Cair Paravel Lions
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.
'By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
SEAMAN (6-1, 5-1) at SHAWNEE HEIGHTS (7-1, 7-1)
Senior Emari Doby led Shawnee Heights with 13 points in Thursday's 41-32 UKC victory over De Soto. [File photo/TSN]
Seaman, which is top-ranked in Class 5A by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association, is coming off its first loss of the season, a 74-71 double-overtime United Kansas Conference decision at Basehor-Linwood Tuesday night, while No. 9-ranked Shawnee Heights will be playing its third game of the week after taking a 43-7 UKC home win over Kansas City-Turner on Tuesday and a 41-32 win at No. 8-ranked De Soto Thursday night. Shawnee Heights has now won seven straight games dating back to a four-point loss to De Soto in the T-Birds' season-opener. Seniors Emari Doby and Taylor Rottinghaus led the T-Birds with 13 and 12 points, repectively.
TOPEKA HIGH (7-3, 1-2) at HAYDEN (4-3, 1-2)
No. 8-ranked (Class 6A) Topeka High is coming off its second straight Centennial League loss, a 47-46 home loss to No. 5-ranked Washburn Rural Tuesday night, while Hayden snapped a two-game losing streak with a 37-27 league win at Junction City. Senior Kiki Smith led Topeka High with 16 points against Washburn Rural while junior Lauren Sandstrom and sophomore Brylee Meier scored 13 points apiece for Hayden in the win over Junction City.
Senior Brooklyn DeLeye had game-high totals of 17 points and 11 rebounds as Washburn Rural ended its seven-game losing streak against the Trojans with a 47-46 win Tuesday night at Topeka High. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
MANHATTAN (3-5, 1-1) at WASHBURN RURAL (6-2, 3-0)
No. 5-ranked (Class 6A) Washburn Rural held on for a 47-46 Centennial League victory over No. 8-ranked Topeka High Tuesday night, with the Junior Blues snapping a seven-game losing streak against the Trojans with their fourth straight win. Senior Brooklyn DeLeye led the Junior Blues with 17 points and 11 rebounds while senior MaRyah Lutz added 11 points and seven rebounds. Manhattan was off Tuesday after a 47-25 Centennial League win over Junction City last Friday.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
SEAMAN (3-3, 3-3) at SHAWNEE HEIGHTS (5-2, 5-2)
Senior Kaeden Bonner and the Seaman boys posted their second straight win on Tuesday, a 48-39 UKC decision over Basehor-Linwood. [File photo/TSN]
Shawnee Heights posted its fourth straight win Tuesday, a 67-41 United Kansas Conference home decision over Kansas City-Turner, while Seaman posted its second straight victory, a 48-39 UKC road win at Basehor-Linwood. Sophomore Jaret Sanchez led Shawnee Heights with 12 points against Turner while Q Stovall added 10 points and Dylan Sanchez nine.
Senior Joe Otting and the Hayden boys will be looking to snap a three-game losing streak Friday night against Topeka High. [Photo by Sarah Carson/Special to TSN]
TOPEKA HIGH (1-7, 0-3) at HAYDEN (3-4, 0-3)
Topeka High dropped a 54-42 home Centennial League decision to No. 10-ranked (Class 6A) Washburn Rural on Tuesday while No. 6 (4A) Hayden lost a tight 44-42 league game at Junction City. Junior Bryson Thrasher led Topeka High with 16 points, including three 3-pointers, against Washburn Rural while junior Isaiah Lyons added nine points on three 3s.
Senior Jack Bachelor scored a game-high 17 points as Washburn Rural improved to 6-2 with a 54-42 win at Topeka High Tuesday night. [File photo/TSN]
MANHATTAN (5-3, 1-1) at WASHBURN RURAL (6-2, 3-0)
Washburn Rural has won four straight games, including a 54-42 Centennial League road win at Topeka High Tuesday night. Senior Jack Bachelor paced the Junior Blues with 17 points while senior Jacob Hirschi added 11. Manhattan was off Tuesday after dropping a 53-46 Centennial League decision to Junction City last Friday.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Highland Park's boys basketball team celebrated its rise to the No. 1 spot in the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association Class 5A state rankings with a 107-64 romp past Meadowlark Conference foe Kansas City-Sumner Academy Tuesday at Sumner.
