Cair Paravel LionsBy RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
NOTE: Top.Sports.news will compile a weekly track and field honor roll for Shawnee County high schools throughout the 2023 season. Coaches are asked to email updated times and marks or any corrections to Rick Peterson at
BOYS
100 METERS
Richardson, Highland Park 10.49
Smith, Shawnee Heights 10.74
Dunshee, Hayden 10.76
Peoples, Topeka High 10.96
Merritt, Seaman 10.99
200 METERS
Richardson, Highland Park 21.5
Murph, Topeka High 22.16
Cochran, Seaman 22.34
Smith, Shawnee Heights 22.35
Peoples, Topeka High 22.53
Hayden sophomore Jensen Schrickel is the Shawnee County leader in the 400-meter dash. [Photo by Sarah Carson/Special to TSN]
400 METERS
Schrickel, Hayden 49.83
Roeder, Cair Paravel 50.70
Roney, Washburn Rural 51.72
Benz, Shawnee Heights 51.89
Chooncharoen, Washburn Rural 51.96
800 METERS
Esquibel, Shawnee Heights 1:59.55
Moore, Seaman 2:00.12
Johnson, Washburn Rural 2:00.55
Anderson, Seaman 2:01.30
Stuke, Seaman 2:01.5
Topeka West senior Lenny Njoroge (left) and Shawnee Heights junior Jackson Esquibel are the Shawnee County leaders in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200-meter runs. [Photo by Sarah Carson/Special to TSN]
1,600 METERS
Njoroge, Topeka West 4:17.71
Esquibel, Shawnee Heights 4:20.46
Dial, Washburn Rural 4:33.13
Johnson, Washburn Rural 4:33.46
Jowers, Seaman 4:43.66
3,200 METERS
Njoroge, Topeka West 9:20.08
Esquibel, Shawnee Heights 9:25.23
Johnson, Washburn Rural 9:51.59
Dial, Washburn Rural 9:51.97
Jowers, Seaman 10:05.32
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hayden sits in fifth place after Monday's opening round of the Class 4A boys golf tournament at Quail Creek Golf Course in Winfield, earning a team berth for Tuesday's final round.
The Wildcats finished the first round with a four-man score of 339 to advance to the second round.
Hayden's golf team advanced to the final round of the Class 4A state tournament with a fifth-place standing after Monday's opening round. [Submitted photo]
Sophomore Tagen Rodriguez led Hayden with a first-round 82, followed by sophomore James Kuta with an 84, senior Garrett Borjon with an 89, sophomore Nick Gorman and senior Noah Haverkamp with 90s and sophomore Colin Scott with a 98.
Bulldawgs fifth in 3A team race
Rossville earned a team berth for Tuesday's final round in the Class 3A state tournament at Dodge City's Maiah Hills, currently sitting in fifth place with a four-man score of 337.
Sophomore Jonathan Hart led the Bulldawgs with a first-round 79, followed by freshman Jack Donovan with an 80, senior Kyser Lundin with an 88, freshman Paxton Willett with a 90 and seniors Aiden Baumchen and Manuel VanderPutten with a 102.
Silver Lake junior Bryce Badsky, a two-time state medalist shot a 79 to advance to Tuesday's final round as an individual.
Washburn Rural senior Bryan Tyrell (above) and junior teammate Hayden Glynn advanced to the final round of the Class 6A state tournament. [File photo/TSN]
Rural's Glynn, Tyrell advance in 6A
Junior Hayden Glynn and senior Bryan Tyrell earned invididual berths for the final 18 holes of competition in the Class 6A state tournament at Newton's Sand Creek Station.
Washburn Rural fell short of advancing as a team to Tuesday's round but Glynn shot a 77 and Tyrell a 79 to earn two of the 18 individual spots.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hayden senior Jake Muller and junior Finn Dunshee both earned a pair of gold medals to lead the way as Hayden's boys track and field team qualified in eight events for next week's state meet at Wichita in Friday's Class 4A regional at Shawnee Mission North.
Hayden junior Finn Dunshee (right) won the 100-meter dash title in Friday's Class 4A regional and also ran on the Wildcats' winning 4x100 relay. [File photo/TSN]
Hayden senior Jake Muller won a regional title in the 300 hurdles and also ran on the Wildcats' winning 4x100 relay Friday at Shawnee Mission North. [File photo/TSN]
Dunshee won the boys 100-meter dash in 10.98 seconds and Muller won the 300 hurdles in 38.78 seconds while both also teamed with sophomores Liam Stegman and Jensen Schrickel to win the 4x100 relay in 43.00.
Stegman, Muller, Schrickel and Dunshee also qualified for state with a second-place regional finish in the 4x400 relay (3:23.92) while Muller also qualified in the 110 high hurdles with a third-place regional finish (16.01) and Shrickel finished third in the 400 dash (49.83).
Senior Joe Otting qualiied for state in a pair of field events, placing second in the discus at 148 feet, 3 inches and fourth in the javelin (173-6).
Hayden junior Natalie Hillebert won a Class 4A regional title on Friday in the 400-meter dash. [File photo/TSN]
Hayden's girls also picked up a regional victory, with junior Natalie Hillibert winning the girls 400 in 58.15 seconds.
By Todd Fertig
TopSports.news
The Cair Paravel Latin girls soccer team took a big first step toward a return to the Class 4-1A state tournament by beating Eudora 4-0 Thursday at Bettis Sports Complex to claim a regional championship.
Cair Paravel sophomore Zahra Friess (3) is congratulated by teammates Trinity Childs (12) and Hemi Duehring (18) after scorinng the first goal in Thursday's 4-0 regional win over Eudora. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Cair Paravel junior Katherine Keys scored a goal for the Lions in Thursday's 4-0 Class 4A-1A regional win over Eudora. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Cair Paravel soccer poses for a team pictue after Thursday's Class 4A-1A regional win over Eudora. [Photo by Todd Fertig/TSN]
Awarded a bye for compiling the best record in the 4-1A East regional, the Lions had to win just one game to advance to next week’s quarterfinals. The Lions took down the Cardinals with quick striking offense and a solid defensive effort.
“We maybe started off a little slower than I would like,” Cair Paravel coach Doug Woolery said “Maybe (Eudora) was playing tough and made us look slower. But once we hit a groove, we started combining more. I thought we played better with possession and passing and movement in the second half.”
Sophomore Zahra Friess broke the ice at the 23:11 mark of the first half, scoring off a long pass. Then it was freshman KellyAnn Chada who contributed on the Lions’ three remaining goals. She recorded two assists on centering passes from the right wing in the first half. Midway through the second half she weaved through the Cardinal defense for an insurance goal.
“She could probably play anywhere on the field,” Woolery said of Chada. “She really helps us out on the wing. She’s got such great ball control, the ability to either take the shot or cross the ball in. She’s continually improving and seeking to improve.”
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Junior Rich Helmbold shot a 78 to win the individual championship as Cair Paravel Latin earned a 29-stroke victory in the team race in Monday's Class 2A boys golf regional at Fort Scott's Woodland Hills Golf Course.
Cair Paravel Latin golf is headed to the Class 2A state tournament at Hesston next week after winning a regional championship by 29 strokes. [Submitted photo]
All of the Lions' top four players finished in the top eight Monday, with junior Simon Everhart placing sixth with an 89, sophomore Jase Pavlik seventh with an 90 and freshman Caleb Cleverdon eighth with a 93.
Cair Paravel finished with a four-man score of 350 while St. Marys Colgan finished second at 379 and Lyndon third at 396.
Cair Paravel's players competed for Topeka High during the regular season as part of a co-op agreement before competing in 2A in postseason.
The Lions will compete in the state tournament next Monday and Tuesday in Hesston at the Hesston Golf Course.
Washburn Rural golf earned a team berth for next week's Class 6A state tournament in Newton with a runnerup team finish in Monday's regional at Manhattan. [Twitter/Washburn Rural golf]
Rural earns 6A berth with runnerup finish
Washburn Rural placed all of its top four players in the top 10 in Monday's Class 6A regional tournament at Manhattan Country Club en route to a second-place team finish and a berth in next week's state tournament at Newton.
