Silver Lake Eagles

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Two-time senior player of the year Ja'Corey Robinson headlines the 2025 TopSports.news All-Shawnee County boys basketball team.

Highland Park senior Ja'Corey Robinson has been named the TSN Shawnee County boys basketball player of the year for the second straight season. [File photo/TSN] 

Robinson was a repeat pick as the Shawnee County player of the year after leading the Scots to a 24-1 record and a second-place finish in the Class 5A state tournament, the Scots' third straight top-three state finish.

Robinson and senior teammate Mikey Williams are two of the five All-Shawnee County Top 10 repeat picks along with Shawnee Heights senior Jaret Sanchez, Seaman junior KaeVon Bonner and Rossville junior Jack Donovan.

Shawnee Heights senior Deacon Pomeroy, Washburn Rural senior Amare Jones and Silver Lake junior Dayne Johnson all moved up to Top 10 after being named to the Second 10 in 2024 while Hayden senior James Kuta and Washburn Rural junior Simon Rowley round out the all-county team.

 Washburn Rural junior Simon Rowley has been named the TSN Shawnee County boys basketball newcomer of the year. [File photo/TSN]

Rowley was also named the county newcomer of the year after helping 18-5 Washburn Rural win the Centennial League championship and advance to the Class 6A state tournament.

Highland Park coach Mike Williams has been named the Shawnee County boys coach of the year for the third straight season after leading the Scots to a 24-1 record and a runnerup state finish. [Photo by Mac Moore/KSHSAA Covered]

Highland Park's Mike Williams was named the county coach of the year for the third straight season, leading the Scots to a 71-4 record over the past three years.

All-Shawnee County capsules:

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Seaman senior Anna Becker has been tapped as the TopSports.news 2025 All-Shawnee County girls basketball player of the year after helping lead the Vikings to back-to-back championship games in Class 5A.

Seaman senior Anna Becker, a four-time All-Shawnee County Top 10 pick, has been named the county player of the year after helping lead the Vikings to a second-place Class 5A state finish. [File photo/TSN]

A four-time All-Shawnee County Top 10 pick and three-time United Kansas Conference player of the year, Becker helped Seaman post a 24-1 record and a second-place finish behind St. Thomas Aquinas as a senior after the Vikings won the Class 5A state title in 2024.

Becker is one of five repeat picks on the All-Shawnee County Top 10 along with Hayden senior Millie Ramsey, Seaman junior Maddie Gragg, Silver Lake junior Kailyn Hanni and Washburn Rural sophomore Maddie Vickery.

Ramsey and Gragg are three-time all-county Top 10 selections.

Also earning All-Shawnee County Top 10 spots are Washburn Rural senior Kate Hinck, Topeka High junior Keimara Marshall, Trojan sophomore Ahsyierhuajh Rayton, Shawnee Heights sophomore KK Emmot and Hayden freshman Hailey Schmidtlein.

Hayden freshman Hailey Schmidtlein has been named the Shawnee County girls basketball newcomer of the year while also earning Top 10 honors. [File photo/TSN]

Schmeidtlein, who helped Hayden post a third-place state finish in Class 4A, was also named the Shawnee County newcomer of the year, while Topeka High coach Ron Slaymaker was named the county coach of the year.

Topeka High's Ron Slaymaker has been named the Shawnee County girls basketball coach of the year after leading the Trojans to a nine-win improvement in his first season. [File photo/TSN]

The 88-year-old Slaymaker, a Kansas coaching legend and High's third coach in four seasons, led the Trojans to a nine-win improvement in the 2024-2025 campaign, with Topeka High posting a 14-8 record. 

All-Shawnee County capsules:

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

ELLA BOLAN, Silver Lake

A senior, Bolan was a member of Silver Lake's Class 3A state championship 4x400 relay team in the 2024 state meet, with the Eagles posting a winning time of 4:06.64. Bolan also ranked No. 4 in Shawnee County last season in the 400-meter dash (61.69 seconds).  

Washburn Rural senior Payton Fink (1666) is a multiple Class 6A state placer in both track and cross country. [File photo/TSN]

PAYTON FINK, Washburn Rural

A senior, Fink, a multiple time first-team All-Shawnee County pick, is one of Class 6A's premier distance runners. Fink finished fifth in 6A in the 3,200 (11:14.85) and seventh in the 1,600 (5:17.66) last season. A four-time state cross country medalist, Fink finished fifth in 6A last fall as the Junior Blues tied for first place in the team standings and finished second on a tiebreaker.

ALI GERBER, Silver Lake

Gerber, a sophomore, was a member of Silver Lake's Class 3A state championship 4x400 relay team in the 2024 state meet, with the Eagles posting a winning time of 4:06.64. Gerber ranked fifth in Shawnee County last season in the 400 (62.18) and fourth in the triple jump (34-0) and was also a state qualifier in cross country.

EMILY GRAF, Washburn Rural

A junior, Graf ran on Washburn Rural's 4x800 relay team that finished sixth in the Class 6A state meet last spring (9:47.16) and finished seventh in the 3,200 (11:20.57), earning All-Shawnee County first-team recognition. Graf is also a multi-time state placer in cross country, finishing in 14th place at state as the Junior Blues tied for the 6A team title and finished second on a tiebreaker.  

