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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
As you would probably expect from teams that were virtually even in season records and postseason seedings, Tuesday's Hayden-Mulvane Class 4A regional soccer opener was a close game from start to finish.
But the only goal of the game was enough to allow Hayden to extend its season, with the hosts taking the 1-0 victory to advance to Thursday's regional final at 16-1-0 Buhler.
Hayden senior Jake Muller pressures Mulvane's Chance Brown in Tuesday's 1-0 Hayden Class 4A regional win. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Hayden senior Konnor Becker kicks a shot on goal in Tuesday's 1-0 Hayden win over Mulvane in a Class 4A regional soccer opener. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"Give them credit,'' Hayden coach Klaus Kreutzer said of Mulvane. "I think they made us work pretty hard and we were on our haunches a good part of the time, but we'll take it.''
Hayden, the No. 8 seed in the 4A West regional pairings, improved to 8-8-1 on the season while No. 9 seed Mulvane ended its season at 7-10-0.
There was no scoring in Tuesday's contest for more than 62 minutes before freshman Aiden Roberts found the back of the net off a pass from senior Jake Muller for the game-winner.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Sure, veteran Washburn Rural volleyball coach Kevin Bordewick and his Junior Blues would like to forget about what happened in last year's state volleyball tournament when Rural dropped tough three-set matches in the semifinal and third-place matches to finish fourth after opening the season with 41 straight wins.
Washburn Rural senior star Brooklyn DeLeye recently went over the 2,000 kill mark for her career and will be playing in her fourth Class 6A state tournament for the Junior Blues this weekend. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
Washburn Rural will be looking for its eighth Class 6A state volleyball title this weekend in Salina. [File photo/TSN]
But although its a painful memory, Bordewick said Rural has discussed what transpired a year ago and what they need to do to make sure that this weekend in the Class 6A state tournament at Salina has a happier end.
"We already have talked about it because I don't want it to be the white elephant in the room,'' Bordewick said. "We talk about the pressure, we talk about what's expected, we talk about what happened last year and how we didn't show up and compete, and I think that will drive us a little bit.
"I think it will help us if it's talked about and out there. I don't want it hidden and then all of a sudden something goes bad and it just snowballs on us.''
Washburn Rural is in much the same position it was a year ago, entering Friday's pool play as the No. 1 seed with a 40-1 record.
Senior Taylor Russell and the Washburn Rural volleyball team will take a 40-1 record into Friday's Class 6A state tournament at Salina. [File photo/TSN]
Washburn Rural's Zoe Canfield will be playing in her third Class 6A state volleyball tournament this weekend as a junior. [File photo/TSN]
Senior Brooklyn DeLeye, who recently eclipsed the 2,000 kill mark for her career, leads a veteran Rural team that also includes tournament-tested seniors Taylor Russell, Chloe Carlgren and Katie Borough and juniors Zoe Canfield and Jada Ingram.
Bordewick is confident that having another year's experience could pay off for the Junior Blues this weekend.
"I think any experience always helps and I think we've seen that maturity,'' Bordewick said. "And no offense to any of the seniors that were on last year's team, but I do think this group, even though we lost once early, is actually a little bit better as far as understanding each other than last year, just because of another year that we've gotten under our belt.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Ma'Kenttis Adams
MA'KENTTIS ADAMS, Washburn Rural
A 5-foot-9, 195-pound senior running back, Adams ran for a career-high 205 yards and scored four touchdowns on just five attempts as Washburn Rural completed a 6-2 regular season and earned a home berth for the Class 6A football playoffs with an 81-12 non-league Senior Night romp past Topeka West at Bowen-Glaze Stadium.
Lois Deeter
LOIS DEETER, Seaman
The Seaman senior completed her banner high school girls golf career with her third state medal, finishing seventh last Tuesday in the Class 5A state meet with a 36-hole total of 156 after a pair of 78s at Hesston Golf Course. Deeter earned state medals in all three of her high school seasons, also placing fifth as a freshman and junior.