Rural senior Bryan Tyrell tied for fourth with a 79 to lead the Junior Blues while senior Tyler Baumchen was a stroke back with an 80, tying for seventh individually.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Topeka West senior twin brothers Ian and Miles Cusick advanced to the Class 5A tennis doubles semifinals for the second straight season Friday in Arkansas City, continuing their bid for a state title repeat.
Topeka West seniors Ian Cusick (left) and Miles Cusick advanced to the Class 5A state doubles semifinals Friday at Arkansas City. [File photo/TSN]
The Cusicks posted 6-0, 6-2 and 6-1, 6-3 victories in their two matches on Friday and will face Newton seniors Otis Musser and Justin Franz in Saturday morning's semifinals.
Topeka West, which finished second as a team in the 2022 state meet, advanced its entire team to Saturday's final day of the state tournament.
West senior Carter Cool and junior James Maag went 3-1 in singles and juniors Caden McGee and Caleb Weybrew went 3-1 in doubles and all of the Chargers can still finish as high as fifth place on Saturday.
State competition will continue at 9 a.m. Saturday.
Washburn Rural senior Mason Casebeer went 3-1 on Friday to clinch a state singles medal in the Class 6A state tournament at Kossover Tennis Center. [File photo/TSN]
CLASS 6A
Washburn Rural senior standout Mason Casebeer and the doubles team of senior Kiefer Von Lintel and freshman Dylan Willingham clinched Class 6A state medals Friday at Kossover Tennis Center.
Casebeer, a regional champion, dropped his first match of the day but bounced back with 9-0 and 9-2 wins to advance to Saturday's competition.
Von Lintel and Willingham went 3-1 Friday and advanced with a 9-7 win in their final Friday match.
Both Casebeer, a former state doubles medalist, and Von Lintel and Willingham can still finish as high as fifth place in 6A.
Rural junior singles player Lawson Lobatos and the doubles team of junior Dylan Dodge and freshman Keegan Knudtson were eliminated from competition on Friday.
Saturday's competition will begin at 9 a.m.
Hayden senior Gus Glotzbach and junior Joseph Luke have clinched state doubles medals in the Class 4A state tournament at Pratt. [File photo/TSN]
CLASS 4A
Hayden's doubles team of senior Gus Glotzbach and junior Joseph Luke advanced to Saturday's competition in the Class 4A state tournament at Pratt.
Regional champions Glotzbach and Luke won their first match of the day before dropping a 6-4, 7-6 quarterfinal decision to Parsons.
Glotzbach has clinched a 4A state medal for the third straight season while Luke has earned a state medal for the second straight season.
Hayden singles players Chris Hayes, a senior, and sophomore Evan George were eliminated from state on Friday.
State competition will resume at 9 a.m. on Saturday.
CLASS 3A-1A
Cair Paravel Latin freshman Drew Fay, making the Lions' first-ever appearance in state tennis, went 2-2 in singles on Friday in Wichita but was eliminated from competition with a tough 9-7 loss in his final match.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Entering Friday and Saturday's Class 5A state boys tennis tournament at Arkansas City, Topeka West has already swept city, United Kansas Conference and regional team championships and is considered one of the top contenders for the state title after finishing second a year ago.
Topeka West varsity tennis players Ian Cusick, Caleb Weybrew, Miles Cusick, Carter Cool, James Maag and Caden McGee are all members of the National Honor Society in addition to being city, UKC and Class 5A regional team champions. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Topeka West's top six varsity tennis players posed for a picture with head coach Kurt Davids and assistant coach Shon Daniels at the recent National Honor Soccer induction ceremony after winning the UKC team championship. [Photo courtesy of Katie Shiflett]
And that may not even be the Chargers' most impressive accomplishment.
Kurt Davids' team of seniors Ian Cusick, Miles Cusick and Carter Cool and juniors James Maag, Caden McGee and Caleb Weybrew not only go into state with a combined 119-34 record on the season but all six have also earned the rare distinction of earning membership in the prestigious National Honor Society.
"I'm really impressed with my guys,'' Ian Cusick said.. "Sometimes they may act kind of dumb around me, but I'm really impressed that everybody was able to be in (NHS) at the same time.''
Miles Cusick agreed with his twin brother.
"We were talking about it at practice the other day and we're interested to see if you could find another team in the state of Kansas that has all six of their varsity in the National Honor Society, so it's definitely a cool thing that we all managed to do,'' said Miles, who teamed with Ian to win the Class 5A state doubles title in 2022.
While the Chargers' recent success on the tennis court has been well-documented, their academic success shows that the classroom is just as important to the team.
Cool, who will attend the University of Kansas next school year, is the valedictorian of the Topeka West graduating class of 2023 while the Cusicks rank in the top 10 and Maag, McGee and Weybrew are among the top students in the junior class.
"Actually, I take (academics) more serious than I do tennis,'' said Cool, a two-time city champ in No. 1 singles. "I'd say tennis comes second to my studies, but obviously I take that very serious.''
"I think I probably take my grades more serious than I do tennis to some extent,'' said Ian Cusick, who will attend KU. "They always say you're a student before an athlete and you have to make the grades if you want to play, so grades are pretty important to me.''
Miles Cusick said academic success is also important to his family.
"I think it's aways been emphasized in the Cusick household that we are student-athletes and even though we're very dedicated to tennis, we're also very dedicated to grades,'' said Miles, who will attend Kansas State.
By Todd Fertig
TopSports.news
The Cair Paravel Latin girls soccer team’s three seniors remember when seventh-graders were needed to field a full team. They recall competing for championships in leagues that received little to no media recognition.
Cair Paravel seniors Eva Rollenhagen, Audrey Smith and Sage Schwartz were honored Wednesday on Senior Night after the Lions' 3-0 win over Heritage Christian. [Photo by Isaac Deer/TSN]
Katherine Keys (1) and Zahra Friess both scored goals and had assists in Cair Paravel's 3-0 weather-shortened win over Heritage Christian Wednesday. [Photo by Isaac Deer/TSN]
Cair Paravel's KellyAnn Chada scored a goal in the Lions' 3-0 weather-shortened win over Heritage Christian on Wednesday. [Photo by Isaac Deer/TSN]
They also remember advancing to KSHSAA’s Class 4-1A state Final Four last spring, the smallest school in the state with a soccer team reaching the biggest stage.
With a 3-0 weather-shortened win over Heritage Christian Academy at the Sunflower Soccer Association on Wednesday, CPLS assured itself of a top-two position in the 4-1A East Region and sewed up a bye in the first round of the regional playoffs that kick off next week.
To the seniors who remember where the program came from, that’s further confirmation that they belong.
“It’s so nice to be able to play (in KSHSAA) these past couple of years,” said Sage Schwartz. “I feel like it really showcases our school’s skill because we’re so small we don’t usually get recognized.”
“The amazing part is that, even before we got to KSHSAA, we worked just as hard and really the style of our play hasn’t really changed,” Audrey Smith said. “We just had more opportunities to show people what we could do.”
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Audrey Appuhn
AUDREY APPUHN, Washburn Rural
Appuhn, a freshman swimming standout, was a part of four victories in her first Topeka City Championship Friday at the Capitol Federal Natatorium, helping lead Washburn Rural to its 20th straight city team championship. Appuhn won the 200-yard freestyle in 1 minute, 57.72 seconds and the 500 free in 5:11.08 and also swam on the Junior Blues' winning 200 medley relay (1:54.84) and 400 free relay (3:40.49).
Ala'Jah Brooks
ALA'JAH BROOKS, Topeka West
A senior track and field standout, Brooks won three individual titles in Friday's Joe Schrag City Championship at Hummer Sports Park. Brooks won the long jump with a best of 16 feet, 7.50 inches, won the 400-meter dash in 57.26 seconds and won the 200 in 25.65 seconds. Brooks was the only athlete to win three individual events in the city meet.
Mason Casebeer
MASON CASEBEER, Washburn Rural
A senior tennis standout, Casebeer captured a pair of singles championships last week, including earning his third Class 6A state tournament berth Friday at Wichita. Casebeer opened his week with a Centennial League title, earning a 6-0, 6-1 win over Manhattan's Advith Nataraja in the final. Casebeer followed up his league title with a regional championship Friday at Riverside Tennis Center, taking a 6-1, 6-1 win over Wichita East sophomore Bo Lu to help Rural win the regional team title by a 19-15 margin over Manhattan.