Seaman senior Taylie Heston was a Class 5A state medalist and an All-Shawnee County first-team pick last season. [File photo/TSN]  

TAYLIE HESTON, Seaman

A senior, Heston earned first-team All-Shawnee County recognition the past two seasons, earning a Class 5A state medal as a member of Seaman's second-place 4x800 relay team (4:02.39). A 5A state runnerup in wrestling, ranked No. 5 in Shawnee County last season in the 800 meters (2:28.82).

Washburn Rural senior Rylee Ismert was a multi-event Class 6A state medalist last spring, earning first-team All-Shawnee County honors. [File photo/TSN] 

RYLEE ISMERT, Washburn Rural

A senior distance runner, Ismert helped Washburn Rural post a sixth-place finish in Class 6A in the 4x800 relay (9:47.16) in the 2024 state meet and also placed sixth in the 1,600 (5:17.31). Ismert, a two-time first-team All-Shawnee County team pick, ranked among the county leaders in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 meters last spring. Ismert placed second individually in the 6A cross country meet last fall as Rural tied for the team title and finished second on a tiebreaker.

Topeka High junior Keimara Marshall was a Class 6A state medalist in the last spring. [File photo/TSN]

KEIMARA MARSHALL, Topeka High

A junior, Marshall has established herself as one of the area's top sprinters, earning first-team all-county honors. Marshall ranked No. 1 in the county in the 100 (12.41) and 200 (26.25) in 2024 and capped her season with a 6A state medal in the 100, finishing seventh in 12.41.

Seaman junior Ryin MIller has been named Gatorade Kansas Athlete of the Year in both track last spring and in cross country this past fall. [File photo/TSN]

RYIN MILLER, Seaman 

Miller, a junior, won a pair of Class 5A state titles last spring, winning the 1,600 (4:51.58) and the 800 (2:10.80), and also finished second in the 3,200 (10:13.97) and anchored Seaman's second-place 4x400 relay (4:02.39. Miller is also the Kansas state record-holder in cross country and was the 5A runnerup this past fall

BROOKLYN NOLTE, Washburn Rural

A senior, Nolte earned All-Shawnee County first-team honors last spring after running on Washburn Rural's 4x800 relay team that finished sixth in Class 6A (9:47.16). Nolte is also a three-time all-county pick in cross country and ran on the Junior Blues' cross country team that tied for first and finished second in the 6A state meet last fall, posting a 1st-place state finish.

Topeka High freshman Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton was a two-time Class 6A medalist as a freshman in 2024. [File photo/TSN]

AHSIEYRHUAJH RAYTON, Topeka High

A sophomore, Rayton had a big freshman season for Topeka High, earning first-team All-Shawnee County recognition after placing second in the Class 6A triple jump (38-5.25) and fourth in the long jump (17-5.75). Rayton was the Shawnee County leader in both jumps and also ranked No. 5 in the 200 (26.78). 

Senior Jaida Stallbaumer ran on Seaman's second-place 4x400 relay in the Class 5A state meet last spring and also led Shawnee County in the 100-meter hurdles. [File photo/TSN]

JAIDA STALLBAUMER, Seaman

Stallbaumer, a senior, was a first-team All-Shawnee County pick in 2023 and 2024 and ran on the Vikings' second-place 4x400 relay (4:02.39). Stallbaumer ranked No. 1 in Shawnee County last season in the 100 hurldes (15.85).

ALLY STEINER, Seaman

A senior sprinter, Steiner ran on the Vikings' second-place 4x400 relay (4:02.39) in last spring's Class 5A state meet, earning All-Shawnee County first-team honors. Steiner ranked No. 3 in Shawnee County in the 100 (12.86) and the 400 (60.92). 

ELLIOT WRENCH, Hayden

A senior, was a Class 3A state qualifier in the 1,600 and 4x400 relay last season and is coming off a big cross country season last fall. Wrench set a school five-kilometer record with a time of 19 minutes, 20 seconds, surpassing last year’s record of 20:01 and finished sixth in the 4A state meet after finishing sixth in the city meet, seventh in the Centennial League and fourth at regionals.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Seaman junior Brody Anderson won city and UKC cross country titles last fall and is a returning All-Shawnee County pick in track. [File photo/TSN]

BRODY ANDERSON, Seaman

A junior distance standout, Anderson was an All-Shawnee County first-team pick in track last spring and in cross country in the fall. Anderson won city and United Kansas Conference individual titles in cross country before posting a ninth-place finish in the Class 5A state meet. Anderson finished his sophomore track season ranked No. 2 in Shawnee County in the 800 (1:57.78) and the 1,600 (4:27.60).

PAYTON BERRY-BRIGGS, Shawnee Heights

Berry-Briggs, a senior sprinter, was a first-team All-Shawnee County honoree last season, placing third in the Class 5A 200-meter dash (22.27). Berry ranked No. 2 in the county in the 200 (21.79), third in the 100 (10.80) and third in the 400 (49.95). 

