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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Over the course of a long basketball season, even the most successful teams are likely to have nights where they're not at their best and have to find a way, and a will, to win.
Friday was one of those nights for the Centennial League-leading Washburn Rural boys, who stared defeat in the face, particularly at the end of regulation, to escape with a 43-39 overtime league win over Hayden at Rural.
Washburn Rural senior Jack Bachelor celebrates Friday's 43-39 overtime Centennial League win over Hayden at Rural. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Washburn Rural junior JC Heim (25) attempts to block a shot from Hayden's Joe Otting in the Junior Blues' 43-39 overtime win over the Wildcats. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
"That's what we said in the locker room afterwards, that sometimes you've got to win ugly,'' Rural coach Alex Hutchins said. "Sometimes there's nights where easy shots aren't falling and you've got to find a way to get it done.
"We were proud of the way they kind of locked down and found a way.''
Washburn Rural, which improved to 13-4 overall and 6-1 in the league, led by a slight margin for most of the night, but missed opportunities to put the Wildcats away until opening the extra session with a 7-0 run and getting four free throws from senior Jack Bachelor over the final 33.5 seconds to clinch the Junior Blues' sixth straight victory.
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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.
