Cair Paravel Lions

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Seaman's girls, the top-ranked team in Class 5A by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association, dug themselves a hole Friday night against De Soto before fighting back to take a 43-35 United Kansas Conference road victory.

Matt Tinsley's Seaman girls rallied for a 43-35 UKC win over De Soto Friday night, improving to 13-1 on the season. [File photo/TSN]

The Vikings, who improved to 13-1 overall and 9-1 in the UKC, trailed 13-4 at the end of the opening quarter and Seaman still trailed by nine at the half, 23-14.

Seaman rallied to take a 30-28 lead by the end of the third quarter and the Vikings outscored the Wildcats (9-6, 7-5) by a 13-7 margin over the final eight minutes to take their seventh straight win.

Seaman will return to action on Tuesday, hosting Kansas City-Turner in a UKC contest.

DE SOTO BOYS 68, SEAMAN 39 --Eighth-ranked (Class 5A) De Soto jumped on short-handed Seaman early Friday night and cruised to a 68-39 home United Kansas Conference decision.

Seaman, which fell to 7-7 overall and 4-6 in the league, played without standout seniors Kaeden Bonner and Aron Davis due to injuries.

De Soto (13-2, 11-1) led 17-9 at the end of the first quarter and 31-15 at the half before using a 23-8 third quarter to force a running clock over the final eight minutes.

Seaman will be at home Tuesday to host Kansas City-Turner in a UKC game.

Topeka High senior Kiki Smith had 22 points in Friday's 62-25 Centennial League win at Junction City. [File photo/TSN]  

 TOPEKA HIGH GIRLS 62, JUNCTION CITY 25 --Topeka High, fifth-ranked in Class 6A, ran its winning streak to five games with a 62-25 Centennial League romp at Junction City.

The Trojan, who improved to 12-3 overall and 3-2 in the league, were never seriously threatened by the Blue Jays, opening up a 16-11 first-quarter advantage and using a 19-6 second quarter to take command at halftime, 35-17.

High outscored Junction City (3-12, 1-5) in the third quarter by a 14-5 margin to take a 49-22 lead and the Trojans forced a running clock down the stretch.

Trojan senior Kiki Smith scored a game-high 22 points while junior Ladaysha Baird continued her hot streak, adding 14 points. 

Topeka High will be at home Tuesday to face Manhattan.

'By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

MANHATTAN (6-8, 2-2) at HAYDEN (8-4, 1-3)

No. 8-ranked (Class 4A) Hayden has been off since winning the Wellsville Top Gun Tournament last Saturday with a 48-39 win over Spring Hill. The Wildcats have now won four straight games and put sophomores Brylee Meier and Kaliya Fulton and junior Lauren Sandstrom on the all-tournament team. Manhattan is coming off a 46-35 win over Dodge City and has won two straight games for the first time this season.

Senior Brooklyn DeLeye scored 19 points in Washburn Rural's 54-52 overtime loss to Blue Valley Northwest on Tuesday. [File photo/TSN]

EMPORIA (12-2, 3-1) at WASHBURN RURAL (9-4, 4-0)

No. 4-ranked (Class 6A) Washburn Rural will be looking to protect its lead in the Centennial League race while No. 4 (5A) Emporia will be looking to pull even with the Junior Blues. Both teams are coming off losses, with the Spartans dropping a last-second 46-43 decision to Seaman in the Glaciers Edge championship game last Saturday while Rural fell to non-league foe Blue Valley Northwest in overtime on Tuesday, 54-52. Senior Brooklyn DeLeye scored 19 points against Blue Valley Northwest while senior Chloe Carlgren added 11 points and sophomore Tenly Bunck nine points on three 3-pointers.

