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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Andrew Orr grew up in a football family, with his father, Michael Orr, playing at Kansas State and his brother, Nicholas, playing at Colorado State-Pueblo
And Andrew played the sport himself for his first two years of high school at Blue Valley North before deciding that basketball would be his primary sport in college.
Washburn 6-8 sophomore Andrew Orr leads the Ichabods with a 13.6 scoring average, including a career-high 24 points in his last game. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Andrew Orr, a state champion in two sports at Blue Valley North, has scored 8 or more points in every game this season, cracking double figures in six of seven games. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
It's a decision that's paid dividends for both Orr and the Washburn men's basketball team.
"I played football my freshman and sopomore year -- I was a tight end and D-end,'' Orr said. "Going into my junior year I was thinking about how I really wanted to play basketball in college and I really wanted to pursue that so I figured that whole fall season spending my time doing football necesarily wasn't a waste of time but it was just I could be advancing my skills in basketball.
"I was decent (at football), but my thing is I wasn't the type of kid that wanted to go out and really hit somebody. I wasn't a very aggressive kid when it came to it, so that was my problem, trying to go out and just hit somebody in the mouth. That wasn't really my mentality a lot of the time.''
Of course Andrew still had to sell dad, who played offensive line or Bill Snyder at Kansas State, on the idea of giving up the sport.
"I had to convince my dad to let me stop playing football,'' Orr said. "Most kids have to convince their parents to let them play football. I had to convince my dad to let me stop playing.
"Once I did that, then it was just talking to my coach and it was the summer before the season started so I wasn't too locked in.''
The bottom line was that basketball is his favorite sport.
"Growing up I enjoyed playing basketball more than I did football,'' Orr said. "I enjoyed football, I just enjoyed the style of basketball and it was better for me.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural's girls basketball team opened defense of its Class 6A state championship, its second title since 2019, with a 49-24 win over Thomas More Prep-Marian in Thursday's opening round of the Hays Shootout.
The Junior Blues, who are coming off a 23-2 season, advanced to a 6:30 p.m. semifinal on Friday to face Hays.
Senior Brooklyn DeLeye scored 10 points to lead a balaced Washburn Rural attack in Thursday's 49-24 season-opening win over TMP-Marian. [File photo/TSN]
Washburn Rural led by just an 8-6 margin at the end of the opening quarter but the Junior Blues stretched their lead to 23-14 at the half and outscored the Monarchs 26-10 in the second half.
Rural emptied its bench in the second half, with 10 Junior Blues cracking the scoring column.
Senior Brooklyn DeLeye led the Junior Blues with 10 points while sophomore Kate Hinck and junior Zoe Canfield added nine points apiece.
Senior Jaci Von Lintel led TMP with a game-high 12 points, accounting for half of the Monarchs' points.
With a semiinal win on Friday Washburn Rural will advance to Saturday's 5 p.m. tournament championship game.
CAIR PARAVEL BOYS 53, WAVERLY 47 (OT) -- Trey Brown and his Cair Paravel boys basketball team had to work overtime Thursday night but the Lions gave Brown his first coaching victory in the opening round of the three-day Burlingame tournament.
Cair Paravel jumped out to a big first-half advantage but the Bulldogs rallied in the second half to force the extra session with the game tied at 44.
The Lions closed out the victory with a 9-3 edge in the OT period.
Jase Pavlik had a big night for the Lions, scoring 19 points with four 3-pointers.
Pavlik scored six points in overtime.
Cair Paravel got eight points from Ty Gossard, seven from Evan Will and six apiece from Ben Roeder and Cameron Brian.
The Lions will play tournament host Burlingame at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
WAMEGO BOYS 62, TOPEKA HIGH 47 -- Wamgeo spoiled Geo Lyons' debut as Topeka High's head coach with a dominating second half, pulling away for a 62-47 victory at Wamego.
