Cair Paravel Lions

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. 

By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news

LANSING at SEAMAN

Seaman senior Aron Davis is coming off a summer knee injury but is being counted on to be one of the top players in Shawnee County for the Vikings, the defending Class 5A state champions. [File photo/TSN]

Seaman senior Kaeden Bonner averaged 13.4 points and hit 64 3-pointers last season as the Vikings captured the school's first Class 5A boys state title. [File photo/TSN]

The reigning Class 5A state champions kick off the 2022-2023 season with their first United Kansas Conference game against Lansing (7:30 p.m.). Craig Cox's Vikings won their final 11 games last season to finish 18-7 and dominated the 5A state tournament. Returning from that team are senior standouts Kaeden Bonner and Aron Davis, who played a big role in the Vikings' run to the school's first boys state title . Bonner received TSN Top 10 All-Shawnee County and second-team All-Centennial League recognition last season as well as All-5A honorable mention from the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association. Bonner averaged 13.4 points, 2.6 assists and 2.0 steals, shooting 63 percent on 2-point field goal attempts and 45 percent from 3-point range while hitting a city-high 64 3-pointers. Davis came on strong late last season for the Vikings, earning All-Shawnee County Second 10 recognition and averaging 5.7 points and 1.6 blocked shots while shooting 65 percent from 2-point field goal range.

DE SOTO at SHAWNEE HEIGHTS

Junior Brennon Dodge is in his third varsity season for Shawnee Heights, averaging 14 points with 47 3-pointers last season. [File photo/TSN]

Shawnee Heights had a breakout 14-8 season a year ago and opens its United Kansas Conference schedule (7:30 p.m.) against a De Soto team  that advanced to the Class 5A state championship game last season, dropping a 66-47 decision to Seaman to finish off a 20-5 campaign. Shawnee Heights is still a relatively young team, but returns several experienced players. Junior Brennon Dodge, who has played a big role for Ken Darting's T-Birds since his freshman season, earned Second 10 All-Shawnee County honors and second-team All-United Kansas Conference recognition last season. Dodge averaged 14 points his sophomore season to go with 2.0 assists and 1.9 steals per game while hitting 47 3-pointers on the season.

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.

By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news

Emporia State senior Hannah Woolery, a Cair Paravel Latin product, and Hornet teammate Mackenzie Dimarco have received first-team All-America soccer honors from the NCAA Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) as selected by the College Sports Communicators. 

Cair Paravel Latin graduate Hannah Woolery, a senior soccer standout for Emporia State, has received first-team All-America honors. [Photo courtesy of Emporia State Athletics]

Woolery also earned first-team All-MIAA honors this season after ranking fourth in the MIAA in goals, third in shots on goal, fourth in points and sixth in assists.

Woolery holds the Emporia State career record with 21 assists. She also ranks second in shots on goal while ranking third in both career goals and career points.

Off the pitch, Woolery was named CSC Academic All-District with a 3.90 GPA in English.

Dimarco, also a senior, was unanimously named first-team All-MIAA at forward after leading the MIAA in goals, shots, shots on goal and points while ranking second in game-winning goals.

By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news

Hayden, which advanced to the Class 3A sub-state round, and 6A sectional partcipant Washburn Rural combined for 11 Top 22 spots on TopSports.news'  All-Shawnee County football team while Highland Park's Tre Richardson and Rural's Ty Weber garnered the top individual honors.

 Senior Tre Richardson has been named the TopSports.news Shawnee County offensive player of the year after keying a dramatic Highland Park turnaround in the 2022 season. [File photo/TSN]

Washburn Rural senior linebacker Ty Weber (32) hass been named the TSN All-Shawnee County defensive player of the year for the second straight season. [File photo/TSN]

Hayden, which posted a 10-2 record this fall, is represented on the Top 22 by seniors JC Cummings, Ben Evans and Joe Otting, junior Finn Dunshee and sophomore Jensen Schrickel while Washburn Rural, 8-3 on the year, put seniors Weber and Ma'kenttis Adams and juniors Packson Bettis, Branton DeWeese, JC Heim and Titan Osburn on the Top 22.

