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Created: 25 February 2022

By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news

TOPEKA WEST (2-17, 2-13) at TOPEKA HIGH (17-2, 14-1)

Topeka High has already clinched a share of the Centennial League championship and can clinch the title outright with a win Friday. Topeka High is coming off a 59-53 non-league loss to perennial state power Bishop Miege while Topeka West is coming off a 47-36 league loss at Highland Park. Senior Tae Thomas led Topeka High with 17 points against Miege while junior Azaryah Duncan and sophomore Zoe Clark led Topeka West with 11 points each against Highland Park.

Highland Park senior Aisya Taylor scored a game-high 15 points in the Scots' 47-36 win over Topeka West Tuesday night. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

Washburn Rural sophomore Zoe Canfield scored 19 points in the Junior Blues' 61-14 romp past Junction City on Tuesday. [File photo/TSN]

WASHBURN RURAL (17-2, 13-2) at HIGHLAND PARK (4-15, 2-13)

Washburn Rural is coming off a 61-14 Centennial League romp at Junction City while Highland Park has won back-to-back league games, including a 47-36 home win over Topeka West on Tuesday. Senior Aisya Taylor led Highland Park with 15 points against Topeka West while sophomore Victoria Reed and freshman Amelia Ramsey added 11 and 10 points, respectively. Sophomore Zoe Canfield paced Washburn Rural against Junction City with 19 points.

EMPORIA (15-4, 11-4) at SEAMAN (14-5, 12-4)

Seaman, which has won four straight games and seven of its last eight, faces a tough battle in it regular-season finale, with the No. 6-ranked Vikings (Class 5A) facing off against No. 4-ranked Emporia (5A). Seaman is coming off a 47-40 Centennial League win over Manhattan while Emporia took a 39-21 league win over Hayden in its last game. Sophomore Taylin Stallbaumer and freshman Anna Becker scored 21 and 15 points for Seaman against Manhattan. Gracie Gilpin scored 12 points to pace Emporia against Hayden.

TROY (8-12) at CAIR PARAVEL LATIN (11-7)

Cair Paravel is the first Shawnee County team to open postseason play, hosting Troy in a Class 1A Division I playoff opener. Cair Paravel wrapped up its regular season with a 45-24 win over Bishop Seabury and the Lions have won seven of their last eight games. Troy is coming off a 56-24 loss to Hanover.

HAYDEN (10-9, 7-8) at MANHATTAN (7-12, 6-9)

Both teams are coming off Centennial League losses, with Hayden dropping a 39-21 decision to Emporia and Manhattan falling to Seaman, 47-40. Hayden struggled on the offensive end against Emporia, with senior Macy Smith leading the Wildcats with six points.

SHAWNEE HEIGHTS (10-9, 4-5) at BASEHOR-LINWOOD (12-7, 7-2)

Both teams are coming off lopsided wins over Turner, with Basehor-Linwood taking a 57-8 United Kansas Conference win over the Bears on Tuesday and Shawnee Heights taking a 50-10 UKC win in a Wednesday makeup game. 

 

 

 

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Created: 25 February 2022

By KYLE MANTHE

The Washburn Review

Washburn women’s basketball was in action Thursday evening at Lee Arena against Missouri Southern for Senior Night.

A slow offensive night would spoil the senior ceremonies as the Ichabods fell 55-50 to the Lions.

Even in the loss Washburn coach Ron McHenry still saw a lot of the characteristics that kept the team competitive after starting 1-7, with the senior class leading by example.

“It’s a great group,” McHenry said. “They are a solid group of people and players and really for however many years they have been here have put in a lot of time and effort into this year trying to get us back and competitive in the league.”

Washburn women's basketball honored its six seniors Thursday on Senior Night at Lee Arena, with the Ichabods dropping a 55-50 decision to Missouri Southern. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/The Washburn Review]

Hunter Bentley, one of six seniors honored on Senior Night, will end her Washburn career as the program's career leader in minutes and games played. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/The Washburn Review]

“It’s kind of crazy to think about how much I have grown as a player and a person. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience, I mean, all of my teammates throughout the five years and coach Mac, Brette (Herber) and Erika (Yoder),” said senior Hunter Bentley. “It’s just been awesome to get to know them and to be able to be a part of this program.” 

The contest was the last at Lee Arena for the team's six seniors headlined by Bentley, the programs all-time leader in minutes and games played. 

“It might take awhile for me to have that set in. It’s crazy, there have been so many good players that have gone into this program so to be one of those it’s really awesome and I couldn’t have asked for anything more out of my career,” Bentley said.

“She looked tired tonight but that’s my fault, I run her through a lot of stuff and put a lot on her plate and she handles it well,” McHenry said. “She is just a really complete player and a player that is hard for me to get off the floor for five years.”

The loss moved Washburn to 13-14 on the year and the Ichabods sit in eighth place in the MIAA.

Defense dominated the first quarter, with each team shooting 33 percent from the floor. A 12-6 rebounding advantage for Missouri Southern provided extra opportunities that the Lions capitalized on to take a 14-11 lead after 10 minutes.

Washburn’s offense continued to stay cold in the second quarter, with a 3-pointer from Bentley at the 6:36 mark the first score for the Ichabods in the quarter, ending a 7-0 Southern  run.

Even at a size disadvantage, Washburn’s defense against the Lions remained strong to close the quarter, holding them to just 16.7-percent shooting in the frame.

The Ichabods shot under 20 percent themselves but two 3-pointers in the quarter and preventing turnovers cut the deficit to just two points as Missouri Southern led 24-22 at half.

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Created: 25 February 2022

By KYLE MANTHE

The Washburn Review

Washburn men’s basketball held ceremonies for its six seniors before its game against Missouri Southern on Thurssday night.

