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By Rick Peterson
TopSports.news
Looking at Friday's 55-24 final score it would appear that the fourth-ranked Washburn Rural girls had an easy time with Emporia.
But the winless Spartans got Rural's attention with a solid first-half performance and Junior Blues coach Kevin Bordewick got his team's attention by putting four starters on the bench for the bulk of the first quarter before the hosts took control over the final 17 minutes to improve to 5-2 overall and 1-1 in the Centennial League.
Washburn Rural sophomore Maddie Vickery scored a game-high 17 points in Friday's 55-24 win over Emporia. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Senior Kate Hinck scored 16 points and led Washburn Rural's defense in Friday's 55-24 win over Emporia. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Emporia, which fell to 0-7 and 0-2, jumped out to an 8-0 lead, including six early points in Friday's opening quarter, prompting Bordewick to make mass substitutions about two minutes into the game, with sophomore Brooklyn Rutherford the lone Junior Blue starter to stay in the game.
"They know better and we've talked about it,'' Bordewick said of the slow start. "We got off to a zero to eight start against Hayden on Friday and we talked all week about being the aggressor, being smarter with the ball, running your offense and we did none of what we had worked on in practice.
"I did think Brooklyn did what she was supposed to do and that's why she stayed and it was just the little things that she was doing that I didn't feel like the other four were. Above all, we're kind of known as a team that plays hard and we get that from how hard we work in practice. I thought we had really good practices this week and then it doesn't show up and that drives me insane, so obviously I'm the link that's not connecting the two and somehow I've got to figure out how to get that message across from the start.''
Emporia led 10-6 at the end of the first quarter and was still tied at 16-all with 1:06 left in the half before sophomore Maddie Vickery scored on a follow shot and junior Ella Hirchi hit a 3-pointer to give Rural a 21-16 halftime advantage.
The Junior Blues then scored the first 14 points of the second half and outscored the Spartans 22-5 in the third to take a commanding 43-21 advantage into the final stanza.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Highland Park sophomore girls basketball standout Pearmella Carter and Topeka West junior basketball standout Malakyah Duncan have been selected by the Dan Key Farmers Insurance Agency as the Rising Stars of the Week.
The Dan Key Agency will recognize top Shawnee County underclassmen throughout the bulk of the 2024-2025 school year.
Here’s a brief look at the accomplishments of Carter and Duncan over the past week:
Highland Park sophomore Pearmella Carter is the Dan Key Farmers Insurance Agency female Rising Star of the Week. [File photo/TSN]
PEARMELLA CARTER, Highland Park
Carter had 28 points, 5 rebounds and 5 steals in a 70-22 Meadowlark Conference win over Kansas City-Schlagle on Monday and scored 23 points and grabbed 20 rebounds (13 offensive), with 3 assists and 3 steals in a 54-42 conference win over KC-Sumner on Tuesday as Highland Park remained unbeaten on the season.
Topeka West junior Malakyah Duncan has been named the Dan Key Farmers Insurance Agency male Rising Star of the Week. [File photo/TSN]
MALAKYAH DUNCAN, Topeka West
Duncan had 14 points and hit the game-winning free throws in Tuesday's 59-57 come-from-behind 59-57 United Kansas Conference win at Seaman. Duncan had 7 points in a 71-38 win over Leavenworth on Monday for the Chargers, who are 4-2 on the season and eighth-ranked in Class 5A by the KBCA.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
EMPORIA (4-2, 0-0 Centennial League) at WASHBURN RURAL (5-2, 1-0 Centennial League)
Washburn Rural is coming off a 52-46 home non-league loss to Blue Valley West on Tuesday while Emporia is coming off a 41-36 non-league victory over Hays. Senior Kaden Ballard scored 15 points and hit three 3-pointers for Washburn Rural against Blue Valley West while junior Simon Rowley added 13 points. Game time: 7:30 p.m.
JUNCTION CITY (6-0, 1-0 Centennial League) at TOPEKA HIGH (0-7, 0-1 Centennial League)
Topeka High is coming off a 65-50 Centennial League loss to Hayden on Tuesday while Junction City took a 66-62 league win over Manhattan. Junior Jalen Aldridge led Topeka High with 17 points and hit three 3-pointers against Hayden. Game time: 7:30 p.m.
KC-TURNER (1-6, 0-5 United Kansas Conference) at TOPEKA WEST (4-2, 4-2 United Kansas Conference)
Topeka West will be looking for its third win of the week Friday, with the Chargers coming off a 59-57 come-from-behind United Kansas Conference win over Seaman Tuesday night. West is ranked No. 8 in Class 5A by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association while Seaman is No. 7. Junior Keimani Paul scord 17 points and junior Malakyah Duncan 14 points against Seaman, with Duncan hitting the game-winning free throws. Turner is coming off a 77-27 UKC loss to Basehor-Linwood Wednesday night. Game time: 7:15 p.m.