Senior Bo Aldridge (1) and the top-ranked Highland Park boys are coming off a 107-64 Meadowlark Conference win over KC-Sumner Academy on Tuesday. [File photo/TSN]
With the win the Scots improved to 5-0 overall and 3-0 in the conference.
Highland Park will travel to KC-Harmon for a Meadowlark Conference game on Friday before competing in the Topeka Invitational Tournament next week at Topeka West.
HIGHLAND PARK GIRLS 64, KC SUMNER ACADEMY 20 --Highland Park improved to 4-1 overall and 3-0 in the Meadowlark Conference with a 64-20 conference road win over KC-Sumner, ranked No. 7 in Class 5A by the KBCA.
Sophomore DeAsia Sanders scored 20 points on eight of 12 shooting from the field for the Scots against the Sabres while sophomore Amelia Ramsey added 14 points.
Highland Park will be at home Friday to host KC-Harmon in a Meadowlark Conference contest before competing in the Salina Invitational Tournament next week. The Scots will play Salina South in a first-round game on Thursday, Jan. 19, at Salina South.
HAYDEN GIRLS 37, JUNCTION CITY 27 --Hayden snapped a two-game losing streak with the Wildcats' first Centennial League victory, a 37-27 road decision at Junction City.
Hayden improved to 4-3 overall and 1-2 in the Centennial League after dropping games to state-ranked Emporia and Washburn Rural to open league play.
Junior Lauren Sandstrom and sophomore Brylee Meier led Hayden with 13 points apiece.
Hayden will be back in action Friday, hosting No. 8-ranked (Class 6A) Topeka High in a Centennial League game.
'By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
WASHBURN RURAL (5-2, 2-0) at TOPEKA HIGH (7-2, 1-1)
Senior Brooklyn DeLeye scored a game-high 17 points Friday night as Washburn Rural improved to 2-0 in the Centennial League with a 56-32 win over Hayden. [File photo by Trevor Falcon/Special to TSN]
Washburn Rural posted its fourth straight win on Friday night, a 56-32 Centennial League win over Hayden. Senior Brooklyn DeLeye led the Junior Blues with 17 points while junior Zoe Canfield added 15 points and sophomore Kate Hinck 11 points with three 3-pointers. Topeka High is coming off a 51-40 league loss to Emporia, which ended the Trojans' seven-game winning streak. Senior Kiki Smith led High with 13 points while junior Ayana Leesman added 11 points.
Senior Emari Doby led Shawnee Heights with 15 points in last Friday's 49-23 UKC road romp at Lansing. [File photo/TSN]
KC-TURNER (0-6, 0-5) at SHAWNEE HEIGHTS (5-1, 5-1)
Shawnee Heights ran its winning streak to five games in last Friday's 49-23 United Kansas Conference win at Lansing. Senior Emari Doby paced the T-Birds with 15 points while senior Taylor Rottinghaus added 13 points. Shawnee Heights is a game behind unbeaten Seaman in the UKC race. Turner is coming off a 47-12 UKC loss to Basehor-Linwood, remaining winless on the season.
Silver Lake junior Makenzie McDaniel scored 34 points and grabbed 2 rebounds on the week as the Eagles posted a pair of Mid-East League wins to improve to 6-0 on the season. [File photo/TSN]
WABAUNSEE (1-4, 0-2) at SILVER LAKE (6-0, 4-0)
Silver Lake is coming off a 59-30 Mid-East League victory over previously-unbeaten Rock Creek last Friday after knocking off previously-unbeaten Rossville on Tuesday. Junior McKinley Kruger scored 18 points and grabbed four rebounds for the Eagles against Rock Creek while junior Makenzie McDaniel had 12 points and 10 rebounds. Wabaunsee is coming off of a 42-22 Mid-East League loss to St. Marys.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
WASHBURN RURAL (5-2, 2-0) at TOPEKA HIGH (1-6, 0-2)
Senior Jack Bachelor led Washburn Rural with 15 points and went eight of eight from the free throw line in Friday's 46-36 Centennial League win over Hayden. [File photo/TSN]
Washburn Rural remained unbeaten in the Centennial League with a 46-36 road win at Hayden last Friday while Topeka High dropped a 69-59 league decision to Emporia. Senior Jack Bachelor scored 15 points, including an eight of eight performance at the free throw line, in the Junior Blues' win over the Wildcats. Junior Isaiah Lyons scored 21 points with five 3-pointers for Topeka High against Emporia while senior Mason Gomez added 13 points with three 3-pointers.