LEAVENWORTH (2-11, 2-7) at SHAWNEE HEIGHTS (9-5, 7-3)

Ninth-ranked (Class 5A) Shawnee Heights is coming off a tough 37-33 United Kansas Conference loss at Basehor-Linwood Tuesday night while Leavenworth is coming off a 59-26 loss to Bonner Springs. Shawnee Heights took 49-36 UKC win over the Pioneers earlier in the season. All five of Shawnee Heights losses have been by four or fewer points. Senior Riley Showalter led the T-Birds with 11 points against Basehor-Linwood while seniors Emari Doby and Taylor Rottinghaus added 10 and seven points, respectively.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

MANHATTAN (8-6, 2-2) at HAYDEN (6-6, 1-3)

Hayden was off Tuesday after a 58-51 non-league home loss to Shawnee Heights last Friday. Manhattan is coming off a 67-59 loss to Blue Valley, its third straight loss. Senior Joe Otting and junior Jacob Padilla scored 14 points apiece in the Wildcats' loss to Shawnee Heights, with Otting going six of six at the free throw line. Senior Jake Muller also cracked double  figures for Hayden with 11 points.

Washburn Rural senior Jack Bachelor is coming off a 27-point performance in Tuesday's 65-60 non-league road win at Blue Valley. [File photo/TSN]

EMPORIA (10-4, 3-1) at WASHBURN RURAL (10-4, 3-1)

Senior Jack Bachelor scored 27 points in Washburn Rural's 65-60 non-league victory over Blue Valley on Tuesday. Bachelor went nine of 13 from the field and six of seven from the free throw line against the Tigers while sophomore Kaden Ballard added 13 points while hitting four of seven 3-point attempts. Emporia is coming off a 41-39 win over Manhattan. 

LEAVENWORTH (4-9, 2-8) at SHAWNEE HEIGHTS (10-4, 7-3)

Shawnee Heights posted a 57-48 United Kansas Conference road win at Basehor-Linwood on Tuesday, giving the T-Birds a regular-season sweep over the Bobcats. Sophomore Jaret Sanchez led Heights with 16 points while junior Brennon Dodge added 15 points, seniors Jeremyah Kendrick and Q Stovall eight points apiece and sophomore Deacon Pomeroy seven. Leavenworth has lost four straight games, including a 67-60 non-league loss to Bonner Springs on Tuesday. Heights beat Leavenworth 61-40 in an earlier game between the two teams.

Senior Jahmir Kingannon scored 18 points with five 3-pointers in Thursday's 79-48 Meadowlark Conference win over KC-Schlagle. [File photo/TSN]

HIGHLAND PARK (13-0, 6-0) at KC-WYANDOTTE (3-10, 3-4)

Highland Park, top-ranked in Class 5A, will be playing its third game in four days. The Scots are coming off a 79-48 Meadowlark Conference home win over KC-Schlagle Thursday night, with seniors Tre Richardson and Jahmir Kingcannon scoring 18 points apiece and senior Bo Aldridge adding 11 points. Kingcannon canned five 3-pointers on the night. Highland Park took a 95-42 win over Wyandotte earlier in the season. The Bulldogs are coming off a 65-62 league win over KC-Harmon on Tuesday.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Five Shawnee Heights boys players scored between seven and 16 points as the T-Birds posted a 57-48 United Kansas Conference road win at Basehor-Linwood.

Sophomore Jaret Sanchez led a balanced Shawnee Heights attack with 16 points as the T-Birds posted a 57-48 UKC road win at Basehor-Linwood Tuesday night. [File photo/TSN]

The T-Birds improved to 10-4 overall and 7-3 in the UKC while earning a regular-season sweep over the Bobcats.

Sophomore Jaret Sanchez scored 16 points to pace the T-Birds while junior Brennon Dodge joined Sanchez in double figures with 15 points.

Seniors Jeremyah Kendrick and Q Stovall added eight point apiece while sophomore Deacon Pomeroy had seven points.

BASEHOR-LINWOOD GIRLS 37, SHAWNEE HEIGHTS 33 -- No. 9-ranked (Class 5A) Shawnee Heights dropped a tough 37-33 United Kansas Conference road decision at Basehor-Linwood Tuesday night, with the T-Birds falling to 9-5 overall and 7-3 in the league.

The Basehor-Linwood win Tuesday night avenged an earlier 48-40 loss to the T-Birds. The Bobcatss improved to 10-3, 8-2.

Senior Riley Showalter led Shawnee Heights with 11 points while seniors Emari Doby and Taylor Rottinghaus added 10 and seven points for the T-Birds.

