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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The Northeastern State University Events Center continued to be a house of horrors for the Washburn University men on Saturday as the No. 1-ranked Ichabods fell 88-84, losing their fourth game in a row to the RiverHawks in Tahlequah, Okla.
Sophomore Brayden Shorter led Washburn with 21 points in Saturday's 88-84 MIAA loss at Northeastern State. [File photo/TSN]
For the second straight game the Ichabods led at the break by four, leading Northeastern State 40-36 despite the RiverHawks shooting 60 percent from the field in the opening period (15 of 25) while the Ichabods were 15 of 35 for 43 percent.
In the second half, the Ichabods (22-2 overall, 13-2 MIAA) led by as many as eight points with 14:12 to go after a layup by sophomore Jack Bachelor, who scored 10 points in the second half.
A 17-6 run by the RiverHawks that finished with back-to-back 3-pointers put NSU up 62-60 with 10:22 to go.
The RiverHawks (14-10, 8-7) pushed their lead to five at 82-77 with 3:00 to go, but a Brayden Shorter 3-pointer cut the lead to 82-80 17 seconds later.
NSU hit a pair of free throws, then after two free throws by Bachelor and Jacob Hanna pulled the Ichabods within one at 85-84 with 33 seconds left.
NSU scored a basket with 26 seconds to go and a free throw with 18 to left to wrap up the win.
Shorter scored 16 of his team-high 21 points in the second half while hitting five 3-pointers, leading five Ichabods in double figures.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University women's basketball was strong on the defensive end Saturday, building a first-half lead and holding on late for a 62-52 road win over Northeastern State.
Junior Yibari Nwidadah (32) scored 23 points and grabbed 16 rebounds in Washburn's 62-52 MIAA win at Northeastern State. [File photo/TSN]
With Saturday's victory Washburn improved to 14-11 overall and 8-7 in the MIAA, eclipsing its win total for the 2023-2024 campaign with a minimum of five games remaining in the current season. The 14 victories are also a high-water mark for WU under coach Lora Westling, in her third season.
It was a slow start to the game offensively for both teams, with the first field goal of the game coming from junior Yibari Nwidadah at the 7:04 mark of the first quarter.
Washburn held the RiverHawks (10-14, 6-9) without a field goal until there was just 3:16 in the quarter. The Ichabods led by as many as six in the first quarter but finished the opening 10 minutes leading 14-12.
Both teams traded baskets to open the second quarter. Separation was created by Washburn with a 6-0 run over the final 4:11 of the half, with a layup by Nwidadah pushing the Ichabod halftime lead up to 12 (31-19) as the visitors held the home team scoreless over the final four minutes of the second quarter. Northeastern State shooting 18.2 percent in the second quarter.
After the first two points of the third quarter went to the RiverHawks, the next seven all went to Washburn, capped off by back-to-back 3-pointers, first from Payton Sterk then Gabi Giovannetti to lead 38-21.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Topeka High's girls avenged an earlier six-point loss to Manhattan with a 64-52 home Centennial League win over the Indians Friday night.
Freshman Hailey Caryl led Topeka High with 22 points in Friday's 64-52 Centennial League win over Manhattan Friday night. [File photo/TSN]
Freshman Hailey Caryl led the Trojans with 22 points, going 7 of 7 from the field, and also contributed 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals.
Sophomore Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton added 18 points, with a pair of 3pointers, while junior Keimara Marshall had 12 points with 8 rebounds and senior Jo'Mhara Benning had 5 points and 13 rebounds.
Topeka High, which dropped a 60-54 decision to the Indians on Feb. 5, improved to 10-7 overall and 3-4 in the Centennial League while Manhattan fell to 10-6, 3-3.
Indians trip Trojan boys in OT
Looking for its second straight win, Topeka High's boys took Manhattan to overtime Friday night at High before dropping a 73-66 decision to the Indians.
Manhattan improved to 6-10 while Topeka High fell to 1-16.
Junior Simon Rowley led Washburn Rural with 18 points in Friday's 64-58 Centennial League win at Junction City. [File photo/TSN]
Junior Blues protect Centennial lead with 64-58 win at Junction City
Washburn Rural's boys strengthened their hold on the Centennial League lead with a 64-58 win at Junction City Friday night.