The Trojans and Red Raiders were tied at 26 at halftime, but Wamego opened up a three-point advantage and the end of the third period and outscored High 20-8 the rest of the way.
Madon Gomez had 16 points and Da'Mykel Hayes 15 for Topeka High while Jayden Norman added nine points.
The Trojans will play at Valley Center on Saturday.
WAMEGO GIRLS 57, TOPEKA HIGH 52 -- Seniors Kiki Smith and Faith Shields combined for 32 points Thursday night, but Wamego took control down the stretch for a 57-52 non-league win at Wamego.
Smith scored 20 points and Shields 12 for the Trojans.
The Trojans, who were making their debut under new coach Brittney Redmond, led 16-10 at the end of the opening quarter and took a 20-19 lead to the locker room at the half.
Topeka High 38-35 at the start of the fourth quarter but Wamego closed with a 22-14 fourth-quarter rally.
Topeka High will play at Valley Center on Saturday.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University star pole-vaulter Zac Chandler was on top of his game last indoor season before everything was taken away in an instant with a torn achilles tendon.
Washburn University pole-vaulter Zac Chandler is scheduled to compete on Saturday as he continues his comeback from an achilles injury. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Former Washburn Rural state pole vault champ Zac Chandler will return to action for Washburn University on Saturday, 10 months after suffering a serious achilles injury. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Ten months later Chandler's recovery still isn't complete, but the former Washburn Rural state champion has progressed to the point that he's ready to return to action in Saturday's Washburn Alumni Invitational at the Washburn Indoor Athletic Facility.
"I'd say I'm 80 percent overall,'' Chandler said. "Some days I feel 100 and some days I feel like I'm 20 percent. Our practices kind of look like whatever the warmups feel like is what I'll do.
"I just kind of do half of what everyone else does, but that in the longterm will help me to get better. I take smarter reps than I ever have before.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Ten city players earned first-team spots on the All-Centennial League football team, led by Washburn Rural senior linebacker Ty Weber, who was named the defensive player of the year.
Washburn Rural senior linebacker Ty Weber was named the Centennial League defensive player of the year after helping lead the Junior Blues to an 8-3 record. [File photo/TSN]
Washburn Rural senior Ma'kenttis Adams was named to the All-Centennial League first team at running back after rushing for more than 1,000 yards. [File photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Topeka High junior Isaiah Kincade earned All-Centennial League first-team recognition at defensive back [File photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Washburn Rural senior Dayten Smoot (3) has received first-team All-Centennial League honors at kicker and punter. [File photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Weber, who was also a first-team pick on defense, is one of nine players to receive first-team recognition from Washburn Rural, which posted an 8-3 record and advanced to the third round (sectional) of the Class 6A playoffs.
Senior running back Ma'kenttis Adams, senior lineman Shane Sexton, junior wide receiver Titan Osburn and sophomore Caden Estrada earned first-team honors for Washburn Rural on offense while junior lineman Packson Bettis, junior linebacker JC Heim and junior defensive back Jaren Heim join Weber as first-team picks on defense and Rural senior Dayten Smoot was named the first-team kicker and punter.
Topeka High junior Isaiah Kincade earned a first-team berth on the all-league defense at defensive back.
Washburn Rural junior Branton DeWeese (quarterback), senior Zach Franco (offensive line), senior Lukas Hanks (tight end), junior Jamond Lane (defensive end), senior Daniel Vanwagoner (defensive line) and senior Wyatt Conklin (linebacker) earned second-team recognition as did Topeka High sophomore Jayden Norman (wide receiver).
Seven Washburn Rural and Topeka High players received all-league honorable mention.
Manhattan senior Keenan Schartz was named the Centennial offensive player of the year and Joe Schartz the coach of the year after Manhattan won the 6A state championship.