The celebration continued into the night as the Ichabods rattled off a fifth straight win, defeating the Lions, 81-69.

“These guys have won a lot of games, MIAA tournament championship, NCAA tournament games and a lot of games in their time here, so they should be proud,” said Washburn coach Brett Ballard. “I am even prouder of just the people that they are, and what they are going to represent leaving, out of Washburn.”

Washburn honored six players on Senior Night and posted an 81-69 MIAA win over Missouri Southern Thursday at Lee Arena. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/The Washburn Review]

Among the group of six were three former all-conference selections, Jonny Clausing, Jalen Lewis and two-time first-team member Tyler Geiman.

“Definitely blessed to be a part of it (the program), and just the guys I have been here with the last five years has been awesome. I wouldn’t trade it for anything and I would do it again if I got the chance tomorrow,'' Geiman said.

Those leaving are the first group to have spent their entire careers with Ballard, including Geiman who is the lone member to join Ballard at Washburn five seasons ago.

“He was my first recruit really, and we felt like we were getting a good player but you never know and, man has he been terrific. One of the all-time greats to ever play here and it’s been an honor to play and coach him,” Ballard said. 

“I love coach Ballard and my teammates, it’s awesome to come out here in Lee Arena and play so I definitely enjoyed it,” Geiman said.

Thursday's win moved the Ichabods to 18-9 and keeps them at fifth place in the MIAA.

Both teams were slow out of the gate offensively, with neither side creating more than four points of separation through 10 minutes.

Washburn was able to create some separation once Geiman began scoring, quickly getting into double figures with six free throw attempts and a few jump shots on his way to 17 first-half points.

That production coupled with eight turnovers for Missouri Southern in the first 15 minutes created some separation, with the Ichabods going ahead by double digits at the 4:49 mark.

“I really like where our defense is at, I think we are guarding and challenging and not giving up any easy baskets,” Ballard said.

The Lions reeled off a 9-2 run to pull within three points with just over two minutes left in the half. Washburn quickly responded, with scores by Geiman and Lewis to take a 36-28 lead into halftime.

Much like the first half, after five minutes of back-and-forth play the Ichabods made a run, growing the lead to 13 points and forcing a timeout at the 13:22 mark after back-to-back baskets from Lewis and Clausing.

The lead grew to 15 over the next six minutes of play with balanced offensive production on all levels for Washburn.

Freshman Avery Taggart led the Lions in scoring with 23, and two free throws from him at the 6:01 mark cut the lead to just nine points.

The lead remained a point north or south of 10 until Geiman and sophomore guard Connor Deffebaugh connected on back-to-back 3-pointers to put the Ichabods back up by 13 with just over two to play.

The lead only grew from there, up to as many as 18, and with a strong defensive effort to finish Washburn claimed the win.

“I still think we can shoot it a little better, which I think we will, but I like the rhythm we are in, got some momentum now and we got some big ones coming up,” Ballard said.

Tyler Geiman scored 23 points and grabbed eight rebounds in Washburn's 81-69 Senior Night win over Missouri Southern. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/The Washburn Review]

Geiman finished with 23 points and 8 rebounds, both pacing the team. Lewis added 18 points and seven rebounds. Deffebaugh and Clausing both finished in double figures with 15 and 11, respectively.

Washburn is now set up to face Emporia State to close the regular season on Saturday, and again in the first round of the MIAA tournament.

“It’s not ideal obviously but it is what it is. They are good and it will be tough,” Ballard said. “There will be a lot at stake because we got to win some games to get into the NCAA tournament.”

“We are healthy, practicing well and playing well,” Geiman said. “It’s time to go now, the train is rolling and let’s keep winning.”

Washburn’s first game against the Hornets will be on Saturday at White Auditorium.

WASHBURN MEN 81, MISSOURI SOUTHERN 69

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Created: 25 February 2022

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

As a returning state champion, Rossville sophomore Kendra Hurla admitted that she felt some pressure heading into and during Thursday's Class 4A-1A 120-pound state championship match.

But like she has throughout her still-young high school career, the Bulldawg star delievered, claiming her second straight state championship and capping an undefeated season with a 3-0 decision over Pratt's Jadyn Thompson at the Tony's Pizza Events Center.

Rossville sophomore Kendra Hurla has her hand raised as a two-time Class 4A-1A state champion after a 3-0 win over Pratt's Jadyn Thompson Thursday at Salina. [Submitted]

"I definitely felt the pressure, especially at certain points,” Hurla said. “But you can’t walk out onto a mat unless you’re head’s in the right spot, otherwise you aren’t winning that match.

"My brother (Layne), he helps a lot. He told me to walk out on that mat ready to kick someone's butt and I did."

Rossville sophomore Kendra Hurla (left) battles Pratt's Jadyn Thompson Thursday at Salina in the 120-pound 4A-1A state championship match. Hurla won her second straight title with a 3-0 decision. [Submitted]

Hurla, who capped a 39-0 season, got one of her toughest matches of the season from Thompson in a battle between the No. 1 and 2-ranked wrestlers in 4A-1A, but welcomed that challenge.

"I feel good about that match because I know I worked hard for that one,'' Hurla sad. "It came because I gave it my all and I deserved that match. Same with last year, too. It makes it feel so much better."

Thompson, a junior, lost for just the second time in 39 matches on the season.

Hurla reached the finals with three straight pins, winning in 1:27, 1:58 and 1:47.

Hurla's Rossville teammates, sophomore Keera Lacock (126) and junior Reagan Wonnell (143), both won matches in the state tournament but fell short of making it to the place matches.

Silver Lake freshman Ellen Doty (115) posted a pair of state wins while freshman Karley Holmes (109) and sophomore Hailey Horton (155) also won state matches, but none of the Eagles advanced to the place matches.