Junior Simon Rowley led the Junior Blues with 18 points while Amare Jones had 14 points, senior Kaden Ballard 12 points and junior John Hoytal nine.
Rural, which won its third straight game, improved to 12-4 overall and a perfect 6-0 in the league while the Blue Jays fell to 10-6, 3-3.
Senior Kate Hinck led Washburn Rural with 17 points in Friday's 71-13 Centennial League win at Junction City. [File photo/TSN]
Rural girls take 71-13 Centennial road win over Blue Jays
Ten Washburn Rural players cracked the scoring column, including three double-figure scorers, as the Junior Blues rolled to a 71-13 Centennial League win at Junction City.
Senior Kate Hinck led the Junior Blues with 17 points, followed by Maddie Vickery with 16 points and Gracie Hayes with 12 points on four 3-pointers.
Rural built a 45-8 halftime lead and a running clock was used throughout the second half.
Senior Kamoni Ford led Topeka West with 13 points in Friday's 69-46 UKC win over Leavenworth. [File photo/TSN]
West boys roll to 69-46 UKC road win over Leavenworth
Four Topeka West players cracked double figures Friday night as the Chargers improved to 10-6 on the season with a 69-46 United Kansas Conference road victory at Leavenworth.
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By JUSTIN BURKHARDT
TopSports.news
Hayden's boys basketball had plenty to celebrate on Winter Royalty night at the Bueltel Activity Center.
Wildcat senior Cooper Zweisler was named King of the Court before Hayden went out and claimed a 51-37 Centennial League win over Emporia, Hayden's first win over the Spartans in three meetings on the year.
Senior Jacob Deister led Hayden with a game-high 18 points in Friday's 51-37 Centennial League win over Emporia. [File photo/TSN]
This one would be all Wildcats as they would get hot early and shoot lights out from the field in the first quarter and take a 25-7 lead into the second quarter.
Wildcat senior Jacob Deister scored 11 of his game-high 18 points before halftime as the Wildcats would go into halftime up 32-17 and would cruise from there.
The Wildcats would get double-figure scoring nights from their two guards -- Deister 18 points and Mason Becker, who had 13 points -- as well as strong post play from Connor Hanika and James Kuta.
“I’m blessed these guys give their all, and it spreads to their teammates, you know Kuta looked like a madman on the boards, and I am starting to find Connor is very versatile,'' Hayden coach Dwayne Anthony said. "And we still just have to keep it one game at a time to keep getting better.
“I believe in Jacob, I think he is a very talented basketball player and sometimes it just takes getting into a rhythm, not trying to force so many things. He did a good job of running plays and then he gets this type of result.”
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By JUSTIN BURKHARDT
TopSports.news
Friday was Winter Royalty at the Bueltel Activity Center and would be the third meeting of the season between the top-ranked Hayden girls and Centennial League rival Emporia.
Senior Brylee Meier shared game-high scoring honors with 15 points in Hayden's 66-25 win Friday night. [File photo/TSN]
Freshman Hailey Schmidtlein tied for game-high honors with 15 points in Hayden's 66-25 Centennial League win over Emporia Friday night. [File photo/TSN]
And much like the earlier two matchups, Hayden took control early on the way to a 66-25 victory.
The Wildcats are led by experience and start four seniors while the Lady Spartans are led by newcomers and start three freshman, have zero returners from the varsity team a year ago and a new head coach.
Friday's game would be all Wildcats early as Hayden would get off to a 22-3 first-quarter lead and go into halftime up, 43-9.
The Wildcats would allow the Spartans to score 16 points over the final two quarters, with the Wildcats benching the starters after the third quarter. The Hayden role players would come out and shine for the Wildcats, led by junior Ella Foster, who would hit three 3-pointers to score nine points on the night.
“I was shooting good all day, so I was ready to get on the court and when I did and hit the first one, I knew to keep shooting,” Foster said.
Foster has seen a uptick in her minutes on varsity this season.
“Coach has done a really good job at helping us get confident with our thoughts and with just how we play, so its been really helpful to play more varsity, so I know how to play,” Foster said.
“She is a good shooter,'' Hayden coach Carvel Reynoldson said of Foster. "She does great in shooting drills every day, so I am not surprised.”