Junior Brennon Dodge led Shawnee Heights with 17 points in Friday night's 76-50 UKC win at Lansing. [File photo/TSN]
KC-TURNER (0-6, 0-5) at SHAWNEE HEIGHTS (4-2, 4-2)
Shawnee Heights posted its third straight win on Friday, rolling to a 76-50 United Kansas Conference win at Lansing. Kansas City-Turner remained winless on the season after dropping a 60-41 UKC decision to Basehor-Linwood. Junior Brennon Dodge led the T-Birds with 17 points while senior Jeremyah Kendrick added 13 points, senior Q Stovall and sophomore Deacon Pomeroy 11 points each and sophomore Jaret Sanchez 10.
WABAUNSEE (2-3, 0-2) at SILVER LAKE (2-4, 2-2)
Both teams will be looking to bounce back from Mid-East League defeats, with Silver Laking dropping a 52-33 decision to Rock Creek Friday night and Wabaunsee falling to St. Marys, 67-64. Sophomore Jared Johnson led Silver Lake with 13 points while senior Troy Heiman added eight points.
Senior Bo Aldridge (1) led Highland Park with 18 points in Friday's 66-44 Meadowlark Conference win at Atchison. [File photo/TSN]
HIGHLAND PARK (4-0, 2-0) at KC-SUMNER ACADEMY (3-4, 2-2)
Highland Park remained undefeated with a 66-47 Meadowlark Conference road victory at previously-undefeated Atchison Friday night, with senior Bo Aldridge leading the Scots with 18 points. Kansas City-Sumner is coming off an 80-61 Meadowlark win over KC-Wyandotte. Senior Tre Richardson added 14 points and sophomore Jacorey Robinson 13 points for the Scots against Atchison.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Topeka West tightened an already tight United Kansas Conference boys basketball race on Friday night, with the Chargers rallying for a 51-50 road win at De Soto, handing the Wildcats their first league loss.
Topeka West, which improved to 6-1 overall and 5-1 in the UKC, trailed De Soto (6-2. 4-1) 44-36 at the start of the fourth quarter but fought back for the victory, getting the game-winning free throw from senior Malachi Berg with 1.6 seconds remaining.
Topeka West senior Sincere Austin helped lead the Chargers to their sixth straight win Friday night, a 51-50 UKC decision at De Soto. [File photo/TSN]
Senior Sincere Austin led the Chargers to their sixth straight victory with 21 points.
West and De Soto were tied at 26-26 at the half.
With Friday's win Topeka West is now part of a three-way tie for the league lead in the loss column with De Soto and Piper while Shawnee Heights and Basehor-Linwood are a game back.
DE SOTO GIRLS 58, TOPEKA WEST 38 -- Topeka West, which picked up its first win of the season in its final game before the holiday break, played state-ranked De Soto tough through three quarters before the Wildcats put the game away with a 19-7 fourth quarter.
De Soto, 6-2 overall, 4-1 in the United Kansas Conference, led 13-10 at the end of the first quarter and by just two points at the half (22-20) before opening up a 39-31 lead at the start of the fourth quarter.
With Friday's loss Topeka West fell to 1-6, 1-5.
Shawnee Heights senior Emari Doby lead the T-Birds with 15 points in Friday's UKC win at Lansing. [File photo/TSN]
SHAWNEE HEIGHTS GIRLS 49, LANSING 23 -- Shawnee Heights continued its hot streak in Friday night's United Kansas Conference road win at Lansing, with the T-Birds improving to 5-1 overall and in the UKC with their fifth straight victory.
Senior Emari Doby led the T-Birds with 15 points while senior Taylor Rottinghaus added 13 points.