By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
Cair Paravel Latin's girls soccer team won its 11th straight match with a convincing 10-0 mercy-rule victory over Maranatha Christian Academy on Monday evening at the Sunflower Soccer Complex.
Katherine Keys scored a three-goal hat track Monday as Cair Paravel Latin pushed its win streak to 11 games with a 10-0 win over Maranatha Christian Academy. [Photo by Isaac Deer/TSN]
Cair Paravel's Zahra Friess (3) slides into the goal for the first of her two goals in the Lions' 10-0 win over Maranatha Christian Academy. [Photo by Isaac Deer/TSN]
Sage Schwartz is congratulated by her teammates after scoring a goal in Cair Paravel's 10-0 win over Maranatha Christian Academy. [Photo by Isaac Deer/TSN]
Cair Paravel's last and only loss was a 3-2 overtime loss to Class 5A Seaman back on March 28th, but the Lions have dominated every school since the one-goal loss in the third game of the 2023 campaign.
The Lions have outscored the opposition 85-8 this season and are seeded No. 1 in the 4-1A east side of the regional standings after seven weeks.
Cair Paravel coach Doug Woolery believes that the Lions are playing their best soccer as CPLS approaches the end of the regular season.
"Every coach, no matter where at the end of the season, wants their team to get better and better. I feel like the girls here have done that," Woolery said. "It seems like the combination of where everybody's playing right now is great. After the Seaman game, I said I didn't have the pieces in the right place. I feel like I have that now. It's just a matter of the girls continuing to gel with each other."
Cair Paravel (12-1-1) ran the pace of play against Maranatha on Monday. Not many of the passes from the Lions were disrupted, challenged or intercepted. Instead, Cair Paravel consistently made clean passes, opening the contest early.
By Rick Peterson
TopSports.news
Freshman tennis player Drew Fay made Cair Paravel Latin school history Wednesday at Rock Chalk Park, earning the school's first Class 3A-1A state tournament berth.
Cair Paravel freshman singles player Drew Fay poses for a picture with his medal after earning a Class 3A-1A state tournament berth with a fifth-place regional finish. [Submitted photo]
Cair Paravel freshman singles player Drew Fay will compete in the Class 3A-1A state tennis tournament after qualifying for state with a fifth-place regional finish. [Submitted photo]
Fay posted a 3-1 record in Wednesday's Class 3A-1A regional to post a fifth-place singles finish for Cair Paravel, which is fielding a boys tennis program for the first time.
Fay beat Bishop Seabury's Gabe Rinnert in the fifth-place match, with the top six in both singles and doubles advancing to the 3A-1A state meet May 12-13 at the Riverside Tennis Complex in Wichita.
Joey Thoennes also represented Cair Paravel in singles at the regional meet while Seth Arnold and Oliver Ellis competed in doubles.
Sophomore Destiny Higgs (24) scored four goals in Washburn Rural's 8-0 Centennial League win over Emporia Tuesday night. [Photo by Trevor Falcon/Special to TSN]
Higgs' four goals power Rural soccer to 8-0 win over Emporia
Washburn Rural sophomore Destiny Higgs scored four goals as the Junior Blues clinched at least a share of the Centennial League title with an 8-0 home win over Emporia Tuesday night.
Rural can clinch the title outright with a win over Topeka High next Monday at Hummer Sports Park.
Washburn Rural senior Addi Broxterman scored a pair of goals in Tuesday's 8-0 Centennial League win over Emporia. [Photo by Trevor Falcon/Special to TSN]
In addition to Higgs' four goals, the 9-4-0 Junior Blues got two goals from senior Addi Broxterman and a goal apiece from sophomore Kate Hinck and senior Bri Jones.
Senior Mackinly Rohn was credited with a pair of assists while Hinck, junior Savannah Tuffley, senior Maya Hoge and junior Hayley Legg also had assists.
Senior Hailey Beck (0) and junior Mackenzie Flood (00) combined for the shutout in goal in Tuesday's 8-0 Washburn Rural Centennial League win over Emporia. [Photo by Trevor Falcon/Special to TSN]
Senior Hailey Beck and junior Mackenzie Flood combined for the shutout in goal.
Rural will travel to Wichita Northwest for a non-league game Thursday night.
Seaman senior Katie Price (center) signed a bowling letter of intent with Peru State on Wednesday. Price was joined at her signing by former Seaman teammate Makenzie Millard (right) and former Washburn Rural standout Kaitlyn Doyal. [Submitted photo]
Seaman bowling standout Price signs with Peru State
Seaman senior bowler Katie Price, the Class 5A-1A state runnerup in the 2023 state tournament, signed a letter of intent with Peru State College on Wednesday at Seaman.
Price helped the Vikings win the 5A-1A state team championship in 2022 and led Seaman to a third-place finish in '23.
Price will join former teammate Makenzie Millard and former Washburn Rural standout Kaitlyn Doyal at Peru State.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
TopSports.News, in partnership with the University of Kansas Health System St Francis Campus, A-1 Lock and Key and Washburn University, will host the 18th annual Topeka Shawnee County Sports Awards/Hall of Fame induction ceremony on June 28, 2023 at Washburn's Memorial Union.
For the third straight year TopSports.news will serve as host for the Sports Awards/Hall of Fame banquet, a longstanding tradition for the Topeka and Shawnee County sports community.
The ceremony will highlight Shawnee County high school senior student-athletes’ achievements throughout the 2022-2023 school year along with the induction of the 2023 Topeka Shawnee County Hall of Fame Class.
Schools have been asked to submit nominees with a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average for both female and male candidates for the fall, winter and spring seasons as well as nominees for most inspirational athlete. Over-all outstanding male and female athletes for 2022-2023 will also be named.
Also recognized will be an outstanding female and male athlete from Washburn University.
The four-member 2023 Hall of Fame class and the '23 Washburn University Athletes of the Year will be announced on TopSports.news on May 1.
The high school nominees for the 10 Shawnee County high schools will be announced in June after the conclusion of the spring sports season.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Alesecio Batson
ALESECIO BATSON, Topeka West
Batson, a sophomore track and field standout, posted a victory in the boys triple jump in last Friday's Free State Barrier Breaker Invitational at Lawrence, jumping a winning distance of 46 feet, 8.25 inches for the Chargers.
Emmerson Cope
EMMERSON COPE, Washburn Rural
A senior softball standout, Cope piicked up the pitching victory and also had a home run and a double in Washburn Rural's 14-4 first-game victory over Seaman last Friday. The Nebraska signee also helped the 12-2 Junior Blues complete the sweep with a 10-0 shutout in the second game.
Zahra Friess
ZAHRA FRIESS, Cair Paravel Latin
A sophomore, Friess scored four goals and was also credited with four assists in the Lions' 10-0 win over Kaw Valley Conference foe Kansas City Christian last Monday. Cair Paravel added a 10-0 league win over Kansas City-Bishop Ward on Thursday, improving to 9-1-1 with its eighth straight victory.
By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
Cair Paravel Latin’s soccer team knew it had its work cut out for it in facing Topeka High, but the Lions were able to ride their first-half offensive attack and backline success to a 5-2 victory at Sunflower Soccer Complex on Thursday.
Cair Paravel Latin soccer coach Doug Woolery talks to his team after Thursday's 5-2 non-league win over Topeka High. [Photo by Isaac Deer/TSN]
After a perfect weekend at the Titan Classic in Wichita, where the Lions won the Red Bracket championshi and a 10-0 win on Monday against Bishop Ward, their win streak was extended to four matches with the victory against Topeka High.
In its latest win streak, Cair Paravel has shown glimpses of last year’s team that made a run to the Class 4A-1A state tournament.
“I was happy with how we performed against (Topeka High),” Cair Paravel coach Doug Woolery said. “I feel like we are getting better every single game because they’re doing things better that need to get done. Today, I thought there were more of those moments where the small ball developed into making scoring opportunities. We didn’t always capitalize on those moments, but I felt like we put ourselves in a position where more of those scoring opportunities were prevalent.
“Topeka High is always a tough game for us. Derek (Snook) does a great job with his girls. We knew it was going to be a physical, tough game. A win is good, but a win against a tough team like Topeka High is even sweeter.”
