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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Earlier in the season Highland Park had trouble in close games, getting off to a 3-5 start with three losses by 3 or fewer points.
But suddenly the Scots are finding a way to win those games, including Friday's 55-47 overtime Centennial League decision over Seaman at Highland Park.
Highland Park, which had dropped a 66-63 double-overtime decision to the Vikings early in the season, trailed much of the game in Friday's rematch, but the Scots rallied to force overtime on a clutch 3-pointer from 6-foot-7 senior CJ Powell with 2 seconds left in regulation and then outscored Seaman 15-7 in the OT to stretch their winning streak to five games.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
In the midst of a five-game losing streak, the only objective for Matt Tinsley's Seaman girls basketball team Friday night against Highland Park was to get back in the victory column.
The Vikings achieved that goal in impressive fashion, leading wire to wire in a 68-31 Centennial League road win over the Scots.
Matt Tinsley's Seaman Lady Vikings snapped a five-game losing streak with a 68-31 win over Highland Park Friday night at Highland Park. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
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By ANDREW GILL
TopSports.news
In a game where neither team shot the ball well, crashing the offensive glass was what made the difference in Washburn Rural’s 56-45 Centennial League girls basketball win at Hayden.
Of Rural’s 40 total rebounds, 21 of them came on the offensive end. With both teams shooting just 38 percent from the field, every second-chance bucket mattered.
Brooklyn DeLeye
Despite more bench minutes than usual due to 3 first half fouls, sophomore Brooklyn DeLeye scored the game high 19 points and added 9 rebounds for the Lady Blues. Junior teammate Emma Krueger wasn’t far behind with a 16-point effort, also grabbing 9 boards.
Emma Krueger
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Tyler Geiman had another in a string of monster games for the Ichabods, scoring 21 of his game-high 29 points in the second half. (Photo by Rex Wolf TSN)
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
When a team seemingly has as many players in street clothes as it does in unform, which was the case for the Washburn men's basketball team Thursday night, it's a necessity to get contributions from everybody that steps on the court.
Ichabod coach Brett Ballard got that against Rogers State as short-handed Washburn improved to 12-3 with an 88-77 MIAA win over the Hillcats at Lee Arena.
With juniors Jonny Clausing and Will McKee still sidelined with injuries and sophomore Connor Deffebaugh missing the game with illness, Ballard used just seven players against Rogers State, but five of the seven cracked double figures and another added 8 points as the Ichabods rallied from an 8-point deficit early in the second half to pull out the victory.
Ichabod senior point guard Tyler Geiman had another in a string of monster games for the Ichabods, scoring 21 of his game-high 29 points in the second half and also adding 8 assists, while redshirt freshman Levi Braun scored 18 points on 6 3-pointers.
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Topeka West point guard Marque Wilkerson is in the midst of a banner senior season, helping lead the Chargers to an 11-2 record and the Centennial League lead. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Veteran Topeka West boys basketball coach Rick Bloomquist and Charger point guard Marque Wilkerson are both quick to admit that their relationship was a bit rocky at times a year ago.
Wilerson was in and out of his coach's doghouse throughout his junior year but has used that experience to put together an MVP-type senior season while helping make the 11-2 Chargers one of the premier teams in the Centennial League and the Class 5A ranks.
“We had a love-hate relationship last year and right now I love him a lot,'' Bloomquist said. "He’s really played the system and he’s really adjusted. I don’t know if I should say this, but a lot of kids wouldn’t have adjusted to how I tried to make him adjust and would have walked away from me.
“In fact, I tried at one point and thank God he stayed. He had two choices. He had to play like I wanted him to play or he wasn’t going to play and I think he understands now because he’s having a lot of fun as well.’’
Wilkerson is currently averging 17.1 points for the Chargers, including a 25-point performance in Tuesday night's 63-46 home win over Washburn Rural that gave West sole possession of the league lead with a 8-1 record.
And while it wasn't pleasant at the time, Wilkerson knows the lessons he's learned from Bloomquist have helped him become the player he is today.
“I’m his point guard and he said I need to be an extension of him,'' Wilkerson said. "If I’m playing well it makes the team better.’’
Wilkerson said last year's season-ending loss to Blue Valley Southwest that deprived the Chargers of a 5A state tournament berth drove that point home.