Shawnee Heights has not lost since a four-point decision against De Soto in its season-opener and the T-Birds are tied for second with De Soto in the UKC race, a game behind undefeated Seaman.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
WASHBURN RURAL (4-2, 1-0) at HAYDEN (3-2, 0-1)
Senior Brooklyn DeLeye scored a game-high 17 points Tuesday night as Washburn Rural opened Centennial League play with a 50-9 romp past Junction City. [Photo by Trevor Falcon/Special to TSN]
Washburn Rural opened Centennial League play Tuesday with its third straight win, a 50-9 romp past Junction City. Senior Brooklyn DeLeye led the No. 7-ranked (Class 6A) Junior Blues with 17 points while junior Zoe Canfield added 13 points and three 3-pointers. Hayden dropped a 43-34 decision at No. 3-ranked (5A) Emporia on Tuesday in the Wildcats' Centennial League opener. Sophomore Brylee Meier led Hayden with 17 points while sophomore Norma Greco added nine points. Both Meier and Greco hit two 3-pointers.
Topeka High senior Kiki Smith is coming off a 25-point, 11-rebound effort Wednesday night in the Trojans' 56-36 non-league win over Blue Valley Northwest. [File photo/TSN]
EMPORIA (7-0, 1-0) at TOPEKA HIGH (7-1, 1-0)
Topeka High, ranked No. 6 in Class 6A by the KBCA, opened the 2023 portion of its schedule with a 56-36 non-league win over Blue Valley Northwest Wednesday night in the Trojans' home opener. Senior Kiki Smith led Topeka High with 25 points and 11 rebounds. Emporia, No. 3-ranked in 5A, remained unbeaten with a 43-34 win in the Spartans' Centennial League opener. Senior Rebecca Snyder led Emporia with 19 points and 12 rebounds.
Senior Taylor Rottinghaus (left) scored 17 points to lead Shawnee Heights in a 48-36 UKC win over Leavenworth in the T-Birds' final game before the holiday break. [File photo/TSN]
SHAWNEE HEIGHTS (4-1, 4-1) at LANSING (2-3, 2-3)
Shawnee Heights will be making its 2023 debut with a United Kansas Conference road contest at Lansing. The T-Birds wrapped up '22 with a 48-36 UKC win over Leavenworth. Senior Taylor Rottinghaus led Shawnee Heights with 17 points while senior Emari Doby added a double-double with 13 points an 13 rebounds. Lansing returned to action on Tuesday, with the Lions dropping a 54-23 UKC decision to Lansing.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
WASHBURN RURAL (4-2, 1-0) at HAYDEN (3-2, 0-1)
Senior Jack Bachelor led Washburn Rural with 21 points in Tuesday's 64-58 Centennial League win over Junction City. [File photo/TSN]
Washburn Rural opened Centennial League play on Tuesday night with a 64-58 win over Junction City while Hayden dropped a 59-52 league decision at Emporia. Senior Jack Bachelor led the Junior Blues with 21 points while junior Griffin Durst and sophomore Max Bettis scored eight points apiece. Sophomore Jacob Deister led Hayden with 18 points on six 3-pointers against Emporia while senior Joe Otting added 14 points and nine rebounds and Jacob Padilla had 12 points on four 3-pointers.
EMPORIA (6-1, 1-0) at TOPEKA HIGH (1-5, 0-1)
Emporia opened its Centennial League schedule with a hard-earned home 59-52 win over Hayden Tuesday night while Topeka High is coming off an 88-40 non-league loss to perennial Class 6A power Blue Valley Northwest Wednesday night at Topeka High. Senior Jalyn King scored a game-high 20 points for Emporia in the Spartans' win over Hayden while Cooper Rech added 10 points. Junior Isaiah Lyons led Topeka High with 14 points, including three 3-pointers, in the Trojans' loss to Blue Valley Northwest.
Senior Xavier Alexander is averaging 20.3 points with a city-high 19 3-pointers for 5-1 Topeka West. [File photo/TSN]
TOPEKA WEST (5-1, 4-1) at DE SOTO (6-1, 4-0)
Topeka West, which has posted five straight victories, ended the 2022 portion of its schedule with a home 89-43 United Kansas Conference win over Kansas City-Turner while De Soto returned to action on Tuesday with a 66-43 UKC victory over Lansing. Senior Xavier Alexander leads Topeka West with a 20.3 scoring average and a city-high 19 3-pointers while senior Malachi Berg averages 16 points and 7.3 rebounds and senior Sincere Austin 11.3 points and 5.3 assists. DeSoto is ranked No. 6 and West No. 7 in Class 5A by the KBCA.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
At some point in the past there may have been a better overall year for Shawnee County girls high school sports than 2022.
Then again, maybe not.
