- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Derby bested Shawnee Heights in every way, shape and form in Friday night's Capital City Classic semifinal at Topeka High, with the Panthers ending the T-Birds' 10-game winning streak with a dominating 80-44 victory.
Junior KK Emmot led Shawnee Heights with 11 points in Friday's 80-44 semifinal loss to Derby in the Capital City Classic. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Now the T-Birds want to flush that disappointing performance as quickly as possible with Shawnee Heights now set to face Garden City in Saturday's 1 p.m. third-place game.
"We've got to let it go and we've got to learn from it,'' Shawnee Heights coach Bob Wells said. "They just came out and they were more physically prepared and more mentally prepared than we were. Kudos to them. They gave it to us every which way they could and there wasn't a lot we could do about it for awhile.''
Wells said the key for the T-Birds now is to make sure they return to the form that has allowed them to post a glossy 11-4 record on the season.
"We can't turn one loss into two and tomorrow's an important game,'' Wells said. "There's a lot of big games coming towards the end of the season in this last month and it starts tomorrow.''
No. 3-ranked (Class 6A) Derby, now 13-2 on the season, ended the first quarter with a commanding 24-8 record and went to the locker room at the half with a 50-20 cushion after a 26-12 second quarter onslaught by the Panthers.
Derby led 68-36 at the end of the third quarter to force a running clock the rest of the way.
Senior Macayla Askew led Derby with a game-high 22 points while senior Karlie Demel had a double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds and sophomore Sarai Graham also scored 11 points.
Junior KK Emmot led Shawnee Heights with 11 points while junior Pearmella Carter added 10 points and seven rebounds.
Derby will face Wichita Heights, a 57-42 semifinal winner over Garden City, in Saturday's 2:30 p.m. championship game.
DERBY 80, SHAWNEE HEIGHTS 44
Shawnee Heights 8 12 16 8 -- 44
Derby 24 26 18 12 -- 80
Shawnee Heights (11-4) – Emmot 3-11 4-5 11, McGlory 2-6 4-4 9, Carter 5-9 0-0 10, Baum 0-2 1-2 1, Vega 1-6 1-4 3, Brees 0-1 0-0 0, Aubrey Hamilton 0-0 2-2 2, Schmidt 1-2 0-2 3, Allie Hamilton 1-2 0-0 3, Karylye 1-2 0-2 2. Totals 14-41 12-21 44.
Derby (13-2) – Demel 4-6 2-2 11, Fox 3-6 2-3 8, Dinsmore 3-5 0-0 6, Graham 3-9 3-4 11, Askew 9-17 4-4 22, Watie 0-1 0-0 0, Clingan 0-2 0-0 0, Gutzmer 0-2 0-0 0, Brownlee 0-0 1-2 1, Carter 1-4 0-0 2, Harris 4-7 0-0 9, Vanmeter 3-3 0-1 8, Bohaty 0-0 2-2 2. Totals 30-62 14-19 80.
3-point goals – Shawnee Heights 4 (Emmot, McGlory, Schmidt, Allie Hamilton), Derby 6 (Graham 2, NA 2, Harris, Demel). Total fouls – Derby 22, Shawnee Heights 16. Fouled out – none. Technical fouls -- none.
Trojans hold off Lions for 75-72 Capital City Classic win
Topeka High girls basketball posted an 18-point road win over Lawrence on Jan. 6, but Trojan coach Ron Slaymaker fully expected Friday's rematch with the Lions in the Capital City Classic on High's home floor to be much tougher.
And it was, with the Lions leading at some point in each of the first three quarters, but the Trojans survived the test to advance to Saturday's 11:30 a.m. fifth-place game with a 75-72 win.
"They played (Shawnee) Heights yesterday and played them well until late,'' Slaymaker said. "They got beat late and I was like, 'Gosh, those girls are better.' We knew it wasn't going to be easy.
"We tried to make it easy and then we tried to make it hard. I wasn't sure what team was out there, but we found a way.''
Junior Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton led 6-7 Topeka High with 30 points, including five 3-pointers, while senior Keimara Marshall had 17 points and senior Sasha Gotru 12 points.
