By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural's girls basketball team has back-to-back games against a pair of state-ranked teams coming up over the next four nights.
But Junior Blues coach Kevin Bordewick stressed to his team that all of its attention needed to be on visiting Junction City in Monday's Centennial League makeup game.
Rural carried out Bordewick's wishes in impressive fashion, with the third-ranked (Class 6A) Junior Blues opening up a huge 20-point lead by the end of the opening quarter on the way to a 69-26 romp.
"That's one thing we talked about, is we're not worried about tomorrow against Seaman (at Rural Tuesday) or Friday (at Topeka High), but let's have a mentality about us and how we approach the start of these games and how we start after halftime and play all the way through,'' Bordewick said. "And I liked our intensity and I thought we were locked in OK.''
Twelve players saw action for the Junior Blues and 11 cracked the scoring column, including three in double figures, as Washburn Rural improved to 14-1 overall and 10-1 in the league.
Washburn Rural sophomore Zoe Canfield was one of three players in double figures with 10 points as the Junior Blues improved to 14-1 with Monday's 69-26 win over Junction City. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
Washburn Rural junior Brooklyn DeLeye takes the ball to the basket in Monday night's 69-26 Centennial League win over Junction City, the Junior Blues' ninth straight win. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
Washburn Rural built a 28-8 in the first quarter and took a 39-13 lead at the half and a 60-17 advantage after three quarters, forcing a running clock over the final eight minutes.
Senior Katelynn Brogan came off the bench to lead Washburn Rural with 15 points while sophomores Zoe Canfield and Jada Ingram added 10 apiece.
With Brogan leading the way, Washburn Rural got 30 points from its bench.
"They come to practice and they don't get the playing time that a lot of them do, but they are there trying to make us better in some form or fashion, so when they do get a chance to go in there, their hard work is paying off so it is fun to watch, and the other kids like that, too,'' Bordewick said.
Junction City (2-12, 2-9) was led by junior Sophia Holloway with 11 points, the only Blue Jay with more than six points.
Seaman, No. 9-ranked in 5A, is 10-4 overall and 8-3 in the league entering Tuesday night's game against Rural. On Friday the Junior Blues will travel to High to face the No. 2 (6A) Trojans, who started the week 14-0 and 11-0 in the league.
WASHBURN RURAL GIRLS 69, JUNCTION CITY 26
Junction City 8 5 4 9 -- 26
Washburn Rural 28 11 21 9 -- 69
Junction City (2-12, 2-9) – DeGuzman 2-6 0-0 4, Nabus 0-2 0-0 0, Harris 0-2 0-0 0, Holloway 4-5 3-5 11, Rexrode 3-6 0-0 6, Hatcher 2-4 0-0 5, Exantus 0-0 0-0 0, O'Neal 0-3 0-0 0, Thomas 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 11-29 3-5 26.
Washburn Rural (14-1, 10-1) – Lutz 2-6 0-0 5, Krueger 3-3 1-2 8, Canfield 4-8 0-0 10, Ingram 5-9 0-0 10, DeLeye 3-7 0-0 6, Bagshaw 1-3 0-1 2, Whitmore 1-3 0-0 2, Carlgren 1-1 0-0 3, Ochs 1-2 0-0 2, Brogan 4-6 7-10 15, Schuler 3-5 0-0 6, Bunck 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 28-55 8-13 69.
3-point goals – Junction City 1 (Hatcher), Washburn Rural 5 (Canfield 2, Lutz, Krueger Carlgren). Total fouls – Junction City 9, Washburn Rural 9. Fouled out – none.