DRADEN CHOONCHAROEN, Washburn Rural 

Chooncharoen, a junior, is a returning Class 6A state champion, running on the Junior Blues' winning 4x400 relay team (3:19.56) and earning a spot on the 2024 All-Shawnee County first team.

BRYCE COCHRAN, Seaman

A senior, Cochran earned All-Shawnee County first-team recognition for the second straight season in 2024 after a solid spring for the Vikings in the sprints and jumps. Cochran ran on Seaman's 4x100-meter relay team that finished second in the Class 5A state meet in a time of 42.50 seconds. He also ranked fourth in the county last season in the triple jump (40-9). 

PEYTON HOLMES, Seaman

Holmes, a senior, earned All-Shawnee County first-team recognition in 2023 and 2024 and ranked No. 1 in Shawnee County in the long jump with a season-best of 23 feet, 4.50 inches. Holmes placed sixth in Class 5A in the long jump and also ran on Seaman's 4x100-meter relay team that finished second in the Class 5A state meet in a time of 42.50 seconds.

Topeka West senior Adrian Lehman is a standout distance runner, placing seventh in Class 5A cross country last fall. [File photo/TSN]

ADRIAN LEHMAN, Topeka West

Lehman, a senior, is a standout distance runner for Topeka West and coming off a breakout cross country season this past fall. Lehman posted a city-best seventh-place finish in the Class 5A boys state meet after finishing second in the city meet and third in the United Kansas Conference. Last track season Lehman ranked third in the county in the 3,200 (10:02.36) and fifth in the 1,600 (4:34.21).

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Topeka High senior Jo'Mhara Benning was a first-team All-Shawnee County and All-Centennial League pick last season. [File photo/TSN]

JO'MHARA BENNING, Topeka High

A senior pitcher, Benning earned first-team TopSports.news All-Shawnee County recognition last season after helping the Trojans post a 17-11 record. Benning also was a first-team All-Centennial League pick and earned All-Class 6A second-team recognition from the Kansas Softball Coaches Association.

TAYLOR BREES, Shawnee Heights

Brees, a senior infielder, was a first-team TSN All-Shawnee County pick last season while also earning All-United Kansas Conference first-team honors and being named to the Kansas Softball Coaches Association second team. Brees has signed a letter of intent with Washburn University.

Washburn Rural junior Reagan Chapman is a two-time All-Shawnee County first-team pick. [File photo/TSN]

REAGAN CHAPMAN, Washburn Rural

A junior, Chapman earned second-team All-Class 6A honors from the Kansas Softball Coaches Association last season while also being named to the TSN All-Shawnee County first team for the second straight season after helping lead the Junior Blues to a 20-8 record and a third-place finish in 6A.

LAYLA COLLINS, Washburn Rural

Collins, a senior, received second-team TSN All-Shawnee County honors last season after helping Washburn Rural post a third-place finish in the Class 6A state tournament. Collins also earned second-team All-Centennial League recognition for the Junior Blues, 20-8 on the year.

Silver Lake senior Kendra Cook is a two-time All-Shawnee County first-team pick and earned All-Class 3A first-team honors last spring. [File photo/TSN]

KENDRA COOK, Silver Lake

A senior pitcher, Cook earned TSN All-Shawnee County first-team recognition for the second straight season in 2024 after helping 24-3 Silver Lake post a runnerup state finish in Class 3A. A Washburn University signee, Cook, who compiled a 1.244 earned run average with 92 strikeouts, also received All-3A first-team honors from the Kansas Softball Coaches Association.

KAILYN HANNI, Silver Lake

Hanni, a left-fielder, earned first-team All-Shawnee County first-team recognition last season as a sophomore after helping Silver Lake post a 24-3 record and a runnerup finish in the Class 3A state tournament. Hanni, who hit .518 with 15 stolen bases, was also named to the Kansas Softball Coaches Association All-3A second team.

Washburn Rural sophomore Olivia Koch was named the Shawnee County newcomer of the year last spring. [File photo/TSN]

OLIVIA KOCH, Washburn Rural 

A sophomore, Koch was named the Shawnee County newcomer of the year last season and was named to the All-Centennial League first team and the Kansas Softball Coaches Association All-Class 6A second team after helping Rural post a 20-8 record and a third-place finish in the 6A state tournament. 

Silver Lake senior Kira Lowrey was an All-Shawnee County first-team pick last spring. [File photo/TSN]  

KIRA LOWREY, Silver Lake 

A senior third baseman/pitcher, Lowrey earned first-team All-Shawnee County first-team recognition last season as a sophomore after helping Silver Lake post a 24-3 record and a runnerup finish in the Class 3A state tournament. Lowrey, who hit .467 with 35 RBI, also received Kansas Softball Coaches Association All-3A honorable mention.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

DRAYDEN ACOSTA, Topeka High

A junior, Acosta earned second-team All-Shawnee County recognition last season after helping Topeka High advance to the Class 6A state tournament for the second straight season.  

LIAM ANNAND, Hayden

Annand, a senior, helped Hayden post an 18-12 record and capture the Class 3A state championship last season. Annand earned second-team All-Shawnee County honors as a junior.