ALL-CENTENNIAL LEAGUE FOOTBALL
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
GIRLS
WASHBURN RURAL vs. TMP-MARIAN
At Hays Shootout
Senior Brooklyn DeLeye is a top returner for Washburn Rural after helping lead the Junior Blues win the Class 6A state title last season. [File photo/TSN]
Washburn Rural will open defense of its Class 6A state championship with three games in three days in the Hays Shootout. The Junior Blues, who are coming off a 23-2 season, will take on Thomas More Prep-Marian in Thursday's opening round at 3 p.m., with the winner advancing to a 6:30 p.m. semifinal on Friday to face the winner of the first-round game between tournament host Hays and Newton. The tournament championship game will be played at 5 p.m. on Saturday. Top returners for the Junior Blues include seniors Brooklyn DeLeye and MaRyah Lutz and junior Zoe Canfield. DeLeye averaged 11.8 points and 7.0 rebounds last season while Canfield averaged 10.8 points and hit ?? 3-pointers and Lutz averaged 5.5 points and hit 23 3-pointers. Canield shot 47.5 percent from 3-point range and 84.8 percent from the free throw line.
Topeka High senior Kiki Smith is back to lead the Trojans after being named the Shawnee County and Centennial League player of the year last season. [File photo/TSN]
TOPEKA HIGH at WAMEGO
Topeka High will begin the Brittney Redmond era in Thursday's 6 p.m. season-opener at Wamego. Redmond, a Topeka High graduate, takes over for Hannah Alexander, who accepted the head coaching position at Andover after leading the Trojans to four straight Class 6A state tornament berths, with a pair of state runner-up finishes. Senior Kiki Smith returns to lead High after being named the Shawnee County and Centennial League player of the year last season. Smith averaged 18 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 4.1 steals as a junior while connecting on 49 3-pointers. Smith earned first-team All-Class 6A honors from the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association. Senior Adisyn Caryl received All-Shawnee County Second 10 honors last season, averaging 8.4 rebounds and shooting 56 percent from 2-point range.
CAIR PARAVEL LATIN vs. WAVERLY
At Burlingame
Cair Paravel Latin will play three straight games in the Burlingame tournament, opening on Thursday with a 6 p.m. game against Waverly. The Lions will have to replace leading scorer Jaley Barkley (15.4 points per game), now playing at Sterling. Sophomore Gracie Babbitt averaged 5.3 points and 5.4 rebounds as a freshman while junior Allison Schwarz averaged 3.6 points and 5.2 rebounds last season. Cair Paravel will play a 6 p.m. game on Friday against host Burlingame before losing out its tournament appearance with a 10 a.m. Saturday contest against Northeast Kansas Homeschool.
BOYS
TOPEKA HIGH at WAMEGO
Topeka High grad Geo Lyons makes his debut as the Trojans new coach in Thursday's 7:30 p.m. season-opener at Wamego. Lyons, who came back to his alma mater after serving as Kansas City-Schlagle's head coach, is Topeka High's third head coach in three years, taking over for Ty Baumgardner, who led the Trojans to a 4-17 record a year ago. Topeka High suffered a blow in preseason when 6-foot-6 junior BJ Canady opted not to go out this season to deal with a foot injury. Top returners for the Trojans include senior Mason Gomez and juniors Bryson Thrasher and Isaiah Lyons. Gomez had 24 points and seven 3-pointers in a win over Emporia while Thrasher had 23 points with our 3-pointers in a win over Manhattan.
CAIR PARAVEL LATIN vs. WAVERLY
At Burlingame
Former Shawnee Heights state champ and MidAmerica Nazarene standout Trey Brown takes over as head coach at Cair Paravel Latin, which will play three straight games in the Burlingame tournament, opening on Thursday with a 7:30 p.m. game against Waverly. Cair Paravel will play a 7:30 p.m. game on Friday against host Burlingame before losing out its tournament appearance with an 11:30 a.m. Saturday contest against Northeast Kansas Homeschool. Cair Paravel suffered heavy graduation losses off last season's 16-5 team and will build about several underclassmen, including juniors Simon Everhart and Evan Will.
