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By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural’s Brooklyn DeLeye had a smooth and quiet 18-point night Thursday, missing just two shots on eight attempts, as the Lady Blues rolled to a 57-30 win over Leavenworth in the first round of the Lady Firebirds Winter Classic at Free State.
“Going into tournaments, we have to just go one game at a time,” said DeLeye, a 6-foot-2 junior. “We have to look on to the next and face a good team.''
Junior Brooklyn DeLeye scored a game-high 18 points in Thursday's 57-30 win over Leavenworth in the first round of the Lady Firebirds Winter Classic. [File photo/TSN]
The momentum of the Round 1 game started and finished with the No. 6-ranked Lady Blues in control.
The Lady Blues had the hot hand early, going on a 15-2 run 3:47 into the first quarter.
Zoe Canfield and Emma Krueger hit a combined three 3-point shots in the run, while DeLeye had four points in the paint.
“In the first quarter, we hit some threes which always opens things up,'' Washburn Rural coach Kevin Bordewick said. "Our defense fed off of that and put together some really good stops.''
DeLeye had a nine-point second quarter, including a 3-pointer and a pair of free throws, while Jada Ingram scored four points as Washburn Rural earn a 22-point lead going into the halftime break.
Leavenworth played better in the second half, getting 11 points on the night from guard Kaylee McLain, but the Pioneers were unable to make a series run, with Rural rolling to Friday's semifinals.
In the Lady Blues' current five-game winning streak, Washburn Rural has outscored opponents, 284-147.
With the win, Washburn Rural will take on Derby in Friday's 7:30 semifinal, with Rural ranked No. 6 in 6A and Derby No. 3.
“Derby is awful good,'' Bordewick said. "We haven’t seen (Derby) yet, but I know they are very good and very tall.''
TOPEKA WEST DROPS 59-25 DECISION TO PANTHERS
The Lady Chargers fought hard in the first quarter against No. 3-ranked Derby Panthers, including 3-point shots by Siani Sanchez and Breya Bogart, before Derby pulled away for a 59-25 first-round win in the Lady Firebirds Winter Classic.
“All I asked from the girls was to compete and play hard,” said Topeka West coach Jeff Skar. “For the most part, we did that, especially in the first quarter.”
Derby took control with 20 points in the second quarter, with Jada Hopson, Maryn Archer and Naomi White combining for 18 points.
Derby’s up-tempo style of basketball was tough for the Lady Chargers to handle, including a scoreless third quarter from the Chargers.
“I’m not disappointed. We played hard. That’s a team (Derby) who’s phenomenal. (Derby) has a real good chance of winning the 6A state title. I really liked our effort, but we have to adjust some defensive things,” said Skar.
Jazmyn Ford led the Lady Chargers in points with 11 while Derby’s leading scorer was Archer with 17 points.
Skar has one thing he would love to carry over from Thursday night’s game into Friday 4:30 p.m. consolation contest against Leavenworth.
“Effort. As long as we play like that, we are going to be in a lot of games,” Skar said.
Derby coach Dan Harrison was pleased with the defense and hopes it can carry over to Friday's semifinal matchup with Washburn Rural.
“I’d like to carry over our defensive energy to tomorrow,'' Harrison said. "We jumped out early tonight and that was the difference in the game. Early on we were missing some shots, but because of our defense, we were able to make up a lot of them. We are going to have to play great defense against Washburn Rural tomorrow. They can make threes and they can play on every part of the floor.”
WASHBURN RURAL GIRLS 57, LEAVENWORTH 30
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
It was a struggle at times, but Hayden's girls basketball team survived a low-scoring nail-biter to advance to Saturday's Top Gun Invitational championship game with a 32-30 win over Nemaha Central Thursday night in Wellsville.
Carly Stuke
Hayden, which improved to 7-3, will play Spring Hill for the tournament championship at 5 p.m. Saturday in Wellsville.
The Wildcats were locked in an 8-8 tie with the Thunder at the end of the first quarter before using a 12-4 second quarter to take a 20-12 halftime advantage.
Nemaha Central outscored Hayden 18-12 in the second half, but the Wildcats were able to hold on for the victory.
Senior Carly Stuke led Hayden with eight points while Lauren Sandstrom added five points. Three other Hayden players scored four points.
Spring Hill, ranked No. 8 in Class 5A, advanced to the championship game with a 59-54 win over previously-unbeaten and No. 3 Lansing.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Topeka High's No. 4-ranked girls basketball team was a huge favorite in Thursday's first-round game of the Capital City Classic at High and it didn't take long for the undefeated Trojans to show why in a 71-13 romp past Blue Valley Southwest.
Hannah Alexander's 10-0 Trojans bolted out to a 19-3 first-quarter advantage and never looked back, taking a huge 37-8 lead to the locker room at the half and hitting the Timberwolves with a 24-3 third quarter to force a running clock over the final eight minutes.
"We wanted our defense to speak volumes and I thought it did, holding them to eight points through most of the third quarter,'' Alexander said. "I think that says a lot about our defense and that's what we wanted to do.