Junior post player Cami Nauholz registered a double-double for 6-7 Lawrence with 29 points and 15 rebounds while freshman Marley Doleman and sophomore Macyn Ramsay both added 19 points with five 3s apiece.
Topeka High will now face city rival Seaman at 11:30 a.m. in the fifth-place game.
TOPEKA HIGH 75, LAWRENCE 72
Lawrence 20 15 21 16 -- 72
Topeka High 22 18 21 14 -- 75
Lawrence (6-7) -- Juelsgaard 0-7 0-0 0, Doleman 7-9 0-0 19, Barber 2-5 0-2 5, Nauholz 10-24 8-9 29, Ramsay 7-13 0-1 19, Simmons 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-58 8-12 72
Topeka High (6-7) – Short 2-5 1-1 5, Marshall 8-14 0-0 17, Rayton 10-21 5-6 30, Caryl 3-5 1-2 7, Gotru 4-6 4-4 12, Triplett 0-1 0-0 0, Whayne 1-2 2-4 4. Totals 28-54 13-17 75.
3-point goals – Lawrence 12 (Doleman 5, Ramsay 5, Nauholz, Barber), Topeka High 6 (Rayton 5, Marshall). Total fouls – Lawrence 14, Topeka High 13. Fouled out – Barber. Technical fouls -- none.
Seaman gets back on track with 30-point win over Scots
Seaman snapped a three-game losing streak Friday in a 62-32 Capital Classic romp past city rival Highland Park.
"It was good to smile again,'' Seaman coach Matt Tinsley said. "For a number of reasons we needed to win this game. It's been a tough week for us, so it was good to see the girls out having fun and smiling.
"We've just got to stick with what we're doing. We're still growing and the girls are still learning through it. It's going to be like that through this season, but I'm proud of them for coming back today.''
Now 7-5 on the season, Seaman jumped out in from 21-6 by the end of the first quarter and then hit the Scots (4-10) with a 17-3 second quarter to take a commanding 38-9 advantage at the half.
Seaman held a 52-21 lead after three quarters to force a running clock over the final eight minutes.
Junior Brynn Spencer, who was celebrating her birthday, led Seaman with 12 points on four first-quarter 3-pointers.
Spencer was the only double-figure scorer for the Vikings, but all 11 Seaman players who saw action cracked the scoring column.
Senior Koralee Jones scored a game-high 15 points for Highland Park (4-10).
Highland Park will play Lawrence at 10 a.m. Saturday in the seventh-place game of the Capital City Classic while Seaman will play Topeka High in the fifth-place game at 11:30 a.m.
SEAMAN 62, HIGHLAND PARK 32
Highland Park 6 3 12 11 -- 32
Seaman 21 17 14 10 -- 62
Highland Park (4-10) -- Cosey 3-14 0-0 8, Kincade 2-15 0-2 6, Barnett 1-5 1-2 3, Sanders 0-0 0-0 0, Atkins 6-12 3-8 15, Cameron 0-1 0-0 0, Inyard 0-3 0-0 0, Jones 6-12 3-8 15. Totals 12-53 4-12 32.
Seaman (7-5) – Dreher 3-5 0-0 6, Spencer 4-11 0-0 12, Beaton 3-9 0-1 7, Ayres 2-3 0-0 4, Gragg 3-6 0-0 7, Frickey 2-4 1-1 6, Ketron 2-3 0-0 4, Bruns 2-4 0-0 4, Alfen 0-2 0-0 0, Puvogel 4-9 0-0 10, Zurmely 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 17-49 7-12 48.
3-point goals – Highland Park 4 (Cosey 2, Kincade 2), Seaman 7 (Spencer 4, Gragg, Frickey, Beaton). Total fouls – Highland Park 9, Seaman 11. Fouled out – none. Technical fouls -- none.
CAPITAL CITY CLASSIC
Friday's scores
Seaman 62, Highland Park 32
Topeka High 75, Lawrence 72
Wichita Heights 57, Garden City 42
Derby 80, Shawnee Heights 44
Saturday's games
10 a.m. -- Highland Park vs. Lawrence (seventh place)
11:30 -- Seaman vs. Topeka High (fifth place)
1 p.m. -- Garden City vs. Shawnee Heights (third place)
2:30 -- Wichita Heights vs. Derby (championship)
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Cair Paravel Latin sophomore boys basketball standout Blaine Durbin and Topeka High junior girls basketball standout Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton 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 2025-2026 school year.