ISAAC ANSLEY, Washburn Rural

A junior pitcher, Ansley will be counted on to fill a major role for a Washburn Rural team that posted a 13-10 record last spring but graduated six seniors who received first or second-team all-county recognition last season.

Hayden sophomore Mason Becker was a first-team All-Shawnee County pick and the county newcomer of the year last season. [File photo/TSN]

MASON BECKER, Hayden

Becker, a sophomore, earned first-team All-Shawnee County honors and was named the county newcomer of the year last season after helping lead the Wildcats to an 18-12 record and the Class 3A state championship. 

AXTON BREWER, Seaman

A sophomore, Brewer made an impact last season for the 18-7 Vikings as a freshman pitcher/designated hitter, receiving second-team All-United Kansas Conference recognition and All-Class 5A and All-Shawnee County honorable mention.  

COOPER CAMPIDILLI, Silver Lake

A senior catcher, Campidilli has been a second-team All-Shawnee County honoree for the last two seasons while also earning All-Mid-East League recognition for the Eagles. 

Seaman senior catcher David Dobbs was a first-team All-Shawnee County and All-Class 5A pick last season. [File photo/TSN]

DAVID DOBBS, Seaman

A senior catcher, Dobbs was named to the Kansas Association of Baseball Coaches All-Class 5A first team last season while also earning All-Shawnee County and All-United Kansas Conference first-team recognition for the 18-7 Vikings.

Hayden senior Cooper Grace was named the Centennial League and Shawnee County co-player of the year last season. [File photo/TSN]

COOPER GRACE, Hayden

Grace, a senior, was named the Shawnee County and Centennial League co-player of the year last season while earning first-team All-Class 3A honors and all-county and Centennial League recognition for the second straight season. A Nebraska signee, Grace helped lead the Wildcats to an 18-12 record and the 3A state title in 2024.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Washburn Rural three-time Class 6A state champion and four-time finalist Easton Broxterman headlines the TopSports.news 2025 All-Shawnee County boys wrestling team.

Shawnee County wrestler of the year Easton Broxterman ended his high school career with three Class 6A state titles and four straight trips to the 6A championship match. [Photo by Mac Moore/KSHSAA Covered]

County wrestler of the year Broxterman, who won the 144-pound championship to wrap up a 37-2 season, is joined on the All-Shawnee County team by two-time Washburn Rural state champions Kristjan Marshall and Landen Kocher-Munoz as the Junior Blues finished third as a team.

Washburn Rural senior Kristjan Marshall won his second straight Class 6A state title in 2025. [Photo by Mac Moore/KSHSAA Covered]

Washburn Rural junior Landen Kocher-Munoz won his second Class 6A state title in his third straight state final in 2025. [Photo by Mac Moore/KSHSAA Covered] 

Marshall, a senior, won the 157-pound championship to cap a 33-5 season with his second straight title while junior L. Kocher-Munoz won his second state title in his third straight trip to the finals, winning the 138-pound crown with a 30-3 record.   

Washburn Rural wrestling coach Josh Hogan has been named the Shawnee County coach of the year after three Rural wrestlers won state titles and Rural finished third as a team. [Photo by Selena Favela/Special to TSN]

Washburn Rural, which finished third in the 6A team standings, put a county-high nine wrestlers on the all-county first team, while Rural's Josh Hogan was named the county coach of the year and freshman 215-pounder Kaiden Marshall was selected as newcomer of the year.

The TopSports.news all-county team is based in part on selections made by the seven Topeka head coaches as well as at large selections for county schools Rossville and Silver Lake.

Also earning All-Shawnee County first-team honors for Rural in addition to the three state champions were 120-junior Ryder Harrison (27-15), senior 126-pounder Walker Doyal (28-14), junior 132-pounder Cooper Stivers (26-8), sophomore 150-pounder Brodye Kocher-Munoz (16-7), sophomore 190-pounder Jadyn Baum (28-6) and K. Marshall (17-11).

Topeka High and Hayden both put two wrestlers on the all-county first team.

Topeka High is represented by 106-pound sophomore Jose Gomez (24-13) and 165-pound senior Nick Davis (40-7) while Hayden is represented by 175-pound junior Jude Krentz (42-2) and 285-pound senior Hunter Diederich (24-10). 

Shawnee Heights is represented on the first team by 113-pound sophomore Jacob Reyes (15-14).

ALL-SHAWNEE COUNTY BOYS WRESTLING

 By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Class 5A state champion Makayla Cadet of Highland Park headines the TopSports.news 2025 All-Shawnee County girls wrestling team while third-place teams Washburn Rural and Shawnee Heights combined for 13 spots on the first team.

TopSports.news picked the All-Shawnee County team based in part on city coaches' picks for the All-City team while also adding at-large selections.

Highland Park junior Makayla Cadet has been named the Shawnee County wrestler of the year after winning the Class 5A 190-pound state title. [Photo by Selena Favela/Special to TSN]

County wrestler of the year Cadet, a junior, won the Class 5A state championship at 190 pounds, becoming Highland Park's first-ever girls state champion while posting a 23-4 record on the season.   