Washburn Rural senior Brooklyn DeLeye scored 19 points in the Junior Blues' 54-52 non-league overtime loss to Blue Valley Northwest Tuesday night. [Photo by Trevor Falcon/Special to TSN]

BLUE VALLEY NORTHWEST GIRLS 54, WASHBURN RURAL 52 (OT) -- Blue Valley Northwest held a 9-7 scoring edge in overtime to take a 54-52 non-league win over No. 4-ranked (Class 6A) Washburn Rural.

Rural, which fell to 9-4 on the season, led 21-14 at the end of the first quarter but the Huskies outscored the Junior Blues 12-2 in the second quarter to take a 26-23 halftime lead.

Washburn Rural coach Kevin Bordewick talks to his team during Tuesday's 54-52 overtime loss to Blue Valley Northwest. [Photo by Trevor Falcon/Special to TSN]

Northwest (6-7) led 37-31 at the starf of the fourth quarter, but Rural held a 14-8 edge over the final eight minutes of regulation to force ovetime.

Senior Brooklyn DeLeye led Washburn Rural with 19 points while senior Chloe Carlgren added 11 points and sophomore Tenly Bunck nine points on three 3-pointers.

Washburn Rural will be at home Friday to host Emporia in a Centennial League game.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

PIPER (10-4, 7-3) at SEAMAN (7-5, 4-4)

Senior Kaeden Bonner (right) and the Seaman boys basketball team will be looking for their fifth straight victory in Tuesday night's United Kansas Conference home game against Piper. [File photo/TSN]

Seaman has posted four straight victories, including a 68-41 United Kansas Conference victory over Lansing last Friday. Piper is coming off a 62-56 UKC loss to De Soto. Tuesday night will be the second game of the season between Seaman and Piper, with the Pirates taking a 61-48 win over the Vikings in the earlier meeting.

Senior Bo Aldridge and the Highland Park boys ran their winning streak to 11 games with a pair of non-league victories last week. [File photo/TSN]

KC-WASHINGTON (5-7, 3-2) at HIGHLAND PARK (11-0, 4-0)

Highland Park, the top-ranked team in the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association Class 5A state rankings, continued its dominating season with a pair of non-league victories last week The Scots took a 76-45 win over state-ranked Eudora on Tuesday and then rolled to an 82-21 victory over Kansas City-East, Mo. on Friday. The league-leading Scots return to Meadowlark Conference play against KC-Washington.

'By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

PIPER (10-4, 7-3) at SEAMAN (11-1, 7-1)

Seaman junior Taylin Stallbaumer is congratulated by her teammates after hitting the game-winning 3-pointer in Saturday's 46-43 win over Emporia in the Glaciers Edge Tournament. [Photo by Brent Maycock/KSHSAA Covered]

Seaman, top-ranked in Class 5A by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association, captured the tournament championship in last week's Glacier's Edge Tournament, taking a 46-43 win over tournament host Emporia on junior Taylin Stallbaumer's buzzer-beating 3-pointer in Saturday's championship game. Freshman Maddie Gragg scored 16 points and Stallbaumer 15 against Emporia while sophomore Anna Becker was named the tournament Most Valuable Player. Piper has posted three straight wins, including a 62-50 win over De Soto in the Pirates' last game. Seaman beat Piper 63-35 in an earlier meeting.

Sophomore Amelia Ramsey (center) has led Highland Park's girls to an 8-3 record and the Meadowlark Conference lead this winter. [File photo/TSN]

KC-WASHINGTON (3-7, 2-4) at HIGHLAND PARK (8-3, 4-0)

League-leading Highland Park will return to Meadowlawk Conference play after a 75-7 non-league romp past Kansas City-East, Mo. last Friday. Washington is coming off a 67-18 win over Kansas City-Northeast, Mo. Sophomore Amelia Ramsey leads Highland Park, which has not had a Meadowlark Conference game closer than 16 points. The Scots have won their last three games.