By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
Seaman’s girls soccer team is off to an undefeated 3-0-0 start, with two of its early regular-season wins coming from teams that were in state tournaments a year ago.
Seaman junior Marin Schuler (22) scored two goals Tuesday as the Vikings improved to 3-0 with a 3-2 non-league win over Cair Paravel Latin. [Photo by Trevor Falcon/Special to TSN]
Seaman's soccer team celebrates a goal by Viking junior Marin Schuler in Tuesday's 3-2 win over Cair Paravel at the Sunflower Soccer Complex. [Photo by Trevor Falcon/Special to TSN]
In Seaman’s home opener last Tuesday, the Lady Vikings knocked off Class 6A Manhattan. 3-1. Manhattan finished fourth in the state last year. Then on Thursday, Seaman defeated former Centennial League foe Emporia, 6-0.
Seaman started the second week of the season on the right foot Tuesday with a 3-2 city defeat over Cair Paravel Latin.
The Lions return a nearly identical team from last season after their fourth-place finish in the 4A-1A state tournament.
It hasn’t been the most leisurely start to the season with Seaman’s high-quality opponents, but the Vikings are happy with how they have found a way to handle the challenges.
“It’s been a great start,” Seaman coach Tim Nussbaum said. “We just want to keep getting better every day, and we want to keep this thing going.”
By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
Before Friday the last time the Hayden and Cair Paravel Latin girls soccer teams had met was for a trip to the Class 4A-1A semifinals last spring.
Cair Paravel ended the Wildcats season a year ago after a strenuous and physical 2-1 winning effort in the 4A-1A state quarterfinal.
Cair Paravel sophomore Zahra Friess (3) tries to get past Hayden's Lauren Sandstrom in Friday's 2-2 tie game. [Photo by Trevor Falcon/Special to TSN]
Hayden senior Briahna Barnett (7) advances the ball as Cair Paravel sophomore Amania Vincent gives chase. [Photo by Trevor Falcon/Special to TSN]
Hayden and Cair Paravel hooked up again Friday afternoon and slugged it out through two overtime before ending up in a 2-2 deadlock.
"It's early in the season, and we've improved since our last game," Cair Paravel coach Doug Woolery said. "We are still collecting our lineup and putting all of our moving parts together. We have new players that are settling into the system, maybe used to playing differently with their club teams. I'm not unhappy with the way that we are playing. It's Hayden, so I anticipated this would be a tough game."
Friday's non-league contest was a physical match between the two programs. No team had a clear, runaway advantage but both schools that could return to the 4A-1A hunt again this year knew precisely what Friday would bring.
"I couldn't wait to play (Cair Paravel) because we lost to them in the (quarterfinal)," Hayden coach Klause Kreutzer said. "They're a good team, and I'd rather play a good team. I have to give them credit; they worked hard.
"They've got a lot of young players, and so do we. I'm satisfied with our effort. The execution wasn't what I like it to be, but they're a good team, and a tie isn't bad at all."
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural senior standout Brooklyn DeLeye was tapped as the TopSports.news 2023 All-Shawnee County girls basketball player of the year after helping lead the Junior Blues to a second straight appearance in the Class 6A state title game.
A three-time All-Shawnee County first-team pick, the 6-foot-2 DeLeye helped the Centennial League champions post an 18-6 record and come within an eyelash of winning a second straight 6A state championship, with the Junior Blues dropping a 35-34 heartbreaker to Blue Valley North in the title game.
DeLeye is joined on the all-county Top 10 by 6-foot senior teammate Chloe Carlgren while Washburn Rural coach Kevin Bordewick, who has led the Junior Blues to a pair of state titles and a runner-up finish since 2019, was named the county coach of the year.
Washburn Rural senior Brooklyn DeLeye has been named the TSN Shawnee County girls player of the year after helping lead the Junior Blues to a second straight appearance in the Class 6A title game. [File photo/TSN]
Washburn Rural senior Chloe Carlgren has been named to the All-Shawnee County first team after helping the Junior Blues win the Centennial League championship and finish second in Class 6A. [File photo/TSN]
Veteran Washburn Rural coach Kevin Bordewick, who has led Rural to two Class 6A state basketball titles and 10 state crowns overall, has been named the TSN Shawnee County girls basketball coach of the year. [File photo/TSN]
DeLeye averaged 16 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.1 steals, shot 59.7 percent from 2-point range and 38.5 percent on 3-point attempts as a senior while Carlgren averaged 9.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, shot 35 percent from 3-point range and was the Junior Blues' defensive stopper.
Like DeLeye. Topeka High senior star Kiki Smith earned TSN All-Shawnee County Top 10 honors for the third straight season after leading the Trojans to a 16-6 record this past season.
Topeka High senior star Kiki Smith (23) earned All-Shawnee County first-team recognition for the third straight season. [File photo/TSN]
Smith, a 5-8 senior, helped the Trojans reach the Class 6A state tournament her first three high schools seasons, including a state runnerup finish in 2021.
As a senior Smith averaged a city-high 20.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 3.1 steals while connecting on 50 3-pointers.
Seaman, which posted a 21-2 record and won the United Kansas Conference title, is represented on the first team by 5-10 sophomore Anna Becker and 5-9 freshman Maddie Gragg, who was also named the Shawnee County newcomer of the year. Becker is a Top 10 repeat pick and was named the United Kansas Conference player of the year.
Seaman sophomore Anna Becker has been named to the All-Shawnee County Top 10 after helping lead the Vikings to a 21-2 record. [File photo/TSN]
Seaman's Maddie Gragg earned All-Shawnee County Top 10 honors as a freshman while also being named the county newcomer of the year. [File photo/TSN]
Becker averaged 12 points, 3.7 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 3.3 steals this past season while Gragg averaged 13.4 points and 5.9 rebounds while shooting 60.2 percent from the field on 2-point attempts and 75 percent from the free throw line.
Silver Lake junior Makenzie McDaniel earned a spot on the TSN All-Shawnee County Top 10 after helping lead the Eagles to a 23-3 record and a third straight trip to the Class 3A state tournament. [File photo/TSN]
Silver Lake junior McKinley Kruger (12) is a repeat pick on the All-Shawnee County Top 10 after helping lead the Eagles to a fourth-place finish in the Class 3A state tournament this past season. [File photo]
Silver Lake, which went 23-3 on the season en route to a fourth-place finish in the 3A state tournament, put sophomores McKinley Kruger (5-7) and Makenzie McDaniel (6-1) on the All-Shawnee County first team for the second straight season.
Shawnee Heights senior Emari Doby moved up to the All-Shawnee County Top 10 this season after earning Second 10 recognition as a junior. [File photo/TSN]
Rossville junior Kinsey Perine was tapped for the 2023 TSN All-Shawnee County Top 10, moving up from the Second 10 as a sophomore. [File photo/TSN]
Highland Park sophomore Amelia Ramsey earned a berth on the All-Shawnee County Top 10 after leading the Scots to a 19-4 record and their first berth in the Class 5A state tournamet in 11 seasons. [File photo/TSN]
Shawnee Heights senior Emari Doby (5-9) and Rossville junior Kinsey Perine (5-8) move up to the Top 10 this season after earning Second 10 honors last season while Highland Park sophomore Amelia Ramsey (6-0) earned first-team recognition this season after receiving honorable mention a year ago.
Doby averaged 12.5 points and 8.3 rebounds as a senior while Perine averaged 9.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 5.8 steals and Ramsey averaged 19.8 points and 15.8 rebounds while shooting 65.2 percent from two-point range.
ALL-SHAWNEE COUNTY GIRLS BASKETBALL
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Highland Park senior Bo Aldridge headlines the 2023 TopSports.news' All-Shawnee County boys basketball team after helping lead the Scots to a 24-1 record and a third-place finish in the Class 5A state tournament.
BO ALDRIDGE
Aldridge was tapped as the Shawnee County player of the year after leading Highland Park to a second straight state tournament berth while averaging 22 points, seven rebounds and six assists.
The Scots, whose only loss was a heartbreaking one-point semifinal decision to eventual state champion Andover, also put seniors Tre Richardson and Jahmir Kingcannon on the TSN Shawnee County Top 10.