WEST FRANKLIN (3-5, 2-4 Flint Hills League) at CAIR PARAVEL LATIN (3-5, 1-3 Flint Hills League)
Cair Paravel is coming off a 61-37 Flint Hills loss to Osage City on Tuesday while West Franklin is coming off a 53-42 league league loss to Mission Valley. Lucas Marichal scored 12 points to lead Cair Paravel in the Lions' loss to Osage City. Game time: 7:30 p.m.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
EMPORIA (0-6, 0-1 Centennial League) at WASHBURN RURAL (4-2, 0-1 Centennial League)
Washburn Rural, ranked No. 4 in Class 6A by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association, was off Tuesday after a tough 46-44 Centennial League loss at Hayden last Friday. Sophomore Maddie Vickery led Rural with 15 points against Hayden while senior Kate Hinck added 11 points. Both of Rural's losses have been two-point road losses. Emporia is still looking for its first win after dropping a 66-12 decision to Hays on Tuesday. Game time: 6 p.m.
JUNCTION CITY (1-4, 0-1 Centennial League) at TOPEKA HIGH (3-3, 0-1 Centennial League)
Topeka High is coming off a 56-41 Centennial League loss to undefeated Hayden on Tuesday while Junction City dropped a 93-25 league game to Manhattan. Sophomore Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton and freshman Hailey Caryl led the Trojans with 11 points apiece against Hayden. Game time: 6 p.m.
KC-TURNER (0-5, 0-4 United Kansas Conference) at TOPEKA WEST (0-6, 0-6 United Kansas Conference)
Topeka West will be looking for its first win of the season Friday against the winless Bears after dropping a 71-29 UKC decision at undefeated and top-ranked Seaman Tuesday night. Turner is coming off a 70-11 loss to Basehor-Linwood Wednesday night. Game time: 5:45 p.m.
WEST FRANKLIN (2-6, 2-3 Flint Hills League) at CAIR PARAVEL LATIN (1-7, 0-4 Flint Hills League)
Cair Paravel is coming off a 69-10 Flint Hills loss to Osage City on Tuesday while West Franklin is coming off a 47-37 league win over Mission Valley. Game time: 6 p.m.
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By Rick Peterson
TopSports.news
Topeka High inducted its second annual Sports Hall of Honor class on Thursday, inducting 15 individuals and two Trojan teams.
Former Topeka High track and field star Clardy Vinson, who later became the school's principal, was inducted into the Topeka High Sports Hall of Honor Thursday night. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Topeka High Hall of Honor inductees Shara Stafford (left) and Doshia Woods visit prior to Thursday's ceremonies. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
The Sports Hall of Honor inductees will also be recognized at halftime of Friday's boys varsity basketball game against Junction City, with the game starting at approximately 7:30 p.m.
The 2025 inductees included 1962 graduate John Grantham, Levi Lee (1964), Carky and Marky Alexander (1980), Glen Trammel (1985), Crystal Kemp (2002), Shara Stafford (2008), Will Geary (2013), Lee Dodson (1942), Chuck Nelson (1951), Clardy Vinson (1968), Kevin Hedberg (1970), Doshia Woods (1997), Joe Waldron (1990-2005 as staff member), Jeff Jacobsen (1969), the 1955 Trojan football team and the 1974 Trojan girls track team.
Hall of Honor capsules:
JOHN GRANTHAM -- A 1962 Topeka High graduate, Grantham was the first of only two city male tennis players to win three state championships and one of only six players to win multiple titles. During his time at Topeka High, he led the Trojans to multiple city and league team titles. After high school Grantham attended the University of Kansas, where he helped the Jayhawks win two Big 8 Conference titles. He also won one Individual title and one doubles title and helped the Jayhawks to a 14-2 record during his final Big 8 season. Grantham is a member of the Topeka Tennis Hall of Fame.
LEVI LEE -- A 1964 graduate, Lee starred in football and track at Topeka High. Lee was a three-year starter for the Trojan football team and is still considered one of the most talented players ever to come out of Topeka. He was an All-State running back in 1963, helping Topeka High win the Sunflower League championship and leading the Trojans to a 6-2 record his senior year. He also led his track and field team to the state championship while winning the state long jump championship with a leap of 21 feet. Lee was heavily recruited by some of the biggest names in college football before choosing Kansas. He eventually decided to leave school and joined the Navy, becoming a Vietnam War veteran.
Twin brothers Carky and Marky Alexander were inducted into the Topeka High Sports Hall of Honor Thursday night. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
CARKY AND MARKY ALEXANDER -- The twin brothers graduated from Topeka High in 1980, excelling in football, basketball and track. Contributing significantly to the Trojans their junior season they both entered their senior campaign ranked in the Preseason Top 40 prospects. Their contributions led the team to a 6-3 record and the I-70 League championship. Both Carky and Marky were named first-team All-City, All-I-70 League and All-Class 6A first team and All-State third team and selected to play in the Kansas Shrine Bowl. As seniors in basketball they led the team to the I-70 League championship, a second-place finish in the Topeka Invitational, a 6A sub-state championship and a runnerup finish in 6A. The twins were part of record-setting 440 and mile relay teams in track. The Alexanders played football at KU and played in the 1981 Hall of Fame Classic Bowl game.
Former Topeka High and Kansas star swimmer Glen Trammel was inducted into the Topeka High Sports Hall of Honor Thursday. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
GLEN TRAMMEL -- A 1985 graduate, Trammel was a five-time state swimming champion, specializing in the backstroke and individual medley. Trammel set three state records, including a mark in the 100 backstroke that stood for 14 years. He helped the Trojans take home second place as a team in the 1985 state championships. Trammel was a high school All-American. and nationally ranked multiple times. He went on to Kansas University, where he became a seven-time All-American. He set four school records and at one time was ranked 11th in the world in the 100 backstroke.