Washburn Rural senior Molly Spader posted a runnerup Class 6A state finish for the second straight season, leading Rural to a third-place team finish. [File photo/TSN]

Washburn Rural put seven wrestlers on the TSN All-Shawnee County first team, led by senior Molly Spader (37-6), who posted a runnerup Class 6A state finish for the second straight season to lead the Junior Blues to a third-place team finish in 6A after winning back-to-back state titles. 

In addition to Spader, Washburn Rural is represented on the all-county team by senior 115-pounder Maddy Blow (35-11), junior 120-pounder Lacey Middleton (37-9), junior 135-pounder Madison Blanco (30-8), junior 140-pounder Emme Blanco (35-10), junior 170-pounder Elia Smith (36-8) and sophomore 235-pounder Justice McBurney (15-7).

Smith placed third in 6A while Blow, Middleton, M. Blanco and E. Blanco all placed fourth at state and McBurney posted a sixth-place finish.

Spader and Blow are three-time first-team all-county selections while M. Blanco and Smith are first-team repeat picks and Middleton and E. Blanco moved up from the second team.

Shawnee Heights senior Isabel Reyes posted a second-place Class 5A state finish at 130 pounds, helping the T-Birds finish third as a team. [File photo/TSN]

Shawnee Heights, which earned the third-place team trophy in 5A, is represented on the all-county first team by senior Isabel Reyes (37-3), the 5A runnerup at 130 pounds, along with freshman 100-pounder Ava Gutierrez (19-13), senior 125-pounder Reece Taylor (37-4), senior 140-pounder Madison Freeland (32-7), junior 145-pounder Olivia Stevens (35-10) and junior 155-pounder Cianna Graves (39-3).

Taylor, Freeland and Graves finished third in 5A while Stevens finished fourth.    

Shawnee Heights' Chad Parks was named the county coach of the year after the T-Birds posted a program-best third as a team.

Seaman senior Taylie Heston was the 120-pound runnerup in Class 5A. [File photo/TSN]

Seaman senior Koti Best was the 125-pound runnerup in Class 5A. [File photo/TSN]

Seaman put senior state 120-pound runnerup Taylie Heston (32-8) and senior 130-pound runnerup Koti Best (20-3) on the All-Shawnee County first team, along with 110-pound senior Natalie Smith (28-11).

Best was a two-time state finalist will Heston is an all-county first-team repeat pick.

Rounding out the all-county first team are Silver Lake senior 110-pounder Karley Holmes (40-12) and Rossville 145-pounder Madelyn Wonnell (34-11).

Holmes posted a third-place finish in 4A while Wonnell finished fifth in 3A-1A after helping the Bulldawgs win the 3A-1A state team championship in 2024.  

ALL-SHAWNEE COUNTY GIRLS WRESTLING

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Rossville junior Rylee Dick and Silver Lake junior Kailyn Hanni have been named to the All-Big East girls basketball first team. 

Rossville junior Rylee Dick has been named to the All-Big East girls basketball first team. [File photo/TSN]

Silver Lake junior Kailyn Hanni has been named the All-Big East first team after leading the Eagles to a second-place state finish. [File photo/TSN]

Dick led to a Class 2A sub-state final while Hanni led Silver Lake to a runnerup state finish in 3A after helping the Eagles win the state title as a sophomore.

Silver Lake freshman Karys Deiter has been named to the All-Big East second team while sophomore Nora Burdiek, who missed considerable time with an injury, was a third-team pick.

Silver Lake senior Ella Bolan received honorable mention.    

ALL-BIG EAST LEAGUE GIRLS BASKETBALL

By Rick Peterson

TopSports.news

Rossville junior Jack Donovan and Silver Lake junior Dayne Johnson, who helped lead their teams to state tournament berths, have been named to the All-Big East League boys basketball first team.

Rossville junior Jack Donovan has been named to the All-Big East League first team after helping lead the Bulldawgs to a Class 2A state berth. [File photo/TSN]

Silver Lake junior Dayne Johnson (2) earned a spot on the All-Big East first team. [File photo/TSN]

Donovan helped Rossville post a 16-8 record this winter, with the Bulldawgs dropping an 82-78 first-round Class 2A state decision to Ell-Saline, while Johnson helped lead Silver Lake to a 20-6 campaign and a third-place finish in 3A.

Silver Lake senior Jared Johnson and Rossville junior Cameron Miller earned spots on the all-league second team while Silver Lake senior Brody Deiter was a third-team pick.

Rossville senior Kameron Badura and junior Jakoby McDonnell received honorable mention.

ALL-BIG EAST LEAGUE BOYS BASKETBALL

By Brad Hallier 

For KSHSAA Covered 

HUTCHINSON -- Silver Lake's girls trailed by as many as 11 points in the third quarter of Friday's Class 3A semifinal against Hesston and the Eagles also had to take junior point guard Kailyn Hanni off the floor for a few minutes due to injury.