County schools captured state team championships in five different sports in three different classifications while county athletes combined to win 10 individual state titles.
That depth of talent made it nearly impossible to narrow down TopSports.news' list of the top Shawnee County girls stories to just 10, and even harder to decide which accomplishments deserve to be at the top of the list, but here goes.
Topeka High's softball team celebrates its 2022 Class 6A state title after a 2-1 win over city rival Washburn Rural. [File photo by Isaac Deer/TSN]
1. CHAMPIONSHIP RE-RUN -- After posting a perfect 25-0 record and winning the school's first state softball title in 2021, Topeka High had a tougher path to a second straight Class 6A championship in 2022, but Stanford signee NiJaree Canady and the Trojans got the job done, taking a nail-biting 2-1 win over Washburn Rural in an all-city final to cap a 22-3 season. Canady ended her high school career with a second straight Gatorade Kansas Player of the Year award while then-senior Elycia Joyce and then-juniors Adisyn Caryl and Alesia Alvarez earned All-6A first-team honors.
Washburn Rural's volleyball team dogpiles on the court after winning the 2022 Class 6A state title, the eighth in school history. [Photo by Jeff Jacobsen/Action Images Photography]
2. BUMP, SET, DOMINATE -- Perennial state volleyball power Washburn Rural was 1-1 two matches into the 2022 season before going on a 44-match tear to win its eighth Class 6A title under Kevin Bordewick, capped by a 25-21, 26-24 win over Blue Valley. Bordewick surpassed the 1,000-victory mark for his career during the season while Junior Blue star Brooklyn DeLeye, a multi-time Class 6A player of the year and Kentucky signee, went over the 2,000 mark for career kills.
Former Topeka West swimming star Kadence Jeffries finished her high school career six for six at state in her individual events. [File photo/TSN]
3. STREAK COMPLETE --Topeka West swimming star Kadence Jefferies kept her incredible streak intact of never losing an individual race in the Class 5A-1A state meet. Jeffries swept the 200 and 500-yard freestyle state titles as a freshman in 2019. Then, after the '20 season was canceled due to COVID-19 Jeffries swept the same two events in '21 and '22, winning the 200 as a senior in 1 minutes, 53.29 seconds and the 500 in 5:03.66. Jeffries is now swimming for NCAA Division I Nebraska Omaha. Joining Jeffries as a 5A-1A state champion was Seaman sophomore Avery Walz, who won the 100 breaststroke in 1:06.03, helping the Vikings finish fourth in 5A-1A as a team.
Washburn Rural poses for a team picture after winning the Class 6A basketball title last March in Wichita. [Submitted photo]
4. SAME SONG, DIFFERENT VERSE -- Washburn Rural set the table for this fall's Class 6A volleyball championship with a run to the 6A basketball title last spring. The Junior Blues went 23-2 on the season, capped by a dominating 40-23 win over Derby in the state final. Brooklyn DeLeye, Zoe Canfield, Jada Ingram, Chloe Carlgren and Destiny Ochs were members of both the basketball and volleyball championship teams, along with coach Kevin Bordewick, who won his 10th 6A title as a head coach (eight volleyball, two basketball). Bordewick was also a part of three state championship teams in basketball as an assistant to Bill Annan.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Senior star Kiki Smith scored 28 points to go with six assists and five rebounds as Topeka High advanced to the championship game of De Soto's Hardwood Classic with a 52-44 semifinal win over Olathe Northwest Thursday night.
Topeka High senior star Kiki Smith scored 28 points with five 3-pointers as the Trojans improved to 3-1 with a 52-44 win over Olathe Northwest Thursday night in De Soto. [File photo/TSN]
Brittney Redmond's Topeka High girls picked up their third straight win to improve to 3-1 on the season and will play tournament host De Soto at 3 p.m. Saturday for the championship.
Smith went 9 of 19 from the field and hit 5 of 11 3-point attempts and 5 of 7 free throws.
Topeka High led 13-9 at the end of the first quarter, 23-18 at the half and outscored Northwest 29-26 in the second half to hold the Ravens at bay.
Senior Adisyn Caryl added six points and seven rebounds for the Trojans while sophomore Jo'Mhara Benning had six points and six rebounds.
Senior Faith Shields was credited with five steals.
De Soto advanced to the championship game with a 51-42 semifinal win over Notre Dame De Sion, Mo.