LANSING (3-9, 2-7) at TOPEKA WEST (3-10, 2-8)

Topeka West finished sixth in last week's Firebird Classic at Free State, posting a 1-2 record. The Chargers took a 46-40 consolation win over Great Bend last Friday before dropping a 59-53 decision to Wichita Northwest in Saturday's consolation final. Lansing is coming off a 49-45 win over Jefferson West.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Senior star Kiki Smith scored 36 points in three quarters of action as Topeka High's girls advanced to Saturday's Firebird Classic championship game with a 69-37 semifinal win over Goddard Eisenhower Friday night at Free State, improving to 10-3 on the season.

Topeka High senior Kiki Smith scored 36 points in just three quarters as the Trojans rolled to a 69-37 win over Eisenhower Friday night in the semifinals of the Firebird Classic. [File photo/TSN]

The seventh-ranked (Class 6A) Trojans took control with a 22-12 first quarter and opened up a 37-21 halftime advantage.

Topeka High used a 22-10 third quarter to take a 59-31 lead and cruised the rest of the way.

Smith canned six 3-pointers against Eisenhower while junior Ladaysha Baird added 11 points for Topeka High with three 3-pointers.

Topeka High will face 8-3 Blue Valley in the tournament championship game, with the No. 8-ranked Tigers advancing with a 59-38 win over No. 5 Lawrence.

The championship game is a rematch of last season's 6A state tournament first-round game between Topeka High and Blue Valley, with the Tigers taking a one-point win in that game.

SEAMAN GIRLS 45, DERBY 39 -- No. 1-ranked (Class 5A) Seaman posted a 45-39 statement win over No. 4-ranked (6A) Derby in Friday night's semifinals of the the Glacier's Edge Tournament..

Seaman, which improved to 10-1, led 25-19 at halftime over Derby, last year's 6A runner-up, and held off the Panthers the rest of the way.

Seaman advanced to Saturday's championship game to take on tournament host and former Centennial League rival Emporia.

The 12-1 Spartans, ranked No. 4 in 5A, advanced with a 53-52 win over Wichita Heights.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Silver Lake swept a non-league basketball twinbill at Santa Fe Trail Tuesday night, with both Eagle teams posting double-digit victories.

The seventh-ranked (Class 3A) Silver Lake girls improved to 11-1 with a 55-36 win over the Chargers while the Eagle boys snapped a four-game losing streak in an 81-62 win over Trail.

 Senior Troy Heiman led Silver Lake with 20 points in Tuesday's 81-62 non-league win at Santa Fe Trail. [File photo/TSN]

Silver Lake's girls, coming off the tournament championship in last week's Burlington Invitational, posted their fourth straight double-digit victory while handing Santa Fe Trail its second loss in 12 games on the season.

Silver Lake's boys, who improved to 4-8, were led by senior Troy Heiman with 20 points and three 3-pointers while junior Elijah Lopez added 12 points and freshman Dayne Johnson and sophomore Jared Johnson 10 points each.

Coach Michael Bell's Rossville girls advanced to the semifinals of the Jefferson North Invitational with a 48-9 first-round win over Valley Falls. [File photo/TSN]

ROSSVILLE GIRLS 48, VALLEY FALLS 9 --Rossville rolled to a 45-9 first-round win over Valley Falls in the Jefferson County North Invitational, improving to 8-3 on the season.

With the win the Bulldawgs, who led 32-2 at the half, advanced to a 7:30 p.m. tournament semifinal on Friday against Atchison County, 10-0 and ranked No. 6 in Class 3A by the KBCA.

Freshman Rylee Dick led Rossville with 13 points while junior Kinsey Perine added 10 pointss, junior Katie Spielman eight points and juniors Emma Mitchell and Kinley Porter seven apiece.

Atchison County advanced to the semifinal with a 63-39 first-round win over Atchison.

DE SOTO BOYS 55, SHAWNEE HEIGHTS 48 -- De Soto earned a regular-season sweep over Shawnee Heights, taking a 55-48 home United Kansas Conference decision over the T-Birds.

The Wildcats, ranked No. 8 in Class 5A by the KBCA, improved to 9-2 overall and 7-1 in the UKC while the T-Birds fell to 8-4, 6-3. 