TRE RICHARDSON
JAHMIR KINGCANNON
Richardson averaged 16 points, four rebounds, four assists and four steals for the Scots while Kingcannon averaged 14 points, six rebounds, two assists and two blocked shots per game.
Highland Park's Mike Williams was named the county coach of the year after the Scots posted a county-high victory total by nine wins.
The Highland Park trio of Aldridge, Richardson and Kingcannon are part of an outstanding group of county seniors that earned nine of 10 spots on the TSN All-Shawnee County Top 10, with Aldridge, Washburn Rural's Jack Bachelor, Seaman's Kaeden Bonner and Hayden's Joe Otting all first-team repeaters.
JACK BACHELOR
Bachelor was named the Centennial League player of the year after averaging 17.1 points, 2.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists while hitting 32 3-pointers and shooting 82 percent from the free throw line for the 15-6 Junior Blues, who shared the league title.
KAEDEN BONNER
Bonner, who helped Seaman win its first-ever boys 5A state title as a junior, fought through an injury plagued senior season but still averaged 15.6 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.2 assists while hitting 24 3-pointers and shooting 81 percent from the free throw line for the 13-8 Vikings.
JOE OTTING
Otting, a Notre Dame football signee, earned first-team all-county honors in both football and basketball for the second straight season while putting together a string of double-double performances for the 11-11 Wildcats.
Shawnee Heights junior Brennon Dodge, the lone underclassmen on the all-county Top 10, and Seaman senior Aron Davis both moved up to the Top 10 after being Second 10 picks a year ago.
BRENNON DODGE
ARON DAVIS
Dodge was the floor leader and a top 3-point threat for a Shawnee Heights team that posted a 15-7 record this past season while Davis averaged 16.1 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists for Seaman.
Topeka West seniors Xavier Alexander and Malachi Berg also garnered Top 10 spots after helping the Chargers post a 14-8 record this past season.
XAVIER ALEXANDER
MALACHI BERG
Alexander, a first-team All-United Kansas Confererence pick, averaged 15.8 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists with 53 3-pointers while Berg averaged 14.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.3 steals..
Rossville freshman Jack Donovan and Seaman freshman KaeVon Bonner were named Shawnee County co-newcomers of the year.
Donovan averaged 10.4 points and connected on 49 3-pointers for the Bulldawgs while Bonner averaged 8.4 points and 2.3 rebounds while hitting 32 3-pointers.
ALL-SHAWNEE COUNTY BOYS BASKETBALL
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Senior goalkeeper Hailey Beck helped Washburn Rural post a runnerup finish in the Class 6A state tournament last season. [File photo/TSN]
HAILEY BECK, Washburn Rural
Beck, a senior goalkeeper, helped 17-3-1 Washburn Rural win the Centennial League championship and finish second in the Class 6A state tournament last season, earning All-Centennial League second-team recognition and All-City honorable mention. Beck has signed a letter of intent with Washburn University. Beck was also a multi-time state qualifier in tennis.
LAILAH BENZ, Shawnee Heights
A sophomore midfielder, Benz earned first-team All-City honors as a freshman for the 13-5-0 T-Birds and was also a first-team All-United Kansas Conference selection. Benz earned All-Class 5A honorable mention from the Kansas High School Soccer Coaches Association last season.
Cair Paravel Latin sophomore Zahra Friess (3) earned All-4A-1A first-team honors as a freshman. [File photo/TSN]
ZAHRA FRIESS, Cair Paravel Latin
As a freshman, Friess helped lead Cair Paravel to a fourth-place finish in the Class 4A-1A state tournament last spring, with the Lions posting a 15-5-0 record. Friess earned All-4A-1A first-team honors from the Kansas High School Soccer Coaches Association in 2022 and was a first-team All-City and All-Kaw Valley Conference pick.
KATE HINCK, Washburn Rural
Hinck was an immediate contributor for Washburn Rural last spring as a freshman, earning first-team All-City and All-Centennial League recognition at forward. Hinck helped the Junior Blues post a 17-3 record on the way to the Centennial League championship and a runnerup finish in the Class 6A state tournament. Hinck was a starter for Rural's basketball team that finished second in 6A last week.
Cair Paravel junior Katherine Keys helped lead the Lions to a fourth-place finish in the Class 4A-1A state tournament last spring. [File photo/TSN]
KATHERINE KEYS, Cair Paravel Latin
A junior forward, Keys helped 15-5-0 Cair Paravel advance to the Class 4A-1A final four last season en route to a fourth-place state finish. Keys earned a first-team spot on the All-City team for the second straight season and was also a first-team All-Kaw Valley Conference selection.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hayden's boys basketball team was ice cold in the first quarter of Tuesday's Class 4A sub-state semifinal at Parsons, but the Wildcats warmed up quickly on the way to a 62-41 victory.
Junior Cooper Colboch jump-started Hayden with four 3-pointers in the second quarter as the Wildcats posted a 62-41 Class 4A sub-state win at Parsons Tuesday night. [File photo/TSN]
With the win No. 9 seed Hayden advanced to a 7 p.m. sub-state final on Friday at top seed Atchison, an 81-45 winner over Coffeyville on Tuesday.
Parsons led 8-5 at the end of the opening quarter but Hayden hit the host Vikings with a 28-12 second quarter and cruised the rest of the way.
Junior Cooper Colboch hit four 3-pointers in the second quarter to power Hayden (11-10) to a 33-20 halftime advantage while Dominic Ridley also hit two 3s in the quarter.
Hayden boosted its lead to 49-30 by the end of the third quarter and held a 13-11 advantage over the final eight minutes.
Senior Jake Muller led Hayden with 15 points, including a pair of 3-pointers, while Colboch added 14.
Hayden will be looking to get back to the 4A state tournament after finishing fourth a year ago.
Senior Troy Heiman scored 10 points to lead a balanced Silver Lake attack in Tuesday's 37-24 Class 3A sub-state win over Maur Hill. [File photo/TSN]
SILVER LAKE BOYS 37, MAUR HILL-MT. ACADEMY 24 --No. 6 seed Silver Lake rode a stifling defensive effort to Tuesday's 37-24 win at No. 3 seed Maur Hill in a Class 3A sub-state quarterfinal.
The Eagles, who improved to 8-13, advanced to a 7:30 p.m. sub-state semifinal Friday at tournament host Perry-Lecompton (17-4).
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Parirings have been released for this week's sub-state high school basketball tournaments, with 11 Shawnee County teams earning home court advantage for at least the first round of sub-state.
Both Highland Park teams, Seaman's girls, Topeka High's girls and Washburn Rural's boys could all stay at home through both rounds of sub-state competition.
Silver Lake and Rossville will both compete in the Class 3A Perry-Lecompton sub-state while both Cair Paravel Latin teams will compete in the 2A St. Marys sub-state
Here's a look at sub-state tournaments involving Shawnee County teams:
Brittney Redmond's Topeka High girls will open Class 6A sub-state competition at 6 p.m. Wednesday against Garden City. [File photo/TSN]
CLASS 6A GIRLS
West sub-state No. 4 -- Topeka High, which will be shooting for a fifth straight state tournment berth, is in the same sub-state with defending Class 6A champion Washburn Rural.
No. 4 West seed Topeka High will open postseason at 6 p.m. Wednesday at High, with the 15-5 Trojans hosting Garden City (6-14) in a semifinal.
No. 5 seed Rural (14-5) will host Centennial League rival Manhattan (7-13) at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
The winners of those two semifinals will advance to a Saturday championship game.
CLASS 6A BOYS
West sub-state No. 1 -- Topeka High, the No. 16 seed at 3-17, will go on the road Tuesday for a 6 p.m. sub-state semifinal against No. 1 Garden City (19-1).
The winner of that game will advance to a Friday final to meet the winner of the semifinal between No. 8 Junction City (11-9) and No. 9 Free State (11-9).
West sub-state No. 4 -- Washburn Rural is the No. 4 seed in the west at 14-5 and will open its postseason bid at 6 p.m. Tuesday at home against No. 13 Campus (7-13).
The winner of that semifinal will advance to a Friday sub-state championship game to take on the winner of the semifinal between No. 5 Derby (14-6) and No. 12 Wichita West (8-12).