Silver Lake's girls celebrate Friday's 65-58 state semifinal victory over Hesston in Hutchinson. [Photo by Andrew Carpenter/Special to KSHSAA Covered]

When Hanni came back, she was instrumental in helping the Eagles dominate the fourth quarter, as they outscored the previously-undefeated Swathers 25-10 over the final eight minutes to pull out a 65-58 win.

Hanni, who drew 14 fouls, finished with a game-high 28 points to go with six assists and four rebounds. Her 15 made free throws were one off the 3A single-game record at a state tournament, set in 1995 by Rossville’s Jennifer Perine.

Silver Lake was 4 of 5 from the field in the fourth quarter, sank all three of its 3-pointers and made all 14 free throw attempts.

Hesston raced to its 11-point lead thanks to a strong performance from senior guard Kendal Brueggen, who finished with 27 points and five rebounds. But after shooting at least 50% in each of the first three quarters, the Swathers cooled off in the fourth quarter, making just 3 of 12 shots.

By Brad Hallier 

For KSHSAA Covered 

HUTCHINSON -- As the Halstead girls basketball team was making a comeback Saturday at the Hutchinson Sports Arena, the Dragons weren’t jumping up and down. They weren’t hyping each other up, getting in each others’ faces or screaming in excitement.

Silver Lake junior Kailyn Hanni scored a game-high 19 points in Saturday's 48-45 loss to Halstead in the state final. [Photo by Andrew Carpenter/Special to KSHSAA Covered]

Halstead looked right at home for a program playing in its first state championship game.

That’s because, in some ways, the Dragons were used to this environment. During the fall, many basketball players helped Halstead win the school’s first volleyball state championship, which was also won at the Sports Arena.

Heck, even last year’s sub-state basketball tournament was closer to a state tournament with the number of great teams in it.

The lights weren’t too bright and the pressure wasn’t overwhelming for Halstead, as the Dragons came from 13 points down in the third quarter to beat reigning Class 3A champion Silver Lake, 48-45.

“We were used to all the fans and playing in this environment,” said sophomore Jordy Schroeder, who was a part of that volleyball team. “The community always shows up big time.”

The Dragons showed up when it mattered most. Although they trailed the seven-time champions for more than 23 minutes, they never looked uncomfortable.

Silver Lake led 31-23 at half, and soon led by 15 points. 

Were the Dragons nervous? Worried? Not even close.

“We don’t get too worked up,” senior guard Kaci Young said. “We just had to get some stops, and I thought we did a good job defending them.”

Silver Lake would score just nine points over the final 11 minutes, 33 seconds. 

“They continued to play help defense, and we had a hard time getting to the rim,” Silver Lake coach Kyle Porter said. “They just played better than we did in the fourth quarter.”

Halstead closed the deficit to 39-33 after three quarters. Then the defense dominated for Halstead, as its swarming defense started to make the Eagles uncomfortable.. 

Addisen Wills was the catalyst of that improved Halstead defense. The junior guard caused problems for the Eagles, and she finished with five steals, including two during the fourth quarter.

With 2:05 left in the game, and Silver Lake leading 45-44, Wills' thievery at midcourt led to a transition opportunity, and Young’s layup sent the Dragon fans into a frenzy as the Dragons took the lead for good..

“We played in a lot of close games these past few years,” Halstead coach Derek Schutte said. “We’ve been on the wrong end of some of them, the losing end, but we didn’t quit. 

“(Wills) is awesome. I don’t know if there’s a better defensive guard in 3A than Addie Wills.”

The Dragons needed one more defense stop at the end to ensure the title. Silver Lake executed a set that helped junior guard Kailyn Hanni have a good look at a game-tying 3-pointer in the right corner. But Hanni, who had a game-high 19 points, just missed.

Silver Lake coach Kyle Porter talks to his team during Saturday's state final. [Photo by Andrew Carpenter/Special to KSHSAA Covered]

It ended what was another strong season for Silver Lake. A year after winning a championship with arguably the best 3A girls team in history, and graduating most of the production from that squad, the Eagles still played for the state championship again.

“It hurts a lot and it should,” Porter said. “But once we give it some time, we should be really proud of what this team has accomplished.”

By RICK PETERSON 

TopSports.news

It's been an outstanding 2024-2025 high school basketball season for Shawnee County teams, with 10 of 20 making it to state tournaments in five different classifications.

Now we wait to see how many of those teams can achieve the ultimate goal of a state championship on Saturday.

For what it's worth -- and it's not much -- here's my take on what we could see in all 14 of this week's state  tournaments across the state.

If I didn't pick your team don't fret because it could bode well for you.

If I did pick the team/teams you root for, good luck.

By Saturday night we'll know, and win or lose, it promises to be a fun week. Enjoy!

CLASS 6A BOYS

Finalists -- Shawnee Mission Northwest (4: 19-3) vs. Wichita Heights (3: 20-2).

Champion -- Wichita Heights. I give Heights, the 6A runnerup the past two seasons, a very slight edge in what could be a repeat of the 2024 title game, won by Northwest to cap a 25-0 season.