Highland Park's Richardson, who led the Scots to a breakout 6-3 season, was named the Shawnee County offensive player of the year while Weber was named the county defensive player of the year for the second straight season.

Richardson, a 5-foot-11, 175-pound senior, rushed for 1,964 yards and 27 touchdowns on 96 attempts and caught 40 passes for 1,079 yards and 15 TDs as the Scots snapped a 65-game losing streak in the season-opener and went on to record one of Highland Park's best seasons in school history.

Weber, a 6-3, 230 senior, recorded 134 total tackles (82 solos) with 19 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, three recovered fumbles, two sacks and an interception. 

Hayden's Bill Arnold has been named the Shawnee County co-coach of the year after a 10-2 2022 season. [File photo/TSN]

Washburn Rural's Steve Buhler has been named the Shawnee County co-coach of the year after leading the Rural to the Class 6A sectional round. [File photo/TSN]

Hayden's Bill Arnold and Washburn Rural's Steve Buhler were named the Shawnee County co-coaches of the year.

Shawnee Heights junior running back Allen Baughman and Hayden's Dunshee, a running back/linebacker, were named the co-offensive newcomers of the year while Washburn Rural junior defensive end Jamond Lane was named the defensive newcomer of the year.

Shawnee Heights junior Allen Baughman han been named the TSN Shawnee County co-offensive newcomer of the year after rushing for 1,496 yards and 20 TDs. [File photo/TSN]

Hayden junior Finn Dunshee has been named the Shawnee County offensive co-newcomer of the year after rushing for 1,150 yards and scoring 17 touchdowns. [File photo/TSN]

Baughman, 5-8, 180, rushed for 1,496 yards and 20 touchowns on 225 carries for the 5-5 T-Birds while Dunshee, 5-8, 160, rushed for 1,150 yards on 96 attempts and scored 17 total touchdowns for the 10-2 Wildcats.

Washburn Rural junior defensive lineman Jamond Lane (left) has been named the TSN All-Shawnee County defensive newcomer of the year. [File photo/TSN]

Lane, 6-0, 280, was in on 44 tackles (23 solos) with six sacks, six tackles for loss, five forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and an interception return for a touchdown.

Rural's Weber and DeWeese, Highland Park's Richardson, Hayden's Otting and Rossville senior Jacob Carver are All-Shawnee County Top 22 repeat picks.

Seaman is represented on the Top 22 by seniors Kasen Hasenkamp, Sean Miller and Bryson Vawter, while Shawnee Heights put Baughman and senior Gavin Zuperku on the Top 22, Silver Lake is represented by juniors Eli Barnes and Tanner Martin, Rossville by Carver and junior Barrett Lietz and Topeka West by senior Malachi Berg.

All 10 Shawnee County high schools have representatives on either the Top 22 or Second 22 teams.

All-Shawnee County Top 22 capsules:

By RICK PETERSON             

TopSports.news

Editor's note: Additional pictures will be added at TopSports.news when they are received.

 Quentin Adams

QUENTIN ADAMS, Highland Park

A senior point guard, Adams was a floor leader for a Highland Park team that posted a 18-5 record and advanced to the Class 5A tournament last season, averaging 6 points, 2.8 assists and 1.9 steals for the Scots, who begin their first season in the Meadowlark Conference this winter. Adams earned TopSports.news All-Shawnee County honorable mention last season.

Bo Aldridge

BO ALDRIDGE, Highland Park

A 6-foot-4 senior, Aldridge helped lead the 18-5 Scots to a Class 5A state tournament berth last season, earning TSN All-Shawnee County Top 10 and All-Centennial League first-team recognition last season. Aldridge, who received All-Class 5A honorable mention from the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association, averaged 18.7 points, 8.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 2.3 blocked shots and 1.6 steals as a junior.