Senior Jack Bachelor (right) scored 21 points in Washburn Rural's 68-31 win over KC-Schlagle on Thursday in SM East's Championship Showdown. [File photo/TSN]
WASHBURN RURAL 68, KC-SCHLAGLE 31 --Seniors Jack Bachelor and Wyatt Conklin combined for 37 points as Washburn Rural evened its record at 1-1 with a 68-31 romp past Kansas City-Schlagle in Thursday's consolation game of the Shawnee Mission East Championship Showdown.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
After tough season-opening road losses at Basehor-Linwood last Friday, Shawnee Heights' girls and boys basketball teams bounced back with a home United Kansas Conference sweep over Piper Tuesday night.
The Heights girls took a 54-32 win over the Pirates before the T-Bird boys took a 61-46 win over Piper.
Shawnee Heights senior Taylor Rottinghaus scored a career-high 18 points in Tuesday night's 54-32 UKC win over Piper. [File photo/TSN]
Senior Taylor Rottinghaus paced the Shawnee Heights girls with a career-high 18 points while senior Emari Doby was right behind with 16 points for the T-Birds in the 22-point rout..
Shawnee Heights' boys jumped out to a 14-8 first-quarter lead and led 30-19 at the half and 47-32 at the start of the fourth quarter.
Q Stovall and Deacon Pomeroy paced the T-Birds with 12 points apiece while Jaret Sanchez added 11 points and Brennon Dodge nine.
Shawnee Heights' girls and boys will be on the road Friday night at Topeka West for the first United Kansas Conference matchups between the two longtime city rivals.
The girls game is scheduled for a 5:45 p.m. tipoff, followed by the boys game at approximately 7:15.
Topeka High senior Kiki Smith (right) had 22 points and 10 rebounds in Tuesday's 48-30 win over Blue Valley Northwest. [File photo/TSN]
TOPEKA HIGH GIRLS 48, BLUE VALLEY NORTHWEST 30 --Brittney Redmond's Topeka High girls picked up their second straight double-digit win in Tuesday's opening round of the De Soto Hardwood Classic, rolling to a 48-30 victory over Blue Valley Northwest.
Senior standout Kiki Smith had a double-double for the Trojans with 22 points and 10 rebounds while junior Ayana Leesman had a career-high 19 points while hitting 5 of 6 shots from the field and 5 of 5 free throws.
Topeka High led 12-9 at the end of the first quarter and used a 10-3 second quarter to open up a 22-12 halftime advantage. The Trojans outscored Northwest 26-18 to win going away.
Topeka High will face Olathe Northwest in a 6:30 p.m. semifinal Thursday night in De Soto.
ST. JAMES ACADEMY BOYS 67, WASHBURN RURAL 62 -- Washburn Rural took state-ranked St. James Academy down to the wire in the Junior Blues' debut under new coach Alex Hutchins, but the Thunder held on for the 67-62 victory in the first round of the Championship Showdown at Shawnee Mission East.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Emporia State soccer standout Hannah Woolery, a Cair Paravel Latin graduate, has been named a first-team Academic All-American by the College Sports Communicators, becoming the first ESU student-athlete to be voted first-team Academic All-American and first-team All-American in the same year since Lady Hornet basketball player Emily Bloss in 2001.
Emporia State senior Hannah Woolery, a Cair Paravel product, has been named a first-team Academic All-American after also receiving first-team All-America honors on the field. [Photo courtesy of Emporia State Athletics]
Woolery's ESU teammate Mackenzie Dimarco also earned Academic All-America honors as a third-team pick, marking the first time in school history that two teammates have earned All-American honors from the College Sports Communicators both in the classroom and in the field of play.
Woolery has a 3.90 grade point average in English and was named first-team All-America on the field by the D2CCA this year.
Woolery holds the Emporia State career record with 21 assists, also ranks second in shots on goal and third in both career goals and career points.