Here's a brief look at the recent accomplishments of Durbin and Rayton.
Blaine Durbin, Cair Paravel Latin [Photo by Jan Pabitzky/Special to TSN]
BLAINE DURBIN, Cair Paravel Latin
Durbin scored a total of 60 points in three wins last week week as No. 7-ranked (Class 2A) Cair Paravel won the championship in the Flint Hills League Tournament at Emporia. Durbin scored 17 points in a 64-30 win over West Franklin, had 30 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in a 60-45 win over Lyndon and scored 13 points in the Lions' 64-47 win over Osage City.
Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton, Topeka High [File photo/TSN]
ASHIEYRHUAJH RAYTON, Topeka High
Rayton scored 33 points in Tuesday's 71-33 non-league win over Atchison and followed that up with a 37-point performance in Thursday's 65-57 loss to state-ranked Derby in the opening round of the Capital City Classic, surpassing the 1,000-point milestone for her career. Rayton connected on three 3-pointers against Atchison and four against Derby.
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University opened its 56th season of softball on Friday as the Ichabods begin the 2026 season with five games over three days at the Lone Star Classic in Mansfield, Texas, just south of Dallas.
Brenda Holaday's Washburn University softball team will open the 2026 season with five games over three days this weekend in Texas. [File photo/TSN]
The Ichabods are coming off a 31-21 season, going 13-11 in the MIAA, and will be looking to return to the NCAA Tournament after missing out last season.
After practicing for several months, in the fall and since returning from the Christmas break, senior infielder Kate Ediger said it's time for the Ichabods to play a game.
"Oh my gosh, it is so time,'' Ediger said. "We have been practicing every day since we've been back in January and we've been scrimmaging and we're just so ready to go out there and play. We're just ready.''
After an up and down season a year ago, Ediger is confident that the Ichabods are poised to take a step forward this season.
"We have five pitchers this year who all are going to be very, very great for us,'' Ediger said. "Last year we had a couple of pitchers that had to do the job every game and this year we have more depth with our pitching and the chemistry that we have in our infield is there.
"I think that we have all the potential in the world. We have a lot of great people. We've just got to get out there and see what we can do, but I know that we're ready for it.''
Senior outfielder Erin Boles, a four-year player for the Ichabods, agreed.
"I think we're all very anxious to get on the field and play different competition and get that competitiveness,'' Boles said. "We're very eager.
"Our goal this year is to start off strong and carry that over into conference and postseason. That is what we're looking for this year.''
Washburn has reached the postseason six times, including three under coach Brenda Holaday in the 2018, 2022 and 2024 seasons.
The Ichabods have hit the 30-win mark for four straight seasons, dating back to the 2022 season, which is the longest streak of 30 wins since a run between the 2002-07 seasons when the Ichabods recorded 30 wins six seasons in a row.
Washburn was tabbed sixth in the MIAA Preseason Coaches poll.
Holaday is in her 10th season as the Ichabod softball head coach, recording a 283-170 overall record and going 136-74 in MIAA contests, leading the Ichabods to two MIAA regular-season titles (2018, 2022). Holaday became Washburn's all-time winningest coach with a 13-0 win over Illinois-Springfield on Feb. 8, 2025.
WU senior pitcher Sadie Walker was 36th in the nation last season in games started (28), 17th in appearances (35) and 39th in shutouts (5) while also ranking 55th in strikeouts (142).
Jenna Sprague ranked 10th in the nation with five saves.
Makenzie Sais led Washburn with 15 multiple-hit games last season.
The Ichabods are scheduled to face Texas Woman's and Southern Nazarene on Friday, Cameron on Saturday and Lubbock Christian and St. Edward's on Sunday.
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University women's basketball remained within striking distance most of the way Thursday night, but weren't able to overcome a late run by No. 5-ranked Fort Hays State, falling 59-47 on the road.