Xavier Alexander

XAVIER ALEXANDER, Topeka West

Alexander, a senior guard, helped Topeka West post a 21-2 record in 2021-2022 en route to a second straight Centennial League championship and a second straight 5A state tournament berth. Alexander received TSN All-Shawnee County and All-Centennial League honorable mention last season after averaging 10.7 points, 3.8 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.4 steals while hitting 47 3-pointers and shooting 66 percent from 2-point range.

Sincere Austin

SINCERE AUSTIN, Topeka West

A 6-foot-1 senior, Austin helped Topeka West post a 21-2 record last season with the Chargers claiming a second straight Class 5A state tournament berth and a second straight Centennial League championship. Austin earned TSN All-Shawnee County Top 10 and All-Centennial League second-team recognition as a junior after averaging 10.6 points, 3.1 assists and 2.2 steals and hitting 32 3-pointers.

Jack Bachelor

JACK BACHELOR, Washburn Rural

Bachelor, a 6-2 senior, earned TSN All-Shawnee County Top 10 and All-Centennial League second-team honors as a junior for the 9-13 Junior Blues, averaging 13.8 points, 3.0 assists and 1.6 steals while connecting on 44 3-pointers and shooting 43 percent from outside the arc.

Malachi Berg

MALACHI BERG, Topeka West

A 6-2 senior, Berg was a workhorse inside for the 21-2 Chargers, who claimed a second straight Centennial League title and a second straight 5A state tournament berth. Berg earned All-Centennial League and TSN All-Shawnee County honorable mention, averaging 6.0 rebounds and shooting 60 percent from 2-point field goal range.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Geo Lyons and Brittney Redmond have spent a lot of time in Topeka High's gymnasium, affectionately known as "The Dungeon.''

But this year is different, with Lyons and Redmond running the show at their alma mater.

Lyons, a 1998 THS graduate, held his first official practice as the Trojans' boys basketball coach on Monday while Redmond, a 2011 grad, kicked off her tenure as the High girls coach as preseason practice got under way across the state in boys and girls basketball, boys and girls wrestling and boys swimming.

Topeka High graduate Geo Lyons held his first official practice as the Trojans' head boys basketball coach on Monday. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Brittney Redmond, a 2011 Topeka High graduate, was back in "The Dungeon'' on Monday for her first practice as the Trojans' head girls basketball coach. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Redmond was named the Trojans' girls coach in May after stints as an assistant coach at four junior colleges while Lyons was named Topeka High's boys coach in June after four seasons as the head coach at Kansas City-Schlagle.

"I think it brought back some nastaligic memories but it also made it real that basketball is officially here,'' Redmond said about Monday's opening practice. "In college you jump right in it, but here you kind of have to wait a minute and then it's just the rush of trying to get a team ready in two weeks.''

Lyons, who had stints as an assistant at both High and Topeka West, said he was excited to get started in his new role of guiding the THS program.

"I'm looking at this as really a blank canvas,'' Lyons said. "We've got a whole new staff so everything's going to be new to these young men, but I like that I really get to come in and put my stamp on this thing.''

Redmond and Lyons face different challenges in the 2022-2023 campaign, with Redmond trying to help Topeka High continue a recent run as one of the state's most successful girls programs while Lyons will be trying to help the Trojans return to their once-storied status.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Washburn Rural, which won its eighth Class 6A state championship and its first in 10 seasons, put four players on the TopSports.news All-Shawnee County volleyball team, led by two-time player of the year Brooklyn DeLeye.

Washburn Rural two-time Shawnee County player of the year Brooklyn DeLeye headlines the 2022 TSN all-county volleyball team. [File photo/TSN]

DeLeye, a senior, is joined on the all-county first team by senior Taylor Russell and juniors Zoe Canfield and Jada Ingram while veteran Junior Blues coach Kevin Bordewick, who went over the 1,000-win mark for his career in 2022, was named the coach of the year after Rural went 45-1 on the season with 44 straight wins to end the year.

State placers Rural and Seaman, fourth in 5A, combined to earn seven of 13 first-team berths.