Other contenders -- Shawnee Mission South is the top seed at 21-1, with its lone loss coming against SM Northwest, while Derby is also 21-1 and the No. 2 seed. Washburn Rural (6: 18-4) is certainly capable of knocking off Wichita Heights while Derby could get a big test from No. 7 Olathe North (16-6). 

CLASS 6A GIRLS

Finalists -- Blue Valley North (3: 18-4) vs. Olathe South (4: 18-4). 

Champion -- Blue Valley North. It's worth noting that although North has lost four times, but none of those four losses came against Kansas teams. The Mustangs finished third last season after winning the championship in 2023.

Other contenders -- It's been an up and down season for Washburn Rural (6: 16-6) but never count out a Kevin Bordewick team in postseason. The Hall of Fame coach has led Washburn Rural to three straight 6A championship games (title in 2022, runnerup in 2023 and 2024) and the Junior Blues have won a pair of championships since 2019. Derby is the top seed at 19-3 and the pre-tournament team to beat.

Highland Park standout Ja'Corey Robinson and the 22-0 Scots will be looking for a Class 5A state title this week after back-to-back third-place finishes. [File photo/TSN]

CLASS 5A BOYS

Finalists -- Highland Park (1: 22-0) vs. Kapaun Mt. Carmel (2: 19-3).

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Highland Park's boys basketball team has put together an amazing run of success over the past three seasons, advancing to the Class 5A state tournament all three years while posting a 65-8 overall record, including a 47-3 mark over the past two campaigns.

Highland Park boys basketball celebrates its Class 5A sub-state championship after Saturday's 53-35 win over Bashor-Linwood. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

But there's a feeling of emptiness that remains for those closest to the Scot program after back-to-back heartbreaking semifinal losses to the eventual state champions the past two years.

Two years ago Highland Park led virtually the entire game against Andover before the Trojans pulled out a 55-54 win with a late 7-0 run. The drama continued last season when Kapaun Mt. Carmel outlasted the Scots in overtime, 67-64.

Highland Park bounced back both seasons for dominating wins in the third-place game, but that provided little consolation to the Scots.

And now the Scots' main focus -- really their only focus -- is on doing everything they can to wipe that bad taste out of their mouths with a state title run this week in Emporia's White Auditorium.

"I feel like the last three or so years we get down there and I'm not saying we were playing bad but I feel like we could have played a little better,'' Highland Park coach Mike Williams said. "So we are really, really focused on wanting to get to state and kind of show a little bit of the essence that we saw tonight.

"I like our prep, I like what we're doing going into it and we're looking forward to next week.''

Scot senior standout Ja'Corey Robinson agreed.

"We've got some fire under us,'' Robinson said. "We're trying to go out with a win. We're tired of getting third place. We're trying to finish it all out and win a state championship.''

Highland Park, which has had only three single-digit games all season, enters this year's state tournament as the top seed with a perfect 22-0 record and will face off with No. 8 Andover Central (14-8) at 2 p.m. Thursday in the opening game of the 5A boys event.

Highland Park made it back to the state tournament with a 53-35 romp past Basehor-Linwood in Saturday's sub-state final at Hi Park.

Senior Mikey Williams led the Scots with a game-high 18 points, including three 3-pointers, against the Bobcats, while Robinson added 15 points.

The Highland Park-Andover Central winner will advance to a 4 p.m. semifinal on Friday to face the first-round winner between No. 4 seed Shawnee Heights (19-3) and No. 5 Piper (19-3).

"We're just making it a point to come out every day in the state tournament with the same fire and the same juice and the same fire that we've had throughout this whole season so we can end up hoisting the state championship trophy,'' Mikey Williams said. "

The Shawnee Heights-Piper first-round contest at 4 p.m. Thursday is a rematch of last year's first-round game that saw Piper close with a 14-1 run to pull out a 72-71 win on the way to a runnerup state finish.

Heights and Piper will be playing for the third time this season, with the Pirates winning the first two games. 

Shawnee Heights earned its second straight state berth under Ken Darting with a 49-42 sub-state win over St. Thomas Aquinas on Saturday.

On the other side of the bracket, No. 2 seed and defending champion Kapaun Mt. Carmel (19-3) will play a 6 p.m. first-round game against No. 7 Topeka West (14-8) and No. 3 Andover (19-3) will face No. 6 Bonner Springs (18-4) at 8 o'clock, with the winners playing an 8 p.m. Friday semifinal.

Topeka West is making its first state tournament appearance under coach Christian Ulsaker after making it to state with an 81-54 home win over Valley Center in Saturday's sub-state final. 

Here's a team-by-team glance at the other first-round games involving Shawnee County teams:

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Washburn Rural's girls, who have advanced to the Class 6A championship game three straight seasons, put themselves in position to earn another trip to state with a 72-26 semifinal victory over Lawrence Free State Wednesday night at Rural.

Washburn Rural sophomore Gracie Hayes scored 18 points on six 3-pointers in Wednesday's 72-26 Class 6A sub-state semifinal win over Free State. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]

The Junior Blues, now 15-6, took control with a 20-5 first quarter and opened up a 45-12 advantage over the Firebirds (3-18). Rural led 63-21 at the start of the fourth quarter, forcing a running clock over the final eight minutes.