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

SHAWNEE MISSION NORTH BOYS (1-7) vs. HIGHLAND PARK (6-0)

Bo Aldridge and the top-ranked Highland Park boys will open the Topeka Invitational Tournament at 3:15 p.m. Thursday against Shawnee Mission North. [File photo/TSN]

Topeka Invitational Tournament at Topeka West

Top-ranked (Class 5A) Highland Park will open the Topeka Invitational Tournament in Thursday's 3:15 p.m. game against Shawnee Mission North, coached by former Topeka High coach Pat Denney. Highland Park is coming off a 91-29 Meadowlark Conference rout over Kansas City-Harmon last Friday while SM North is coming off a 44-34 Sunflower League loss to Shawnee Misssion South, the Bisons' seventh straight loss. Scot senior Bo Aldridge led the Scots with 27 points and 10 rebounds in the win over Harmon. The Highland Park-SM North winner will advance to an 8:30 p.m. Friday semifinal to face the winner of the first-round game between Wichita Southeast and Hayden. 

Hayden junior Jacob Padilla (0) is coming off a 25-point performance with four 3-pointers in last Friday's 67-57 Centennial League win over Topeka High. [Photo by Sarah Carson/Special to TSN]

WICHITA SOUTHEAST BOYS (4-5) vs. HAYDEN (4-4)

Topeka Invitational Tournament at Topeka West

Hayden will face Wichita Southeast in a 5 p.m. first-round game in the Topeka Invitational Tournament. Hayden, ranked No. 10 in Class 4A, snapped a three-game losing steak with a 67-57 Centennial League win over Topeka High last Friday while Wichita Southeast has won three straight games, including a 68-55 win over Wichita East on Tuesday. Junior Jacob Padilla led Hayden with 25 points, including four 3-pointers, against Topeka High while senior Joe Otting added 12 points. The Hayden-Wichita Southeast winner will play an 8:30 p.m. Friday semifinal against the winner of the opening-round game between Highland Park and Shawnee Mission North.

LANSING BOYS (1-7) vs. TOPEKA WEST (6-2)

Topeka Invitational Tournament at Topeka West

The defending Topeka Invitational Tournament champions will be on their home court to take on United Kansas Conference rival Lansing in a 6:45 p.m. first-round game. Topeka West will be looking to bounce back from last Friday's 71-56 UKC loss to Piper, which snapped the Chargers' six-game winning streak. Senior Xavier Alexander scored 19 points and hit three 3-pointers while senior Malachi Berg added 11 points and grabbed six rebounds. Lansing has dropped six straight games, including a 45-32 UKC decision to Basehor-Linwood last Friday. West beat the Lions 65-49 on Dec. 13. The West-Lansing winner will play a 6:45 p.m. semifinal Friday night against the winner of the first-round game between Lawrence and Topeka  High.

By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news

Highland Park's girls and boys basketball teams continued their dominating start to Meadowlark Conference competition Friday night, with the Scots winning their two conference games against Kansas City-Harmon by a total of 140 points. 

Senior Bo Aldridge (1) scored 27 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and had five assists in Friday's 91-29 win at KC-Harmon. [File photo/TSN]

Highland Park sophomore standout Amelia Ramsey scored 30 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in the Scots' 96-18 Meadowlark Conference win over KC-Harmon. [File photo/TSN]

The top-ranked (Class 5A) Highland Park boys rolled to a 91-29 Meadowlark Conference road win over Harmon while the Scot girls romped to a 96-18 home victory over Harmon.

Highland Park's boys improved to 6-0 overall and 4-0 in the conference as senior Bo Aldridge scored 27 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and had five assists for the Scots.

Sophomore Amelia Ramsey scored 30 points and grabbed 13 points to lead four Scots in double figures as Highland Park's girls improved to 5-1 overall and 4-0 in the conference.

Highland Park's boys will compete in the Topeka Invitational Tournament next week while the Scot girls will travel to Salina for the Salina Invvitational.

PIPER BOYS 71, TOPEKA WEST 56 --No. 10-ranked (Class 5A) Piper topped No. 6 Topeka West 71-56 in Friday's United Kansas Conference game at West, with the Pirates snapping the Chargers' six-game winning streak.

Topeka West fell to 6-2 overall and 5-2 in the UKC while Piper improved to 6-3 overall and 6-2 in the conference.

West will be at home next week to host the Topeka Invitational Tournament.