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By KYLE MANTHE
Special to TopSports.news
No. 4-seeded Washburn Rural boys basketball quite literally experienced the highest highs and the lowest lows in Friday night's sub-state finals matchup against Derby, believing that they would be heading to state for moments at a time that were quickly whisked away.
Senior Jack Bachelor ended his Washburn Rural career with 31 points in Friday's 74-72 four-overtime loss to Derby. [Photo by Trevor Falcon/Special to TSN]
Washburn Rural sophomore Kaden Ballard looks for operating room in Friday's four-overtime 74-72 sub-state loss to Derby. [Photo by Trevor Falcon/Special to TSN]
The game was ultimately decided in the fourth overtime on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Derby sophomore Jack Ulwelling to give the Panthers a trip to state with the 74-72 win, and ending Rural’s season in heartbreaking fashion.
“I’m proud of the way we battled, there were times when we weren’t as tough as we needed to be, but we fought through a lot with Jacob (Hirchi) fouling out and Jack (Bachelor) fouling out and with his injury … I’m proud of these guys,” said Washburn Rural coach Alex Hutchins.
With .3 of a second remaining in the second overtime, Washburn Rural was charged with a technical foul for leaving the bench in celebration after a last-second heave by Derby had gone out of bounds. If not called the game would have ended 59-57 in favor of the home team.
“It’s a tough play because there was .3 seconds on the clock, the ball goes out of bounds, the referee throws his arm up and the buzzer goes off, “ said Washburn Rural assistant coach Kyle Fowler. “They called it the way they had to call it but it’s tough for these kids.”
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By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
There wasn't a message that echoed as loud in the Highland Park girls basketball locker room more than, "trust the process."
Highland Park poses for a team picture after punching its ticket to the Class 5A state tournament with a 51-50 win over Shawnee Heights. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Sophomore Amelia Ramsey (32) led Highland Park with 16 points and 10 rebounds in Friday's 51-50 sub-state win over Shawnee Heights. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
It wasn't long ago when Highland Park could barely fill a roster to suit up to compete.
However, after a winless 2020 season and a four-win 2021 season, the Scots have tallied 19 wins in the 2022-2023 season and clinched a spot in the Class 5A state tournament with a 51-50 nailbiting win over Shawnee Heights Friday night at Highland Park.
"A lot of mixed emotions, this was a long process," second-year Scots coach Rob Brown said. "Some of these girls I've been coaching since they were fifth, fourth grade. I just felt it all day long. I knew this was going to happen. I just had a good feeling. It's just meant to be. Like I've been saying, trust the process, baby.
"They just bought in. They let us do what we got to do with them on the court, off the court. They let us try to teach them how to grow up as young ladies. It's a lot of work. They did a lot of work over here. That's why you see my emotions right now. I'm proud of these girls; I'm proud of all of them."
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By Todd Fertig
TopSports.news
The top-ranked Seaman girls left nothing to chance Friday in their bid to play in the Class 5A state tournament in Emporia, running away from visiting Piper 57-25 to improve to 21-1 on the season.
Seaman's girls basketball team poses with its Class 5A sub-state championship trophy after Friday night's 57-25 win over Piper. [Photo by Todd Fertig/TSN]
The Vikings weren’t about to let happen what they experienced last year when they fell in the sub-state final to Andover Central. That defeat snapped a three-year string of state appearances.
“What is delayed is not denied,” said Seaman coach Matt Tinsley while his team posed with the tournament trophy. “These girls wanted this game.
“Our thought before the game was that we’ve been here before. We know what it takes. We said, ‘Players play, but tough players win.’ We have got some tough kids on this team.”
Leading the way for the was freshman Maddie Gragg, who tallied 19 points on nine of 14 shooting.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
WICHITA -- A year ago, Josh Hammons was Washburn Rural's lone representative in the Class 6A state bowling tournament after qualftying as an individual.
Washburn Rural reacts to the news that it had won the Class 6A state bowling championship Friday at Northrock Lanes in Wichita. [Photo by Selena Favela/Special to TSN]
Washburn Rural senior Josh Hammons hoists the state championship trophy Friday at Northrock Lanes in Wichita. [Photo by Selena Favela/Special to TSN]
Hammons was back at state Friday with the full Rural team in tow and the Junior Blues brought home a state championship after one of the most dominating performances in state history.
"It's 100 percent better,'' Hammons said.
The Junior Blues built a precarious 11-pin advantage through the three American Ten-Pin games and then buried the field with a crazy-good performance in the four Baker format games, finishing with a 135-pin victory over runner-up Olathe Northwest.
It was the comeback of the year for a Washburn Rural team which didn't make it to state a year ago after a disappointing performance at regionals.
Rural's winning 3,711 pin total was the most ever scored by a 6A team in the state tournament. Only Kapaun Mt. Carmel in 2021 finished with a higher total, winning 5-1A that season by 355 pins with a 3,769 total.
“We’ve stressed all year long what it was going to take,” Washburn Rural coach Jo Ricard said. “All week long, it’s been to the boys, ‘Do what you’re capable of doing and let’s let it all fall together from there.’ ”
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By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
PERRY – Despite a closely contested opening quarter, Rossville crushed Jefferson West for the next three quarters in its Class 3A sub-state semifinal, resulting in a 60-32 romp on Thursday night.
Rossville junior Kinsey Perine led the Bulldawgs with a game-high 15 points in a 60-32 sub-state semifinal rout over Jefferson West Thursday. [File photo/TSN]
Rossville (16-6) is playing its best basketball at the right time. In the opening round of the 3A sub-state, the Dawgs outmatched Perry-Lecompton 61-14 three days ago. After Thursday's win, Rossville has outscored the first two opponents in the postseason, 121-46.
Rossville was tenacious on defense, explosive on offense, and easily flew around against Jefferson West (6-16) at Perry-Lecompton. The Dawgs are on a streak of executing each phase of the game and are ready for the challenges ahead.
"We are happy for the win," Rossville coach Michael Bell said. "Jeff West is a gritty team, and they played us hard. Overall, it was a great win. The first quarter was close, but we kept building a lead after that. I thought our girls played hard. I didn't think we shot it very well, and I don't think we did a great job rebounding or blocking out well. It's one game at a time, but I'm happy we won."
Rossville had four double-digit scorers against Jefferson West. Junior Kinsey Perine had a game-high 15 points, while junior Katie Spielman had 14. Junior Emma Mitchell and freshman Rylee Dick each had 12-point nights.