Payton Fink
PAYTON FINK, Washburn Rural
Fink, a sophomore, followed up her city and Centennial Leaue titles with the individual win in last Saturday's Class 6A girls regional cross country meet at Manhattan's Warner Park. Fink led the Junior Blues to a second-place team finish by just two points to Free State. Fink clocked a winning five-kilometer time of 18 minutes, 49.90 seconds.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
When three-sport standout Tyce Brown left Shawnee Heights in 2019 he was all set to be a college baseball player.
But nearly three years later, after a breakout season for Washburn University football, the 6-foot, 185-pound wide receiver is convinced that he belongs on the gridiron.
Former Shawnee Heights three-sport standout Tyce Brown has been a key contributor for the 5-3 Washburn football team this fall, including seven catches and a TD in last Saturday's 37-9 win over Central Oklahoma. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Brown began his college career at Division I Xavier in baseball and was a member of the Ichabod football and baseball teams after transferring to WU in the fall of 2020.
But it's in football where Brown has made his biggest contribution, moving into a prominent role for the 5-3 Ichabods.
Brown played in 10 games in 2021 as a receiver and member of WU's special teams, making seven catches for 97 yards, but he has already blown away those numbers this fall.
Entering this Saturday's game at Northeastern State, Brown has 20 catches for 234 yards and two touchdowns, including 11 catches for 104 yards and both TDs over the past two games while stepping in to help take up the slack left by an injury to senior receiver Collin Wilson.
Brown is coming off his best game as an Ichabod in last Saturday's 37-9 romp past Central Oklahoma, making seven grabs for 68 yards, including a 16-yard touchdown.
"I'm having fun and putting a lot of trust in my teammates, putting a lot of trust in my coaches and just doing what they're asking of me,'' Brown said. "I'm just ready to go whenever my number's called.
"We put the work in, so whenever I step on the field I'm confident I can get it done.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Seven Shawnee County football teams wrapped up home playoff berths in Friday night's regular-season finales, led by Highland Park, which earned the No. 3 seed in Class 5A East.
The 6-2 Scots will be at Hummer Sports Park Friday to host 1-7 Emporia, Highland Park's former Centennial League rival..
Also hosting home games will be Washburn Rural in 6A, Seaman and Shawnee Heights in 5A, Hayden in 3A and Silver Lake and Rossville in 2A.
Here's a class-by-class look at all of Friday's first-round playoff games involving county teams:
CLASS 6A
DODGE CITY (4-4) at WASHBURN RURAL (6-2)
Washburn Rural senior Ma'kenttis Adams rushed for 205 yards on just five carries and scored four touchdowns in the Junior Blues' 81-12 non-league win over Topeka West Friday night. [File photo/TSN]
Friday's game features an intriguing coaching matchup between Washburn Rural's Steve Buhler and Dodge City's Glenn O'Neil, who coached at Seaman prior to taking the Dodge City job in 2021.
Washburn Rural, the No. 6 West seed, is coming off an 81-12 non-league romp past Topeka West while No. 11 seed Dodge City beat Wichita Southeast 42-23 to snap a three-game losing streak.
Rural quarterback Branton DeWeese went 7 of 9 passing for 124 yards and a touchdown in limited time against Topeka West while senior Ma'kenttis Adams had 205 yards and four touchdowns on just five carries.
The Junior Blues picked off five passes and held Topeka West to negative rushing yards on the night.
The winner of Friday's Rural-Dodge City game will advance to face the first-round winner between 6-2 Garden City and 1-7 Campus.
TOPEKA HIGH (1-7) at DERBY (6-2)
Topeka High is the No. 15 West seed and will be facing 6A giant Derby, the No. 2 West seed and the winner of five state titles since 2015.
Topeka High dropped a 56-6 home non-league decision against Hays last Friday while Derby took a 49-20 win over Newton. The Panthers' two losses came against unbeaten Manhattan and Maize by a total of four points, including an overtime loss to Centennial League champ Manhattan.
Notre Dame commit Dylan Edwards had rushed for 1,0001 yards and 17 touchdowns through seven games.
Topeka High senior Peyton Wheat had thrown for 1,240 yards and six TDs entering the Hays game while sophomore Jayden Norman had caught 43 passes for 620 yards and four TDs.
The Topeka High-Derby winner advances to face the winner of the first-round game between Lawrence (5-3) and Wichita Heights (4-4).
CLASS 5A