Junior Taylin Stallbaumer and the Seaman girls will enter Class 5A postseason as the top east seed at 19-1. [File photo/TSN]
CLASS 5A GIRLS
East sub-state No. 1 -- Seaman is the No. 1 seed in the east at 19-1 and will be at home for a 7 p.m. Tuesday semifinal to face No. 16 Kansas City-Schlagle (1-15).
The winner of that game will advance to a Friday final to face the winner of the semifinal between No. 8 seed KC-Sumner (14-6) and No. 9 Piper (14-6).
Rob Brown's Highland Park girls, 17-3 on the season, will be at home for Tuesday's Class 5A sub-state semifinal against Leavenworth. [File photo/TSN]
East sub-state No. 3 -- Highland Park (17-3) is the No. 3 east seed and is in the same 5A sub-state bracket with No. 6 seed Shawnee Heights (14-6).
HIghland Park will face No. 14 seed Leavenworth (4-16) in a 7 p.m. semifinal on Tuesday at Hi Park while Shawnee Heights will host No. 11 De Soto (13-7) in a 7 p.m. Tuesday contest.
The two semifinal winners will move on to a Friday championship game.
West sub-state No. 2 -- Topeka West is the No. 15 seed at 6-14 and will travel to No. 2 seed Andover (18-2) for a 6 p.m. Tuesday semifinal. Andover is coached by former Topeka High coach Hannah Alexander.
The winner will advance to Friday's sub-state final to face the winner of the semifinal between No. 7 Goddard Eisenhower (14-6) and No. 10 Salina Central (10-10).
Senior Tre Richardson and the Highland Park boys are a perfect 20-0 entering Class 5A postseason competition. [File photo/TSN]
CLASS 5A BOYS
By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
ROSSVILLE –The Rossville boys basketball team closed out its 2022-2023 regular season with a 62-45 Mid-East League loss against Rock Creek Thursday, but that game doesn’t mean much to the Bulldawgs in their eye toward a promising future.
First-year Rossville boys coach Brandon McDonnell is proud of the progress the Bulldawgs have made over a 7-13 regular season. [File photo/TSN]
Although Rossville finished its regular season 7-13, the culture has changed surrounding the boys' basketball program.
In the previous three years, Rossville had won eight games. This year alone, they neared that total.
"Let's just be honest, it's a blessing," Rossville coach Brandon McDonnell said. "We got seven wins. We've gotten more wins this year than we had the past two or three years. So it's a blessing. The only way this year happened the way it did is for the boys to go out there and perform and put in the work. I can coach them up all day, but I'm not out there playing; the boys are.
"For them to go out there, exert that energy, and play hard is a blessing. That's that light at the end of the tunnel; you see it. I got most of these boys for the next two or three years, which is beautiful. We've had rocky parts this year and speed bumps, but we get over them. We get over them together. What more can I ask?"
McDonnell knew that getting buy-in from his kids wouldn't be an issue. So when the first-year coach took the job at Rossville, he had a sole mission: To put a winning product on the court and develop kids while helping them reach their fullest potential.
Seven wins might not seem like much, but it's a step in the right direction for a successful boys' basketball program at Rossville.
"I don't go home mad; I don't go home frustrated because I know the boys are working hard," McDonnell said. "They don't want to come out here and lose games. They work their tails off. You see the beauty and glimpses of what they are doing. There is light at the end of the tunnel. We are just young. Having a good offseason will be crucial, but I'm not worried about that now."
McDonnell admits that he feels empathy for his senior class that won't be able to experience the ride with this young group after this season.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
After dropping two previous games to Rock Creek by a total of 30 points, Silver Lake's boys basketball team made a dramatic turnaround Friday night, taking a 51-40 home Mid-East League decision over the Mustangs.
Senior Troy Heiman scored 12 points to lead a balanced Silver Lake attack as the Eagles took a 51-40 Mid-East League win over Rock Creek Friday night. [File photo/TSN]
Friday's win was the second straight double-digit win for the Eagles, who improved to 6-12 overall and 5-4 in the league.
Silver Lake trailed 12-5 at the end of the opening quarter, but outscored the Mustangs 28-15 over the middle two quarters to put itself in position for the win before outscoring Rock Creek 18-13 over the final eight minutes.
Senior Troy Heiman led Silver Lake with 12 points while freshman Dayne Johnson added 10 points, junior Elijah Lopez nine points and junior Spencer Johnson eight.
Senior Jack Bachelor scored 20 points and had 10 assists in Washburn Rural's 78-70 loss at Manhattan Friday night. [File photo/TSN]
MANHATTAN BOYS 78, WASHBURN RURAL 70 --Manhattan handed Washburn Rural its second Centennial League loss of the season Friday night, dropping the Junior Blues into a share for the league lead with Emporia.
Manhattan (11-8, 5-4) rode a 26-13 first quarter to a big lead and the Indians led 38-28 at the half 59-45 at the start of the fourth quarter before the Junior Blues (14-5, 7-2) made up ground late.
Senior Jack Bachelor led Washburn Rural with 20 points, including four 3-pointers, and also had 10 assists.
'By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
HAYDEN (11-6, 3-5) at TOPEKA HIGH (13-5, 4-4)
Sophomore Norma Greco scored 14 points to lead Hayden in a 48-21 Centennial League win over Junction City Tuesday night. [File photo/TSN]
Hayden is 2-0 on the week, posting a 55-16 non-league win over Tonganoxie Monday and taking a 48-21 home Centennial League win over Junction City Tuesday night. Sophomore Norma Greco led Hayden with 14 points against Junction City while junior Lauren Sandstrom added 11 points and sophomore Brylee Meier 10. Topeka High is coming off back-to-back league losses to Emporia and league-leading Washburn Rural, with the Trojans dropping a 55-42 decision at Rural Tuesday night. Freshman Keimara Marshall scored 11 points to lead the Trojans against the Junior Blues. Topeka High took a 60-25 win over Hayden earlier in the season.
BASEHOR-LINWOOD (12-5, 10-3) at SEAMAN (16-1, 12-1)
Top-ranked (Class 5A) Seaman will have an opportunity Friday night to avenge its only loss of the season, a 74-71 overtime defeat at Basehor-Linwood earlier in the year. The Vikings have won 10 straight games since that loss to the Bobcats. Seaman is coming off a 61-22 win over Leavenworth on Tuesday while Basehor-Linwood beat KC-Turner, 58-17.
KC-SUMNER (13-5, 7-3) at HIGHLAND PARK (13-3, 8-0)
Highland Park took a 65-51 home Meadowlark Conference win over Atchison on Tuesday while Sumner is coming off a 50-46 loss to KC-Wyandotte. Highland Park beat Sumner 64-20 earlier in the season.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
HAYDEN (9-8, 3-5) at TOPEKA HIGH (3-15, 0-8)
Senior Joe Otting is coming off a 19-point, 10-rebound performance Tuesday night in Hayden's 56-45 Centennial League win over Junction City. [File photo/TSN]
Hayden will be looking for its third win of the week affter beating non-league foe Tonganoxie on Monday and taking a 56-45 home Centennial League win over Junction City Tuesday night. Senior Joe Otting led the Wildcats with 19 points and 10 rebounds against Junction City while senior Jake Muller added 13 points. Topeka High is coming off a 61-35 league loss to Washburn Rural, with senior Mason Gomez scoring 12 points to lead the Trojans. Hayden will be playing Topeka High for the third time this season, with the Wildcats taking 67-57 and 64-47 wins in the earlier two games.
Senior Aron Davis scored 25 points, 21 in the second half, as Seaman took a 56-50 UKC road win at Leavenworth. [File photo/TSN]
BASEHOR-LINWOOD (6-11, 5-8) at SEAMAN (10-7, 7-6)
Seaman has won three straight games after a 56-50 United Kansas Conference decision over Leavenworth on Tuesday. Senior Aron Davis led the Vikings with 25 points against Leavenworth, including 21 points in the second half. Seaman took a 48-39 UKC win over Basehor-Linwood in the first meeting between the Vikings and the Bobcats.