"We wanted to make sure that we took care of business and did what we needed to do out there. I thought the girls played great team ball.''
Topeka High junior Kiki Smith scored a game-high 20 points with four 3-pointers in the Trojans' 71-13 win over Blue Valley Southwest in the first round of Capital City Classic. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Senior Tae Thomas scored 19 points and hit four 3-pointers in Topeka High's 71-13 first-round win over Blue Valley Southwest in the Capital City Classic. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Trojan standouts Kiki Smith and Tae Thomas combined for 39 points while sophomore Ayana Leesman added 11 points and nine Trojans cracked the scoring column.
Smith, a junior, led Topeka High with 20 points and senior Thomas added 19 points with both players canning four 3-pointers.
With Thursday's win the Trojans advanced to a 6 p.m. semifinal Friday againt Shawnee Mission East, a first-round winner over Maize.
Wichita Heights, which took a 75-31 first-round win over Highland Park, will face Seaman, a 54-19 winner over Shawnee Mission North, in Friday's 7:30 semifinal.
SEAMAN 54, SHAWNEE MISSION NORTH 19 -- Seaman (7-3) took control with a 29-2 first half, including a 12-0 second-quarter shutout.
"Defense is our ticket, our strength,'' Seaman coach Matt Tinsley said. "Execute your alignment and assignment and fly around and create havoc.''
Sophomore Taylin Stallbaumer and freshman Anna Becker combined for 29 points against the Bison, with Stallbaumer leading all scorers with 17 points, including four 3-pointers, while Becker added 12 points, going six of six at the free throw line.
Eleven players cracked the scoring column for the Vikings, who are No. 10-ranked in Class 5A.
"The first half was our best halfcourt execution so far this season,'' Tinsley said. "We did a good job of moving the basketball against their zone.''
WICHITA HEIGHTS 75, HIGHLAND PARK 31 -- The Falcons put the Scots away early on, opening up a 26-8 first-quarter lead and taking a huge 52-17 advantage at the half.
Senior Aisya Taylor led Highland Park with 12 points, including a pair of 3-pointers.
Senior Zyanna Walker led Wichita Heights with 17 points while sophomore Mya Mayberry added 15 points, senior Cayanna Stanley 14 points.
Highland Park will face Shawnee Mission North in a 7:30 p.m. consolation contest Friday in Topeka High's auxiliary gym.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hayden's boys went one-two individually en route to the team title in Wednesday's Hayden bowling quadrangular at Gage Bowl.
Hayden's Camden Schrickel won the individual championship with a 643 three-game series while teammate Emilio Gutierrez was second with a 631 series.
The Wildcats also got a fifth-place finish from Ethan Christy, who bowled a 569 series.
Hayden won the team title by a 3,079-2881 margin over Washington County, including the Baker format games.
Individual champion Heather Heine, who had a 527 series, led Ottawa to the girls team title by a 2,228 margin over runner-Highland Park while Hayden was third with a 2,101 total.
Highland Park got a second-place individual finish from Corina Robers with a 522 series while Hayden's Emily Ireland (500) and Abby Dodd (427) finished third and fourth.
HAYDEN QUADRANGULAR
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural star senior swimmer Nathen Trachta had to wait until the final team scores were announced at the end of Thursday's Topeka city swimming and diving championships to know whether his 18th birthday was going to be one he'd never forget or one that would leave a sour taste his mouth.
It turned out Trachta had plenty of reason to celebrate, helping lead Washburn Rural to its third straight city crown by a razor-thin margin of 530-526 at the Capitol Federal Natatorium.
"I knew it was going to be tight,'' Trachta said. "We were competing against very good teams, and especially getting the win for a birthday present, that was very awesome.
"I'm so proud of our team.''
Washburn Rural senior Nathen Trachta won the city title in the 100-yard backstroke on Thursday, was second in the 100 butterfly (above) and also swam on a pair of winning relay teams as the Junior Blues edged Seaman for the team championship, 531-525. Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Trachta earned three gold medals to go with a second-place finish and anchored the Junior Blues' 400-yard freestyle relay to a victory in the meet-ending event, giving Washburn Rural the team title.
Trachta won the the 100-yard backstroke (57.72 seconds), finished second in the 100 butterfly (54.09) and swam on the Junior Blues' winning 200 freestyle and 400 free relays.
Trachta teamed with Jalen Eilert, Jack Miranda and Luke Lemke to win the 200 free relay (1:33.25) while Miranda, Will Powell and Brogan Meier won the 400 free relay (3:22.83).
Washburn Rural's Jack Miranda won four gold medals in Thursday's city meet as the Junior Blues won their third straight city team title by a 530-526 margin over Seaman. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Miranda won four gold medals on the day, winning the 200 freestyle (1:50.09) and the 100 free (49.80) to go with his two relay wins, while Meier added a win in the 500 freestyle (5:13.72).
