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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The Washburn Ichabod football team placed two players on the NCAA Division II Conference Commissioner's Association All-American team, with senior return specialist James Letcher Jr. and senior linebacker Grant Bruner earning first-team accolades.
Washburn senior James Letcher Jr. has received his seventh All-America honor as an Ichabod, earning first-team All-D2CCA recognition as a return specialist. [File photo]
Washburn senior linebacker Grant Bruner has received first-team All-America honors from the D2CCA, Bruner's first All-America honor as an Ichabod. [File photo]
The award is Bruner's first All-American award at Washburn and it is Letcher's seventh as an Ichabod, including being a repeat selection on the D2CCA All-American first-team as a return specialist.
The award is voted on by the division's athletic communication and sports information staffs across the country.
A repeat D2CCA first-team all-region selection at return specialist in 2022, Letcher is the two-time MIAA Special Teams Player of the Year as well as a two-time first-team All-MIAA return specialist.
Letcher averaged 26.0 yards per punt return on 11 attempts with two touchdowns, including an 89-yard return against Missouri Southern in the season finale.
Letcher was also a second-team D2CCA all-region pick at wide receiver in 2022.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Seaman's girls basketball team, ranked No. 2 in Class 5A by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association, continued its dominating start to the 2022-2023 season Tuesday night, rolling to a 63-35 United Kansas Conference victory at Piper.
Sophomore Anna Becker led Seaman with 19 points in Tuesday's 63-35 UKC win at Piper, the Vikings' fourth straight victory. [File photo/TSN]
Now 4-0 overall and 3-0 in the UKC, the Vikings got 19 points, six assists, three steals and three 3-pointers from sophomore standout Anna Becker while junior Taylin Stallbaumer contributed 11 points, six rebounds, four assists and three 3-pointers.
Junior Brooklyn Gormley was the third Seaman player to crack double figures, scoring 10 points and grabbing four rebounds.while senior Jaycee Schumann had five assists and four steals.
Seaman players were credited with 18 assists on 21 made baskets while six Vikings combined for the team's 10 3-point baskets.
Seaman will be at home Friday to host sixth-ranked De Soto in a 5:45 p.m. UKC contest.
TOPEKA HIGH GIRLS 75, MANHATTAN 42 -- Defending Centennial League champion Topeka High opened defense of its league title with a 75-42 romp at Manhattan Tuesday night.
The Trojans, ranked 10th in Class 6A by the KBCA, improved to 5-1 on the season with their fifth straight victory as senior Kiki Smith led the way with 18 points, one of four Topeka High players in double figures.
Senior Faith Shields and sophomore Jo'Mhara Benning added 14 points apiece for the Trojans while junior Ladaysha Baird scored 12 points.
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By KYLE MANTHE
Special to TopSports.news
After an 11-0 start things looked promising for the Washburn Rural boys (2-2) on Tuesday night against Shawnee Mission Northwest (2-1), but a stagnant offense the rest of the way cost the Junior Blues late, with Rural losing 58-51 to the Cougars.
“I thought we got pretty good looks, for the most part, most of the night but we hit some early and didn’t hit as many as the game went on,” said Washburn Rural coach Alex Hutchins after his first home game. “Credit to them, they do a good job of pressuring, I think their ball pressure affected us and sped us up.”
Senior Jack Bachelor led Washburn Rural with 17 points in Tuesday's 58-51 non-league loss to Shawnee Mission Northwest. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
After scoring 19 points in the third quarter Rural was outscored 17-9 in the final period to lose at home. The Junior Blues were also without second-leading scorer, senior Wyatt Conklin, as well as sophomore Max Bettis, leading to only seven players seeing action.
Seniors Jack Bachelor and Jacob Hirschi scored nine of the 11 points in Rural’s 11-0 run to open the game. Three 3-pointers in the final four minutes of the quarter by Northwest sophomore Aiven Riley helped spur a 10-0 run and make it 17-13 after one.
Back-to-back layups by junior JC Heim had the Junior Blues ahead late in the second quarter. The Cougars again ended strong, on a 4-0 run to take a 24-23 lead at the half.
The third quarter featured seven lead changes, with the offenses of both teams working as well as they would the whole game. Sophomore Kaden Ballard scored seven straight points for Rural late in the third quarter to bring the Junior Blues from down one to up by three.
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By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
Shawnee Heights' boys basketball team elevated to new heights in Tuesday night's 55-39 victory over Class 5A No. 7-ranked Basehor-Linwood.
The Thunderbirds were locked in, forced turnovers, nailed contested shots and stopped a Basehor-Linwood team that could've easily ruined Shawnee Heights' night.
Brennon Dodge
Jaret Sanchez
Although Shawnee Heights only had five players score points, those five had enough production to earn a 16-point victory.
"Tonight we were able to show everyone how good we are," Shawnee Heights coach Ken Darting said. "We showed that we could play with the best in the state. That team we played tonight is one of the best teams in the state. In my opinion, I think Basehor is a top-five team in the entire state. We needed to play together, which is what we did. We played the game the right way tonight."
Star junior guard Brennon Dodge and standout sophomore Jaret Sanchez had a coming-out party in the Birdcage. Dodge had 18 points, including two 3-pointers, while Sanchez had 17 points and three 3-pointers.
To wrap up the Thunderbird point production, Jeremyah Kendrick added 12 points, Jayden Holly had six and Deacon Pomeroy two.
"Tonight, we didn't get bench help," Darting said. "We have to fix the bench scoring, and we have to get everyone to score. We need eight people to score; right now, we only have five, maybe six. Defensively, we played great tonight. We had to play extra hard against (Tyson) Ruud."
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By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
Learning how to win the right way and developing team chemistry for the Shawnee Heights Lady Thunderbirds has become noticeable throughout the United Kansas Conference.
Shawnee Heights is now rolling with its third straight win after a 48-40 home win over Basehor-Linwood.
Breezy Canady
Taylor Rottinghaus
Emari Doby
According to Shawnee Heights coach Bob Wells, Tuesday night's victory over Basehor-Linwood was the program's first-ever win over the Bobcats since Basehor-Linwood and Shawnee Heights have been a part of the same conference.
"I don't think we've beaten Basehor since the league's started," Wells said. "This is truly a big win for us. Our team really stepped in, did their part and helped out. I thought the girls played really well tonight."
The potential for Shawnee Heights' 2022-2023 campaign is high.
Three of its stars contributed in a big way to Tuesday night's conference victory as Breezy Canady, Taylor Rottinghaus and Emari Doby combined for 39 of the Lady Thunderbirds' 48 total points scored.
The trio has been off to a hot start to kick off the season, and they've had quite the impact on Heights' three-game win streak.
"The girls are so competitive in practice, and I think it's translating," Wells said. "The girls that aren't getting a lot of minutes are pushing the girls that are getting a lot of minutes. I think that competition is making everybody better."