Senior Tre Richardson scored 25 points in Highland Park's 80-51 win over Atchison Tuesday night. [File photo/TSN]
KC-SUMNER (10-8, 7-4) at HIGHLAND PARK (16-0, 8-0)
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
After sweeping Tonganoxie on the road Monday, Hayden's girls and boys basketball teams posted their second wins in as many nights on Tuesday, taking a home Centennial League sweep over Junction City.
Hayden sophomore Norma Greco (30) led the way with 14 points in Tuesday's 48-21 Centennial League win over Junction City. [File photo/TSN]
Hayden senior Joe Otting scored 19 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the Wildcats' 56-45 Centennial League win over Junction City. [File photo/TSN]
Hayden's girls, tied for the No. 10 spot in the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association Class 4A rankings, rolled to a 48-21 win over the Blue Jays while Hayden's boys posted a 56-45 win over Junction City.
Hayden's girls, who improved to 11-6 overall and 3-5 in the Centennial League, got 14 points from sophomore Norma Greco while junior Lauren Sandstrom added 11 points and sophomore Brylee Meier 10.
The Hayden boys, now 9-8 overall and 3-5 in the league, got a double-double from senior Joe Otting, who finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds, while senior Jake Muller added 13 points.
Hayden built a 29-21 lead at the half before pulling away down the stretch.
SEAMAN GIRLS 61, LEAVENWORTH 22 --Seaman, the top-ranked team in Class 5A for the past four weeks, rolled to its 16th win in 17 starts on the season, taking a 61-22 United Kansas Conference road victory at Leavenworth.
'By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
TOPEKA HIGH (13-4, 4-3) at WASHBURN RURAL (12-4, 7-0)
Washburn Rural senior Brooklyn DeLeye scored a game-high 18 points in Friday's 55-29 Centennial League win over Hayden at Rural. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Washburn Rural protected its two-game lead in the Centennial League race with a 55-29 home league win over Hayden last Friday while Topeka High dropped a 37-31 league decision to Emporia. Seniors Brooklyn DeLeye and Chloe Carlgren scored 18 and 13 points for Washburn Rural in the win over Hayden while senior Kiki Smith led Topeka High with 15 points against Emporia. Rural took a 47-46 win over High in the first meeting between the two teams.
Sophomore standout Amelia Ramsey and the Meadowlark Conference-leading Highland Park girls will host Atchison Tuesday night. [File photo/TSN]
ATCHISON (9-7, 6-2) at HIGHLAND PARK (12-3, 7-0)
Highland Park is coming off a 67-31 non-league victory at Kansas City-Central, Mo. last Thursday while Atchison is coming off a 70-22 Meadowlark Conference win over KC-Harmon. Highland Park and Atchison have combined for 11 straight wins, with the Scots winning seven straight games and Atchison winning four straight. Highland Park took a 56-40 win over Atchison in an earlier meeting between the two teams.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
TOPEKA HIGH (3-14, 0-7) at WASHBURN RURAL (13-4, 6-1)
Senior Jack Bachelor scored 14 points and went seven of eight at the free throw line in Washburn Rural's 43-39 overtime win over Hayden last Friday. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Washburn Rural maintained its lead in the Centennial League race with a 43-39 home overtime win over Hayden last Friday while Topeka High dropped a 67-51 league decision to Emporia. Washburn Rural, which has won six straight games, got a game-high 14 points from senior Jack Bachelor against Hayden, including a seven of eight performance at the free throw line. Washburn Rural took a 54-42 win over Topeka High in an earlier meeting this season at High.
Senior Bo Aldridge and the Highland Park boys will host Atchison Tuesday in a battle between top-ranked teams. [File photo/TSN]
ATCHISON (15-1, 7-1) at HIGHLAND PARK (15-0, 7-0)
Tuesday's game matches Highland Park, the top-ranked team in Class 5A, against Atchison, No. 1-ranked in 4A. Highland Park is coming off an 87-73 non-league victory at Kansas City-Central, Mo. last Friday while Atchison is coming off a 74-33 Meadowlark Conference decision over KC-Harmon. Highland Park handed Atchison its only loss of the season in an earlier conference game, with the Scots taking a 66-47 road win.
JUNCTION CITY (10-7, 4-3) at HAYDEN (8-8, 2-5)
After dropping back-to-back Centennial League heartbreakers last week to Emporia and Washburn Rural, Hayden got back on track with a 49-35 non-league win at Tonganoxie Monday night. Senior Joe Otting and sophomore Jacob Deister scored nine-points apiece for the Wildcats, with Deister hitting three 3-pointers, while senior Jake Muller added eight points. Junction City dropped two and one-point league games to Washburn Rural and Manhattan last week. The Blue Jays took a 44-42 decision over Hayden earlier in the season.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Silver Lake's girls and boys basketball teams took a pair of rivalry wins over Rossville Friday night at Silver Lake, with the Eagle girls taking a 76-61 Mid-East League victory over the Bulldawgs and the Lake boys avenging an earlier loss to Rossville with a 58-41 win.
Junior Makenzie McDaniel scored a game-high 29 points in Silver Lake's 76-61 Mid-East League victory over Rossville Friday night. [File photo/TSN]
Junior Makenzie McDaniel powered No. 3-ranked Silver Lake with a 29-point performance Friday, including 20 points in the second half, as the Eagles improved to 16-1 overall and 7-1 in the league.
Silver Lake opened up a 22-8 lead at the end of the opening quarter, which proved to be the difference, as the Eagles outscored the Bulldawgs by just a 54-53 margin over the final three quarters.
Kaibryn Kruger and McKinley Kruger scored 12 points each to join McDaniel in double figures.
Rossville (12-5, 4-4) got 18 points from freshman Rylee Dick while juniors Emma Mitchell and Kinsey Perine added 14 points apiece for the Bulldawgs.
Silver Lake's boys bounced back from a seven-point loss to the Bulldawgs earlier in the season with Friday's 17-point win.
Friday's game was still tight at the end of the start of the fourth quarter, with Silver Lake holding a 43-36 advantage, before the Eagles closed with a 15-5 scoring edge over the final eight minutes.
Freshman Dayne Johnson paced Silver Lake (5-12, 4-4) with a game-high 16 points while senior Troy Heiman added 14 points and junior Elijah Lopez 13 points.
Rossville (6-11, 2-5) got 14 points from sophomore Tayson Horak, who canned four 3-pointers on the night.
EMPORIA GIRLS 37, TOPEKA HIGH 31 -- The No. 6-ranked (Class 5A) Emporia girls rallied down the stretch to take a 37-31 home Centennial League victory over No. 4 (6A) Topeka High.
'By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
HAYDEN (9-5, 2-4) at WASHBURN RURAL (11-4, 6-0)
Senior Chloe Carlgren and Centennial League-leading Washburn Rural will host Hayden on Friday. [File photo/TSN]
Washburn Rural, ranked No. 6 in Class 6A, maintained its two-game lead in the Centennial League race with a 46-28 league win at Junction City on Tuesday while No. 8-ranked (Class 4A) Hayden is coming off a 44-32 Centennial League loss to Emporia. Hayden got 22 points from junior Lauren Sandstrom against Emporia. Washburn Rural was on top by just a point at halftime (23-22) in Tuesday's game at Junction City but the Junior Blues outscored the Blue Jays 23-6 in the second half. Washburn Rural took a 56-32 win over Hayden earlier this season.
Freshman Maddie Gragg (left) is in the midst of an outstanding freshman season for 14-1 Seaman, which will play at Topeka West on Friday. [Photo by Brent Maycock/KSHSAA Covered]
SEAMAN (14-1, 10-1) at TOPEKA WEST (5-11, 4-8)
Top-ranked (Class 5A) Seaman is coming off a 70-8 United Kansas Conference win over Kansas City-Turner on Tuesday while Topeka West dropped a 43-26 UKC decision at Shawnee Heights. Sophomore Kinley Wilhelm and freshman Maggie Gragg scored 12 points apiece for Seaman against Turner while sophomore Maggie Moulden had a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Senior Azayah Duncan scored 10 points for Topeka West against Shawnee Heights with three 3-pointers. Seaman beat Topeka West 60-26 earlier in the year.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Sophomore Kaden Ballard came up with a steal and the game-winning basket at the buzzer to give Centennial League-leading Washburn Rural a 46-44 road victory at Junction City Tuesday night.