She earned first-team All-MIAA and was fourth in the MIAA in goals, third in shots on goal, fourth in points and sixth in assists.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
TOPEKA WEST (0-1, 0-1) at SEAMAN (1-0, 1-0)
Senior Kaeden Bonner scored a game-high 15 points as Seaman took a 56-35 win over Lansing in the Vikings' UKC debut last Friday at Seaman. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Tuesday's game pits a pair of 2022 Class 5A state qualifiers against each other in Tuesday's 7:15 p.m. contest, with Seaman winning the state title a year ago while West lost a quarterfinal game to St. James Academy. Seaman ran its winning streak to 12 games with a 56-35 home United Kansas Conference victory over Lansing last Friday while Topeka West dropped a tight 58-52 UKC decision to Basehor-Linwood. Senior Kaeden Bonner scored a game-high 15 points to lead Seaman against Lansing while junior Holden Finley added nine points and senior Trey Parsel and sophomore Bryer Finley seven apiece. Topeka West put up a fight on the road against perennial 5A power Basehor-Linwood, including a 34-34 tie at the start of the fourth quarter, but the Bobcats took control down the stretch.
BONNER SPRINGS (1-0) at HIGHLAND PARK (0-0)
Senior Ketraleus Aldridge is a top returner for Highland Park, which is coming off an 18-5 season and a Class 5A state tournament berth. [File photo/TSN]
Highland Park, a Class 5A state qualifier last season, opens its 2022-2023 season against Bonner Springs. The Scots, ranked No. 3 in 5A in the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association preseason rankings, are loaded with experience, led by senior Bo Aldridge, who averaged 18.7 points and 8.1 rebounds a year ago for 18-5 Hi Park. Also back are seniors Tre Richardson (10.6 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.5 steals), Jahmir Kingcannon (10.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, 38 3-pointers) and Quentin Adams (6 points, 2.8 assists, 1.9 steals). The Scots will play two straight non-league games before beginning their first seaon in the Meadowlark Conference. Bonner Springs opened its season with a 79-45 non-league win over Labette County.
PIPER (1-0, 1-0) at SHAWNEE HEIGHTS (0-1, 0-1)
Shawnee Heights opened its season with a 59-46 United Kansas Conference loss to De Soto, which played for the Class 5A state championship last season, while Piper opened with a 79-56 UKC win over Leavenworth. Sophomore Jaret Sanchez scored 14 points to lead the T-Birds against De Soto but was the lone Heights player to score more than seven points. The Pirates are coached by former Shawnee Heights coach Steve Wallace, who led the T-Birds to the 5A state title in 2017.
ST. MARY'S ACADEMY (2-0) at TOPEKA HIGH (0-2)
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
TOPEKA WEST (0-1, 0-1) at SEAMAN (1-0, 1-0)
Seaman's Anna Becker opened her sophomore season with 15 points and 10 rebounds in Friday's 63-32 season-opening win over Lansing. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Seaman opened its first season in the United Kansas Conference with a 62-32 win over Lansing last Frdiay night while Topeka West dropped a 52-36 decision to Basehor-Linwood in its UKC debut. Freshman Maddie Gragg scored a game-high 17 points in her high school debut for Seaman while Viking sophomore Anna Becker registered a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
BONNER SPRINGS (1-0) at HIGHLAND PARK (0-0)
Highland Park opens its season Tuesday after taking steps forward last season in a 4-17 season. The Scots return a solid nucleus from that team, led by sophomore Amelia Ramsey. Ramsey averaged 9.2 points and 10.2 rebounds, which led the city of Topeka, while shooting 59 percent from 2-point range and 72 percent from the free throw line as a freshman. Ramsey received All-Shawnee County and All-Centennial League honorable mention last season. Bonner Springs opened its season with a 56-45 win over Labette County last Friday.
Shawnee Heights' Emari Doby opened her senior season with 24 points in last Friday's 54-50 loss to De Soto. [File photo/TSN]
PIPER (1-0, 1-0) at SHAWNEE HEIGHTS (0-1, 0-1)
Shawnee Heights dropped a tight 54-50 United Kansas Conference decision to De Soto in last Friday's season-opener while Piper, a new UKC member this season, is coming off a 49-47 conference win over Leavenworth. Senior Emari Doby scored 24 points against De Soto while junior Breezy Canady and senior Abby Fleischer scored nine and eight points, respectively, for the T-Birds.
Senior star Kiki Smith and the Topeka High girls are 1-1 on the season after a 50-19 romp past Valley Center last Saturday. [File photo/TSN]
TOPEKA HIGH (1-1) vs. BLUE VALLEY NORTHWEST (1-0)
At De Soto Hardwood Classic
Class 6A stalwarts Blue Valley Northwest and Topeka High will square off in Tuesday's opening round of the De Soto Hardwood Classic. Topeka High, which has qualified for the Class 6A
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Rossville's girls basketball team opened its 2022-2023 season in impressive fashion, rolling to a 58-30 road victory at Atchison.