Senior Yibari Nwidadah led Washburn with 12 points and nine rebounds in Thursday's MIAA loss at No. 5-ranked Fort Hays State. [File photo/TSN]
With the win the Tigers snapped Washburn's four-game winning streak and avenged their only loss of the season, a 67-64 decision to Washburn on Dec. 6 in Lee Arena.
Washburn senior Yibari Nwidadah opened what would be a low-scoring first quarter with a layup at the 8:56 mark.
After a pair of ties, the Tigers (19-1 overall, 10-1 MIAA) stayed in front the rest of the way as both teams shot a combined 8-31 in the quarter. After ten minutes Washburn (14-6, 7-4) trailed 9-8.
The Ichabods continued to play catch-up to begin the second stanza. They were finally able to string together back-to-back buckets and lead 18-17 after Britany Kogbara got a basket to go with 4:23 left in the half.
Fort Hays State went back in front and led by two with 2:16 left. The hosts were held scoreless from that point on in the quarter as Ichabod senior Aniah Wayne tied the game at 24 heading into the half.
In the opening minutes of the third quarter the Tigers pushed the lead to four points at the 7:24 mark. They were held scoreless for the next four-plus minutes as Washburn was able to go in front on a Gabi Giovannetti 3-pointer at the 3:36 mark, the first 3-pointer of the game for the Ichabods.
Fort Hays State scored the final four points of the quarter to lead 36-33.
Washburn was able to tie the game up on an offensive rebound and putback by Nwidadah with 4:21 left in regulation, but the Tiger offense picked up the pace after that, scoring the next nine points in the game in just over two and a half minutes.
The lead was pushed into double figures as Fort Hays State pulled away for the 12-point win.
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The No. 1-ranked Washburn Ichabods rallied to force overtime before pulling away in the extra frame for an 81-73 road win over Fort Hays State Thursday night at Gross Memorial Coliseum, improving to 21-0 overall and 11-0 in the MIAA.
Senior Brady Christiansen led a balanced Washburn attack with 18 points as the No. 1-ranked Ichabods improved to 21-0 with an 81-73 road win at Fort Hays State. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
"It's as good of a win as we've had since I've been here,'' Washburn coach Brett Ballard told KTPK Radio. "We've had some good ones, but against that team, which we've got the utmost respect for, in this environment with that crowd ... we didn't flinch, we didn't give in, kept battling, kept fighting and made some plays late when we needed it.
"Just a gutsy, gutsy win for us and I'll remember this one for a long time.''
Washburn led 47-46 with 10:31 to go in regulation before Fort Hays State (15-5, 7-4) went on a 12–3 run, taking a 58-50 lead with 5:13 to go.
Washburn trailed by six with 55 seconds to play before a Bryson Smith layup and a Jeremiah Jones steal and layup cut the Tigers' lead to 66-64 with 29 seconds to go.
The Tigers hit two more charity stripes with 20 seconds left, but again Smith scored on a drive with 14 seconds left.
Fort Hays State drew a foul with 13 seconds to play, leading by two, but missed both free throws, and after a Jones rebound, WU sophomore Dillon Claussen was fouled with 0.9 seconds to play, and he connected on both free throws, sending the game to overtime.
In the extra session, Washburn outscored the Tigers 13–5, holding Fort Hays State without a field goal in overtime while converting 8 of 8 free throws and forcing a pair of turnovers.
Washburn trailed by one at 69-68, but had six points from Smith and five from Jack Bachelor, including a 3-pointer with 39 seconds to play, to push the Ichabod lead to four.
On the Tigers' ensuing possession, Jones swiped another ball and went the distance with a dunk as Washburn would lead 79-73 with 31 seconds left.
Smith wrapped up the scoring with two free throws with 22 seconds to play, sealing the win.
Senior Brady Christiansen led the Ichabods with 18 points going 10 of 12 from the free throw line and adding five rebounds.
Bachelor logged 42 minutes and finished with 17 points, three assists and two steals and Jones recorded his first double-double as an Ichabod with 14 points and 14 rebounds while adding four steals.
Smith tallied 16 points with six boards going 8 of 9 from the free throw line, while Claussen added nine points and seven rebounds.
