By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
After a experiencing a slow start Tuesday at Junction City, No. 6-ranked (Class 6A) Washburn Rural reversed the script Friday night, jumping out to a 20-5 first-quarter advantage on the way to a 55-29 home Centennial League win over No. 8-ranked (4A) Hayden.
Senior Brooklyn DeLeye goes up for two of her game-high 18 points in Friday's 55-29 Centennial League win over Hayden at Rural. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Washburn Rural senior Chloe Carlgren draws a foul in the first quarter of Rural's 55-39 Centennial League win over Hayden Friday night. Carlgren scored 13 points for Rural. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
With the win, Washburn Rural improved to 12-4 overall and a perfect 7-0 in the Centennial League, protecting its two-game lead in the league race.
Hayden and Rural were tied at 3-3 after a 3-pointer from the Wildcats' Brylee Meier, but the Junior Blues went on a 15-0 run, including three 3-pointers and a traditional three-point play, to take command at 18-3 and was still on top by 15 at the end of the quarter after a hoop from senior Chloe Carlgren.
"I thought we had more energy tonight and I thought in the first half our defensive intensity was really pretty good,'' Washburn Rural coach Kevin Bordewick said. "We kind of had an idea of what they might do and what we could do against it.
"I thought we had a lot of energy, more intensity, and I thought everybody contributed. Outside shots, when they go in, everything loooks good.''
After the slow start, Hayden played Washburn Rural virtually even in the second quarter, with Rural holding a slim 13-12 edge to take a 33-17 lead into the locker room at the half.
Hayden (9-6, 2-5) outscored Washburn Rural 7-4 in a low-scoring third quarter to get within 13 (37-24) but the Junior Blues closed the game with an 18-5 run to take the 26-point victory.
Senior Brooklyn DeLeye scored a game-high 18 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead the Junior Blues while Carlgren added 13 points and grabbed seven boards.
Junior MaRyah Lutz added nine points on three 3-pointers as Washburn Rural canned nine treys on the night.
Sophomore Norma Greco scored 11 points to lead Hayden while sophomore Kaliya Fulton added seven points.
Washburn Rural will return to action Tuesday with a home Centennial League game against No. 4-ranked Topeka High while Hayden will play a non-league game at Tonganoxie on Monday before hosting Junction City next Tuesday.
WASHBURN RURAL GIRLS 55, HAYDEN 29
Hayden 5 12 7 5 -- 29
Washburn Rural 20 13 4 18 -- 55
Hayden (9-6, 2-5) -- Sandstrom 1-9 3-4 6, Fulton 2-5 3-4 7, Huscher 0-1 0-0 0, Meier 2-6 0-0 5, Greco 4-4 2-2 11, Grunert 0-2 0-0 0, Lenherr 0-0 0-0 0, Reid 0-0 0-0 0, Watts 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 9-35 8-10 29.
Washburn Rural (12-4, 7-0) -- Lutz 3-4 0-0 9, Hinck 2-5 2-2 6, C. Carlgren 5-11 1-2 13, Bunck 1-6 0-0 3, DeLeye 6-12 4-4 18, Schroeder 1-2 0-0 2, Hirschi 0-0 0-0 0, Ochs 0-2 1-2 1, Horyna 0-1 0-0 0, J. Carlgren 1-1 0-0 3, Haggard 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 19-44 8-10 55.
3-point goals -- Hayden 3 (Sandstrom, Meier, Greco), Washburn Rural 9 (Lutz 3, C. Carlgren 2, DeLeye 2, Bunck, J. Carlgren). Total fouls -- Hayden 10, Washburn Rural 8. Fouled out – none. Technical fouls -- none.