The Vikings, who posted a 32-11 record and won the United Kansas Conference title, are represented on the first team by senior Laynee Brown, junior Brooklyn Gormley and sophomore Maegan Mills.

Mid-East League champion Rossville put senior Brinley Dyche and junior Kinsey Perine on the all-county team while Shawnee Heights is represented by seniors Emily Loy and Taylor Rottinghaus, Silver Lake by senior Taylor Ross and Topeka West by senior Makinsey Jones.

Brown, DeLeye, Ingram, Jones, Loy, Perine and Russell are all repeat first-team selections while Canfield, Dyche, Gormley and Mills were second-team picks a year ago and Ross and Rottinghauls received honorable mention.

Hayden freshman Reese Huscher was named the county newcomer of the year after compiling 148 kills, 254 digs and serving at 97 percent.

All-Shawnee County first team capsules:

 By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Local high schools open regional boys soccer competition this week, beginning with three Monday contests.

Hayden, 7-8-1 on the season, will host Mulvane (7-9-0) in a 4 p.m. Class 4A-1A regional semifinal Monday while Cair Paravel Latin (0-10-0) will host Circle (0-15-0)  in a 4:30 p.m. 4A-1A play-in game at the Sunflower Soccer Complex. The Cair Paravel-Circle winner will advance to a 6 p.m. game Tuesday at Buhler (15-1-0).

In 5A, Seaman (3-11-2) will travel to Leavenworth  (5-10-1) for a 6 p.m. play-in game on Monday, with the winner playing Kansas City-Sumner (13-2-1) at Kansas City-Schlagle at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. Seaman dropped a 1-0 overtime United Kansas Conference decision to the Pioneers in the regular season.

Washburn Rural senior Easton Bradstreet (13) has scored 25 goals this season entering Tuesday's Class 6A regional soccer opener at McElroy Field. [File photo/TSN]

Centennial League champion Washburn Rural (13-3-0) will open 6A postseason at 6 p.m. Tuesday at McElroy Field against the winner of Monday's play-in game between Lawrence (5-10-1) and Wichita South (0-16). The Junior Blues have asssured themselves of homefield advantage through the state quarterfinal round.6A.

Junior Chris Gomez (18) and the Topeka High soccer team will host Free State in a Class 6A regional game Tuesday night at Hummer Sports Park. [File photo/TSN]

Topeka High will also open 6A postseason Tuesday, with the 11-5-0 Trojans hosting Free State (6-7-2) in a 6 p.m. regional game at Hummer Sports Park.

Nic Simons and his 10-5-1 Shawnee Heights soccer team will open Class 5A postseason Tuesday night at the Bettis Family Sports Complex against KC-Washinton. [File photo/TSN]

UKC champion Shawnee Heights (10-5-1) will be at the Bettis Family Sports Complex at 6 p.m. Tuesday to host KC-Washington (7-7-2) in a 5A regional opener.

By ISAAC DEER

TopSports.news

After losing four straight to state contending 8-man teams, Cair Paravel Latin ended its football season on a high note with a 62-12 win over Maranatha Academy Friday night at Highland Park.

The Lions rapidly put 62 points on the scoreboard on their Senior Night, needing just 24 minutes to get the win at the halftime break.

Cair Paravel junior quarterback Evan Will went 7 of 7 passing for 117 yards and three TDs in Friday's 62-12 win over Maranatha Academy. [Photo by Sarah Carson/Special to TSN]

Senior Jachin Bonura carried tJunior Noah Collins had a 37-yard pick-six in Cair Paravel's 62-12 win over Maranatha Academy. [Photo by Sarah Carson/Special to TSN]

Cair Paravel junior Jesiah Bonura finds running room in the Lions' 62-12 win over Maranatha Academy. [Photo by Sarah Carson/Special to TSN]

Cair Paravel sophomore Ben Roeder (26) and junior Noah Collins (33) close in on a Maranatha Academy ball-carrier in Friday's 62-12 Lion win. [Photo by Sarah Carson/Special to TSN]

“Our guys came out and executed the way we wanted them to,” Cair Paravel Latin coach Doug Bonura said. “We were able to get a lot of guys in the game tonight and learn on the spot. They responded well after losing last week, which was a rough one for us. Being able to come back and play the way we wanted to play was great to see.