Rylee Dick had a big night in her first high school game, scoring 24 points with four 3-pointers while Bulldawg junior standout Emma Mitchell added 17 points.
Rossville took command with a 15-4 opening quarter and then hit Atchison with a 27-6 lick in the second quarter to take a big 42-10 lead to the locker room at the half.
The Bulldawgs, who were 11-10 in 2021-2022, cruised the rest of the way, emptying their bench in the second half.
HAYS GIRLS 37, WASHBURN RURAL 33 --Washburn Rural struggled to get its offense untracked Friday night, with tournament host Hays taking advantage of a big second quarter to upset the top-ranked Junior Blues 37-33 in the semifinals of the Hays Shootout.
Junior Zoe Canfield led the Junior Blues (1-1) with 13 points, including three 3-pointers, but Washburn Rural only had four players crack the scoring column. Senior Brooklyn DeLeye added eight points while sophomores Kate Hinck and Tenly Bunck scored six points apiece.
Hays (2-0) and Rural were deadlocked at 8-8 after the opening quarter, but Hays used a 14-6 second quarter to take a 22-14 halftime lead.
Rural cut its deficit to a point (29-28) by the end of the third quarter, but Hays held off the Junior Blues down the stretch, holding an 8-5 scoring edge over the final eight minutes.
Carly Lang scored 11 points and Molly Martin 10 for Hays, which will play for the championship Saturday. Washburn Rural will play for third place.
BASEHOR-LINWOOD BOYS 58, TOPEKA WEST 52 -- Topeka West was in the hunt for the entire game at Basehor-Linwood, but the Chargers were unable to get over the hunt as the No. 10-ranked (Class 5A) Bobcats prevailed over the No. 9 Chargers, who were making their debut in the United Kansas Conference, by a 58-52 margin.
Basehor-Linwood led 15-7 at the end of the first quarter, but West cut its deficit to 22-21 at the half and the game was tied at 34 entering the fourth quarter.
Washburn University signee Tyson Ruud led Basehor-Linwood with 24 points.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
LANSING at SEAMAN
Seaman sophomore Anna Becker averaged 14 points as a freshman for the 16-6 Vikings, earning Top 10 All-Shawnee County and first-team All-Centennial League honors. [File photo/TSN]
A good Class 5A and United Kansas Conference matchup right out of the gate between Lansing, No. 3 in the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association preseason rankings, and No. 9 Lansing (5:45 p.m. tipoff). Seaman posted a 16-6 record a year ago and will build this year's team around returning standouts Anna Becker, a sophomore, and junior Taylin Stallbaumer. Becker was a TopSports.news All-Shawnee County Top 10 and All-Centennial League first-team pick as a freshman and was named the newcomer of the year in the Centennial League and Shawnee County. after averaging 14 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.0 steals and 2.7 assists. Stallbaumer averaged 11 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.4 steals and 2.0 assists a year ago while connecting on 43 3-pointers. Stallbaumer was a Top 10 All-Shawnee County and second-team All-Centennial League selection. Lansing finished fourth in the 5A state tournament last season.
DE SOTO at SHAWNEE HEIGHTS
Shawnee Heights senior Emari Doby returns to lead a T-Bird team that is looking to improve on last season's 10-11 record. [File photo/TSN]
Shawnee Heights opens its United Kansas Conference schedule against De Soto (5:45 p.m.), with the T-Birds looking to take steps this season after a 10-11 record a year ago. Bob Wells' T-Birds showed flashes of potential last season and Shawnee Heights returns a solid nucleus from that team. After missing her sophomore season with a knee injury, Emari Doby bounced back with a strong junior campaign, earning first-team All-UKC and Second 10 TSN All-Shawnee County recognition. Doby averaged 11.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.3 assists while hitting 13 3-pointers. Breezy Canady, a junior, also returns for Shawnee Heights after averaging 1.6 asists and 1.2 steals as a sophomore. Other experienced T-Birds include seniors Riley Showalter, Taylor Rottinghaus, Abby Fleischer and Taylor Rantz.