Seaman won just one event on the day, Jake Moss' win in the 50 freestyle (23.34), but the Vikings' depth put them in position to challenge for the team championship, with Seaman posting top-three finishes in all 11 swimming events.
Like Trachta, second-year Washburn Rural coach Jordan Metz expected a nail-biter in the city meet.
"I'm not going to lie, I was very nervous,'' Metz said. "I've been thinking about it all day while I was at my other job and I'm like, 'Did I put everybody in the right events?''
"And then I was just like, 'I've got to trust the guys and put my faith in them because they've put in the work. They got it done tonight and I couldn't be prouder of them.''
"I knew Seaman was going to be tough to beat. They've been tough to beat all season.''
Shawnee Heights didn't have the depth to challenge for the team title, but the T-Birds won four events.
Shawnee Heights' Luke Perkins won a pair of individual events and also added a relay win in Thursday's city swimming meet. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Heights' Luke Perkins won the 200 individual medley (2:01.54) and the 100 butterfly (52.72) and teamed with Truman Brede, Guillaume Humblet and Tanner Zerger to win the meet-opening 200 medley relay (1:43.21).
The T-Birds also got a victory from Humblet in the 100 breaststroke (1:00.79).
Topeka High freshman Jaxon Cowdin was the city diving champion, recording a winning score of 233.90.
TOPEKA CITY SWIMMING AND DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Capitol Federal Natatorium
Team scores
Washburn Rural 530, Seaman 526, Topeka High 354, Hayden 333, Shawnee Heights 272, Topeka West 27.
Individual results
200 medley relay — 1. Shawnee Heights (Brede, Humblet, Perkins, Zerger), 1:43.21; 2. Washburn Rural (Meier, Dimick, Powell, Eilert), 1:44.71; 3. Seaman (Pekarek, Florence, O'Rourke, Greig), 1:46.33.
200 freestyle — 1. Miranda, Washburn Rural, 1:50.09; 2. Powell, Washburn Rural, 1:54.95; 3. Ramirez, Seaman, 1:55.76.
200 individual medley — 1. Perkins, Shawnee Heights, 2:01.54; 2. Meier, Washburn Rural, 2:06.44; 3. O'Rourke, Seaman, 2:07.26.
50 freestyle — 1. Moss, Seaman, 23.34; 2. Gregg, Hayden, 24.09; 3. Appelhanz, Seaman, 24.36.
One meter diving -- 1. Cowdin, Topeka High, 233.90; 2. Haag, Topeka West, 158.50; 3. Cooney, Washburn Rural, 150.70.
100 butterfly — 1. Perkins, Shawnee Heights, 52.72; 2. Trachta, Washburn Rural, 54.09; 3. O'Rourke, Seaman, 55.37.
100 freestyle — 1. Miranda, Washburn Rural, 49.80; 2. Humblet, Shawnee Heights, 50.54; 3. Florence, Seaman, 53.02.
500 freestyle — 1. Meier, Washburn Rural, 5:13.72; 2. Johnson, Hayden, 5:55.82; 3. Wagnon, Seaman, 6:02.88.
200 freestyle relay — 1. Washburn Rural (Eilert, Miranda, Lemke, Trachta), 1:33.25; 2. Shawnee Heights (Zerger, Hoobler, Perkins, Humblet), 1:33.63; Seaman (Ramirez, Biggs, Appelhanz, Florence), 1:36.59.
100 backstroke — 1. Trachta, Washburn Rural, 57.72; 2. Ramirez, Seaman, 1:02.18; 3. Brede, Shawnee Heights, 1:03.60.
100 breaststroke — 1. Humblet, Shawnee Heights, 1:00.79; 2. Florence, Seaman, 1:05.36; 3. Dimick, Washburn Rural, 1:05.76.
400 freestyle relay — 1. Washburn Rural (Miranda, Powell, Meier, Trachta), 3:22.83; 2. Seaman (Moss, Greig, Ramirez, O'Rourke), 3:33.42; 3. Seaman B (Appelhanz, Pekarek, Stuke, Wurm), 3:43.07.
ALL-CITY SWIMMING/CITY
First team
Jack Miranda, Washburn Rural; Luke Perkins, Shawnee Heights; Brogan Meier, Washburn Rural; Guillaume Humblet, Shawnee Heights; Nathen Trachta, Washburn Rural; Daniel Ramirez, Seaman, Adin Florenece, Seaman; Jake Moss, Seaman; Colin O'Rourke, Seaman; Will Powell, Washburn Rural; Jaxon Cowdin, Topeka High (diver).
Second team
Ryan Johnson, Hayden; Blaize Appelhanz, Seaman; Truman Brede, Shawnee Heights; Jalen Eilert, Washburn Rural; Cordell Dimick, Washburn Rural; Dylan Gregg, Hayden; Perry Payne, Topeka High; Marcus Greig, Seaman; Evan Hoobler, Shawnee Heights; Coldy Colwell, Washburn Rural; Luke Lemke, Washburn Rural; Robert Haag, Topeka West (diver).