Sophomore Kaden Ballard (right) scored the game-winning basket in Tuesday night's 46-44 Centennial League win over Junction City. [File photo/TSN]
With the win Washburn Rural moved to 12-4 overall and 5-1 in the league while Junction City dropped to 10-6, 4-2.
Washburn Rural led 35-32 at the end of the third quarter and 23-20 at the half.
Senior Wyatt Conklin led the Junior Blues with 11 points while senior Jack Bachelor added nine points.
The Junior Blues have now won five straight games.
WASHBURN RURAL GIRLS 46, JUNCTION CITY 28 -- Washburn Rural protected its two-game lead in the Centennial League race with a 46-28 win at Junction City Tuesday night.
The Junior Blues improved to 11-4 overall and 6-0 in the league race.
Washburn Rural led by only a point, 23-22, at haltime before outscoring the Blue Jays 23-6 in the second half.
Junior Lauren Sandstrom scored a game-high 22 points in Hayden's 44-32 Centennial League loss to Emporia Tuesday night. [Photo by Trevor Falcon/Special to TSN]
EMPORIA GIRLS 44, HAYDEN 32 -- Hayden was within six points (11-5) at the end of the opening quarter and eight points (25-17) at the half but Emporia opened up a 13-point cushion at the end of the third quarter on the way to a 44-32 Centennial League victory Tuesday at Hayden.
Emporia improved to 13-3 overall and 4-2 in the league with its third win of the season over the Wildcats while Hayden fell to 9-5 and 2-4, with the Spartans ending Hayden's five-game winning streak.
Junior Lauren Sandstrom led Hayden with a game-high 22 points.
Senior Joe Otting scored a game-high 12 points for Hayden in Tuesday's 39-38 Centennial League loss ot Emporia. [Photo by Trevor Falcon/Special to TSN]
EMPORIA BOYS 39, HAYDEN 38 -- Hayden was whistled for a foul with .3 on the clock and Cooper Rech hit one of two free throws to give Emporia the 39-28 Centennial League victory at Hayden.
Hayden (7-7, 2-4) led 21-16 at halftime and 30-26 at the start of the fourth quarter.
'By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
TOPEKA WEST (5-10, 4-7) at SHAWNEE HEIGHTS (10-5, 8-3)
Shawnee Heights senior Emari Doby (13) is coming off an 18-point game in the T-Birds' 62-43 UKC win over Leavenworth. [File photo/TSN]
Both teams are coming off United Kansas League victories last Friday, with Topeka West taking a 58-28 win at Kansas City-Turner and Shawnee Heights posting a 62-43 home win over Leavenworth. Shawnee Heights, which took a 42-33 win at West earlier in the season, got 18 points from senior Emari Doby while senior Riley Showalter added 14 points with four 3-pointers. Topeka West has won two straight games and four out of its last six.
EMPORIA (12-3, 3-2) at HAYDEN (9-4, 2-3)
Hayden won its fifth straight game last Friday, taking a 57-41 Centennial League home decision over Manhattan, while Emporia is coming off a 45-39 overtime league loss at Washburn Rural. Junior Lauren Sandstrom scored 19 points to lead four Wildcats in double figures against Manhattan while Kaliya Fulton added 15 points, Brylee Meier 12 points and Norma Greco 11. Emporia will be playing Hayden for the third time this season, with the Spartans taking 52-27 and 43-34 wins in the first two games.
Senior Kiki Smith scored 22 points in Topeka High's 62-25 Centennial League romp past Junction City. [File photo/TSN]
MANHATTAN (6-9, 2-3) at TOPEKA HIGH (12-3, 3-2)
Topeka High is coming off a 62-25 Centennial League romp past Junction City while Manhattan dropped a 57-41 league decision at Hayden last Friday. Senior Kiki Smith scored 22 points to lead Topeka High against Junction City while junior Ladaysha Baird added 14 points. Topeka High took a 75-42 decision over Manhattan earlier in the season.
'By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
TOPEKA WEST (12-3, 9-2) at SHAWNEE HEIGHTS (11-4, 8-3)
Senior Malachi Berg is coming off a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds in Topeka West's 85-56 UKC win over KC-Turner last Friday. [File photo/TSN]
Sophomore Jaret Sanchez led Shawnee Heights with 18 points in last Friday's 69-32 UKC win over Leavenworth. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Topeka West and Shawnee Heights have both already clinched winning seasons and are looking to strengthen their Class 5A sub-state seedings. Topeka West is coming off an 85-56 United Kansas Conference win over Kansas City-Turner while Shawnee Heights rolled to a 69-32 home UKC win over Leavenworth last Friday. Sophomore Jaret Sanchez led Shawnee Heights with 18 points against Leavenworth while junior Brennon Dodge added 14 points and senior Q Stovall 13. Senior Malachi Berg had 17 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and four steals against Turner while Xavier Alexander led the Chargers with 24 points and three 3-pointers, while Sincere Austin and Mason Jones had 11 points apiece. Topeka West took a 64-51 home win over the T-Birds early in the season.
Senior Joe Otting led Hayden with 14 points in last Friday's 51-48 Centennial League win over Manhattan. [File photo/TSN]
EMPORIA (10-5, 3-2) at HAYDEN (7-6, 2-3)
Hayden posted a 51-48 home Centennial League win over Manhattan last Friday while Emporia let a 14-point lead get away in a 50-42 league loss to Washburn Rural. Senior Joe Otting led Hayden with 14 points against Manhattan while senior Jake Muller added nine points. Emporia and Hayden will be squaring off for the third time this season, with the Spartans taking 57-53 and 59-52 wins in the first two meetings.
MANHATTAN (8-7, 2-3) at TOPEKA HIGH (3-12, 0-5)
Manhattan dropped a 51-48 Centennial League decision at Hayden last Friday while Topeka High is coming off a 52-46 loss to league co-leader Junction City. Manhattan beat Topeka High, 56-46, earlier in the season.
'By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
HAYDEN (7-7, 2-4) at WASHBURN RURAL (12-4, 5-1)
Sophomore Kaden Ballard (left) scored the game-winning basket at the buzzer in Tuesday night's 46-44 Centennial League win over Junction City. [File photo/TSN]
Hayden is coming off a heartbreaking 39-38 home Centennial League loss to Emporia on Tuesday while No. 10-ranked (Class 6A) Washburn Rural took over sole possession of the Centennial League lead with a 46-44 thriller at Junction City. Hayden was whistled for a foul at the .3 mark of the fourth quarter against Emporia and the Spartans hit a free throw for the game-winning point. Washburn Rural's game at Junction City also went down to the wire, with Junior Blue sophomore Kaden Ballard scoring at the buzzer to give Rural the win. Senior Joe Otting scored 12 points and freshman Ayden McGibboney 11 for Hayden against Emporia while seniors Wyatt Conklin and Jack Bachelor scored 11 and nine points, respectively, for the Junior Blues against Junction City. Rural took a 46-36 win over Hayden in an earlier game.
Senior Aron Davis scored 26 points in Seaman's 67-46 United Kansas Conference victory over KC-Turner on Tuesday. [File photo/TSN]
SEAMAN (8-7, 5-6) at TOPEKA WEST (12-4, 9-3)
Seaman moved back above .500 with a 67-46 United Kansas Conference win over Kansas City-Turner on Tuesday while No. 8-ranked (Class 5A) Topeka West is coming off a 67-48 league loss at Shawnee Heights. Senior Aron Davis scored 26 points for the Seaman in the Vikings' win over Turner while senior Malachi Berg scored 14 points and senior Sincere Austin 11 for Topeka West against Shawnee Heights. Topeka West took a 74-62 UKC win at Seaman in the first game between the Chargers and the Vikings this season.
ROSSVILLE (6-10, 2-4) at SILVER LAKE (4-12, 3-4)
Rossville and Silver Lake will both be looking to get back on track in Friday's Mid-East League rematch. Silver Lake was off Tuesday night after a 74-67 league loss to St. Mary's last Friday while Rossville is coming off a 64-45 non-league loss to Osage City. Freshman Jack Donovan scored 14 points with four 3-pointers for the Bulldawgs in the loss to Osage City. Rossville took a 50-43 Mid-East League win over the Eagles earlier this season.
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.
'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.
