a draught as it had experienced recently. The Chargers are missing two integral pieces to its successful starting lineup, and the younger guys have had to learn how to play like veterans quickly.
Topeka West freshman Keimani Paul puts up a shot in Friday's 53-48 overtime win over Leavenworth. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Topeka West senior Xavier Alexander led the Chargers with 13 points in Friday's 53-48 overtime win over Leavenworth. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Underclassmen such as freshmen Keimani Paul and Malakyah Duncan and sophomores Mason Jones and Ja'Vian Chambers played like poised veterans in the crucial overtime win against the Pioneers (7-13).
"Obviously, I'm pleased with this win," Bloomquist said. "I'm pleased because of a lot of the intangibles that happened. We missed some easy shots and had unnecessary turnovers, but the thing is when you're playing two freshmen and two sophomores with juniors that didn't play much last year, you have to grow. Usually, it takes a season to grow. We don't have that much time. I saw my young kids really mature with how the game is supposed to be played.
"Leavenworth is a really nice and athletic team, especially on the perimeter. As long as we are and as young as we are, it's sometimes hard to guard the perimeter. But I'm really proud of the (underclassmen's) progression in the last week and a half. It's been a big-time progression."
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By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
The last time the Topeka West girls basketball team defeated Leavenworth, the game went down to the wire in a 38-37 Charger win.
However, Friday night's 54-40 victory over Topeka West's United Kansas Conference foe was a different story.
Freshman Imani McGlory (5) led Topeka West with 14 points in Friday's 54-40 UKC win over Leavenworth. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Senior Jazmyn Ford (44) celebrated Senior Night with 14 points in Friday's 54-40 UKC win over Leavenworth. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
For Topeka West coach Jeff Skar, sweeping Leavenworth in the regular-season series felt great. And despite a collectively good Leavenworth third quarter, Topeka West took complete control of the contest right away.
"I was pleased," Skar said. "Our goal is to win every quarter, and I think we were close to doing that tonight. The last time we played them, we had to survive a last-second 3-point attempt to beat them. And (Leavenworth) looks a lot like us at times.
"They got some athletes and kids that can play. So for us to get the win, it's good for the kids. It's a reward for all of their hard work."
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By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
After coming up short of a Class 6A team berth last season, the Washburn Rural boys bowling team took a runner-up finish in Friday's Class 6A regional at West Ridge Lanes, qualifying the Junior Blues for next Friday's state meet at Northrock Lanes in Wichita.
Washburn Rural's boys bowling team finished second in Friday's regional to earn a team berth in next week's Class 6A state tournament at Wichita. [Photo by Trevor Falcon/Special to TSN]
Washburn Rural knew it had to earn the right to bowl for a state title in a highly-competitive regional field.
“We knew it was going to be tough,” Washburn Rural coach Jo Ricard said. “We’ve been with Olathe South sometimes, and we know what they’ve done. We always know Olathe North has it in their back pocket as well. Junction (City) battled us hard last week, and they’ve battled us in Wichita. It’s up to who’s on and who’s able to make the adjustments the correct way.
“We had some strong points, and we had some struggle points. There was a stress point coming into this today, knowing where we are coming in with the season going the way it has gone for us. But we still had good, quality games, and that’s what it takes. We knew there would be a battle on our hands with all of the schools that were here, knowing how well that they have done throughout the season.”
Josh Hammons and Logan Glinka led the way for Washburn Rural in its quest for a state title, posting top 10 finishes.