“But with all of that being said, I’m disappointed that we’re not going to the playoffs.”

In its first full year as a member of the Kansas State High School Activities Association, Cair Paravel Latin received an un-warm welcome. The Lions were delivered a juggernaut of a schedule for nearly the entirety of the 2022 campaign.

“This year was a bit of a disappointment because we have a tremendous team with a lot of talent,” D. Bonura said. “This year was good and humbling for us. Our district has several teams who are top-20 in the entire state. We learned so much about this year and we look forward to taking those lessons into next year.”

Out of the Lions’ eight regular season games played, only three of the teams that Cair Paravel has played has had a losing record. Cair Paravel Latin has won all of its games against those three teams with a losing record.

In its three games won, Cair Paravel Latin has outscored the opposition, 178-28. The Lions do what they’re supposed to do, blow out the teams that they’re supposed to beat. 

On Friday night, Cair Paravel Latin was able to execute the game plan flawlessly against a wounded Maranatha Academy squad.

The Lions 40-point first quarter was impressive.

In fact, it took Cair Paravel under four minutes to put up 24 points on the scoreboard and it was evident that the Lions would roll over the Eagles in the beginning portion of the game.

Lion senior running back Jachin Bonura had an eye-opening game on Friday night, touching the pigskin eight times for 218 yards and four touchdowns.

Cair Paravel junior quarterback Evan Will had a quick but perfect night. Will went 7-7 for 117 yards and three touchdowns.

Defensively, the Lions were stout. Seven sacks, two interceptions, 14 tackles for losses and a defensive touchdown. Noah Collins’ pick-six was for 37 yards.

The game started and ended in a blink of an eye. Similar to Cair Paravel’s season. A dominating home performance to cap off a season filled with lessons was important to this young and aspiring Lions group.

“Our guys competed in every game this year,” D. Bonura said. “We played the way we wanted to. We are going to have to work on our technique going forward and polish a lot of things for us to move in the direction we want to go in.”

Cair Paravel Latin finished its season with a 3-5 overall and 1-4 district record.

CAIR PARAVEL LATIN 62, MARANATHA ACADEMY 12

Maranatha Academy (0-7, 0-4)    6 6 – 12

Cair Paravel Latin (3-5, 1-4)      40 22 – 62

Cair Paravel – Ja. Bonura 46 run (2-pt is good)

Cair Paravel – Ja. Bonura 48 pass from Will (2-pt is good)

Cair Paravel – Collins 37 interception return (2-pt is good)

Cair Paravel – Ja. Bonura 27 pass from Will (2-pt is good)

Cair Paravel – Roeder 38 run (2-pt conversion is good)

Maranatha Academy – Higginbotham 26 pass from Nelson (2-pt is no good)

Maranatha Academy – Higgenbotham 13 pass from Nelson (2-point is no good)

Cair Paravel – Ja. Bonura 47 run (2-pt is no good)

Cair Paravel – Je. Bonura 47 run (2-pt is good)

Cair Paravel – Gossard 9 pass from Will (2-pt is no good)

Individual statistics 

Passing: Cair Paravel Latin – Will 7-7, 117 yards; Pavlik 2-2, 24. Maranatha Academy – Nelson 8-16, 105 yards; Smail 1-4, 7.

Rushing: Cair Paravel Latin – Ja. Bonura 3-118, Pavlik 3-26, Je. Bonura 1-47, Roeder 1-38. Maranatha Academy – Nelson 8-(minus)-54, Higginbotham 6-45, Smail 4-17, Wiley 4-(minus)-3.

Receiving: Cair Paravel Latin – Ja. Bonura 5-100, Will 2-24, Gossard 1-9, Helmbold 1-8. Maranatha Academy – Higginbotham 4-63, Smail  4-34, Dean 1-5.