By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural's girls basketball team opened defense of its Class 6A state championship, its second title since 2019, with a 49-24 win over Thomas More Prep-Marian in Thursday's opening round of the Hays Shootout.
The Junior Blues, who are coming off a 23-2 season, advanced to a 6:30 p.m. semifinal on Friday to face Hays.
Senior Brooklyn DeLeye scored 10 points to lead a balaced Washburn Rural attack in Thursday's 49-24 season-opening win over TMP-Marian. [File photo/TSN]
Washburn Rural led by just an 8-6 margin at the end of the opening quarter but the Junior Blues stretched their lead to 23-14 at the half and outscored the Monarchs 26-10 in the second half.
Rural emptied its bench in the second half, with 10 Junior Blues cracking the scoring column.
Senior Brooklyn DeLeye led the Junior Blues with 10 points while sophomore Kate Hinck and junior Zoe Canfield added nine points apiece.
Senior Jaci Von Lintel led TMP with a game-high 12 points, accounting for half of the Monarchs' points.
With a semiinal win on Friday Washburn Rural will advance to Saturday's 5 p.m. tournament championship game.
CAIR PARAVEL BOYS 53, WAVERLY 47 (OT) -- Trey Brown and his Cair Paravel boys basketball team had to work overtime Thursday night but the Lions gave Brown his first coaching victory in the opening round of the three-day Burlingame tournament.
Cair Paravel jumped out to a big first-half advantage but the Bulldogs rallied in the second half to force the extra session with the game tied at 44.
The Lions closed out the victory with a 9-3 edge in the OT period.
Jase Pavlik had a big night for the Lions, scoring 19 points with four 3-pointers.
Pavlik scored six points in overtime.
Cair Paravel got eight points from Ty Gossard, seven from Evan Will and six apiece from Ben Roeder and Cameron Brian.
The Lions will play tournament host Burlingame at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
WAMEGO BOYS 62, TOPEKA HIGH 47 -- Wamgeo spoiled Geo Lyons' debut as Topeka High's head coach with a dominating second half, pulling away for a 62-47 victory at Wamego.
The Trojans and Red Raiders were tied at 26 at halftime, but Wamego opened up a three-point advantage and the end of the third period and outscored High 20-8 the rest of the way.
Madon Gomez had 16 points and Da'Mykel Hayes 15 for Topeka High while Jayden Norman added nine points.
The Trojans will play at Valley Center on Saturday.
WAMEGO GIRLS 57, TOPEKA HIGH 52 -- Seniors Kiki Smith and Faith Shields combined for 32 points Thursday night, but Wamego took control down the stretch for a 57-52 non-league win at Wamego.
Smith scored 20 points and Shields 12 for the Trojans.
The Trojans, who were making their debut under new coach Brittney Redmond, led 16-10 at the end of the opening quarter and took a 20-19 lead to the locker room at the half.
Topeka High 38-35 at the start of the fourth quarter but Wamego closed with a 22-14 fourth-quarter rally.
Topeka High will play at Valley Center on Saturday.
