By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
After reeling off four straight double-digit victories to open the 2025-2026 season, Topeka West boys basketball got its toughest test of the year Friday night at Shawnee Heights.
Junior Prince Lassiter led a balanced Topeka West attack with 15 points in Friday's 63-58 UKC win at Shawnee Heights. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
And Christian Ulsaker's No. 2-ranked (Class 5A) Chargers used a clutch fourth-quarter performance to pass that test, taking control down the stretch in a 63-58 United Kansas Conference victory over the seventh-ranked T-Birds, improving to 5-0 overall and 4-0 in the conference.
Topeka West trailed 36-32 at the half and the game was knotted 48-all at the start of the fourth quarter before the Chargers used a 5-0 run to take the lead and held off the T-Birds (2-3, 2-2) the rest of the way.
"We knew a (Ken) Darting-led team defensively is always going to be gritty and he had them ready for this game, so I'm glad our guys came out prepared,'' Ulsaker said. "It's one that we needed. We haven't really had that (battle) in the fourth, a little bit with Piper, but it was good to see us rise up in crunch time in the fourth quarter and come away with a win.''
The game was close throughout, with West's biggest lead of the night six points with 2:14 left while the T-Birds' biggest advantage was four points on four occasions.
Junior Prince Lassiter, the only underclassman in Topeka West's starting lineup, led a balanced Charger attack with 15 points while senior Keimani Paul added 14 points and seniors Malakyah Duncan and Jay'Veon Traylor 13 apiece.
"Overall, I just like to be a team player,'' Lassiter said. "Of course, anybody wants to score, but ultimately you've got to do what's best for your team. I'm glad I had the experience last year to play some varsity minutes because I'm definitely a lot more comfortable this year.''
"He brings that edge that our team needs,'' Ulsaker said of Lassiter. "And we have to feed off of that. Prince is huge that way.''
Freshman Quincy Dixon (22) scored a game-high 17 points in Shawnee Heights' 63-58 UKC loss to Topeka West Friday night. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Freshman Quincy Dixon led Shawnee Heights with a game-high 17 points, including three 3-pointers, while senior JaiMarion Cook had 16 points with four 3-pointers and junior Cam Ross added 10.
And although Friday's loss was Heights' third loss by five or fewer points, Darting was very pleased with his team's effort against a bigger, more physical Topeka West team.
"I feel great,'' Darting said. "Over our first five games I leave this one feeling way better about (his team) than any time this year. This game was the first time we've played Shawnee Heights defense.''
Shawnee Heights will return to action on Jan. 2, hosting city rival Hayden in a non-league battle while Topeka West will travel to Lawrence Free State on Jan. 5.
"We're extremely thrilled to be going into the Christmas break 5-0,'' Lassiter said. "It's something we're proud of.''
TOPEKA WEST BOYS 63, SHAWNEE HEIGHTS 58
Topeka West 17 15 16 15 -- 63
Shawnee Heights 16 20 12 10 -- 58
Topeka West (5-0, 4-0) – Munganga 2-9 0-0 6, Traylor 5-10 3-7 13, Duncan 6-10 0-0 13, Paul 5-9 3-5 14, Lassiter 6-8 3-4 15, Phillips 1-1 0-0 2, Fox 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 25-48 9-16 63.
Shawnee Heights (2-3, 2-2) – Alston 1-4 3-3 6, Cook 6-10 0-0 16, Ross 4-9 2-4 10, Scott 1-4 0-0 2, Dixon 6-10 2-3 17, Campbell 3-4 1-1 7, Lee 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-49 6-7 54.
3-point goals – Topeka West 4 (Munganga 2, Duncan, Paul), Shawnee Heights 8 (Cook 4, Dixon 3, Alston). Total fouls – Topeka West 14, Shawnee Heights 17. Fouled out – none. Technical foul -- none.