Sophomore Gracie Hayes had a big night for Rural, hitting six 3-pointers to lead the Junior Blues with 18 points.

Senior Kate Hinck scored 10 points in Wednesday's 72-26 Washburn Rural sub-state semifinal win over Free State. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]

Washburn Rural sophomore Maddie Vickery scored 10 points in Wednesday's 72-26 sub-state win over Free State. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]

Senior Kate Hinck and sophomores Brooklyn Rutherford and Maddie Vickery added 10 points apiece while junior Ella Hirschi added nine points.

With Wednesday's win the Junior Blues advanced to Saturday's 3:30 p.m. sub-state championship game to host Centennial League rival Manhattan, a 51-27 winner over Maize.

The Junior Blues and Indians will be playing for the third time this season, with Rural winning the first two meetings.

Undefeated Hi Park boys take 72-51 win over Bears

Highland Park, the top Class 5A East boys seed, improved to 21-0 on the season with a 72-51 home semifinal win over No. 16 Kansas City-Turner Wednesday night.

The Scots, third in 5A the past two seasons, will host Basehor-Linwood on Saturday in a 5 p.m. sub-state final at Highland Park.

The Bobcats advanced to the championship game with a 44-37 win over Spring Hill.

Silver Lake boys survive Osage City rally, 64-62

Silver Lake's boys built a double-digit advantage over Osage City Wednesday night and needed every bit of it, holding on for a 64-62 home sub-state semifinal decision over the Indians.

By JUSTIN BURKHARDT

TopSports.news

Just a year ago the Wildcats were in Class 3A and entered the postseason 5-13.

What a difference a year makes and the Wildcats, led by first-year coach Dwayne Anthony entered the postseason in Class 4A with a 13-8 record and ranked No. 7 in the last Kansas Basketball Coaches Association poll.

Senior Jacob Deister (4) led Hayden with 15 points in Tuesday's 93-59 Class 4A sub-state win over Independence. [File photo/TSN]

Hayden would end up drawing the Bulldogs of Independence, who would enter the game with a 9-11 record and led by 5-foot-10 sophomore Javen Colbert. Javen's mom is from Topeka so he was able to play in front of a lot of friends and family and would score 14 points on the night. 

"It was very special to be able to play in Topeka tonight because all my family is from here, and I am glad I was able to represent for them just wish the game would of gone a different way,'' Colbert said.

The Wildcats would get off to a 6-0 run to start the game and take off from there as they would stretch that into a 22-10 lead midway thru the first quarter and take a commanding 32-19 lead to end the first quarter.

The Wildcats would start the second quarter with a 12-0 run that would put them up 47-19 as the Wildcats would use their length and speed to go into halftime up 54-29.

The Wildcats would be led by senior Jacob Deister, who would have 13 of his game-high 15 points at halftime.

The Wildcats would roll from there and out-score the Dawgs 39-29 the rest of the game to take a 93-59 semifinal win.

Hayden would get double-digit nights from four athletes as Deister would lead the way with 15 points, followed by Mason Becker’s 14, Connor Hanika’s 13 and Cooper Zweisler with 11 points.

The Wildcats were hot from 3-point range all night as they would shoot 9-17 from outside the arc.

"We came out really hot and our press really got the momentum going for us,'' Hanika said. "We still have a few adjustments to make to get ready for Rock Creek, including watching lots of film before Friday.”

"I really applaud the boys' passion and attention to detail and our energy and effort,'' Anthony said. "We are really, really a strong team when they bring those things. Now we just need to get back to it and watch film on Rock Creek and get ready for Friday.

"I am blessed, I have a team full of leaders, not just Mason, Connor and Jacob, but the senior class alone, each and every one of them is solid individuals and it is the reason that these guys have experienced success so far.''

The Wildcats now turn their attention to the No. 2 team on the East side of sub-state in Rock Creek, which advanced with a 59-39 win over Tonganoxie.

The game will be Friday night at Rock Creek with a game time of 7p.m. The winner will punch their ticket to the Class 4A state tournament next week in Salina.

HAYDEN BOYS 93, INDEPENDENCE 59

Independence 19 10 7 23 — 59

Hayden           32 22 22 17 — 93

Independence (9-12) — Smith 5-12 2-4 15, Colbert 4-11 4-6 14, Lanning 2-7 2-2 7, Veile 1-2 3-6 5, Bunyard 2-3 0-0 4, Sprague 3-3 1-2 7, Small 2-2 0-0 6, Sanders 0-0 1-1 1. Totals 19-40 13-21 59.

Hayden (13-8) — Deister 7-12 0-0 15, Becker 5-8 1-2 14, Hanika 6-9 1-2 13, Mitchell 2-4 0-0 4, Kuta 2-3 0-2 4, Zweisler 4-7 1-1 11, Compton 3-6 2-2 10, Tourtillot 4-6 0-2 9, Banks 3-5 0-0 6, Heinen 2-4 1-1 5, Wolff 1-2 0-0 2, Power 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 39-67 6-12 93.

3-point goals — Indy 8 (Smith 3, Colbert 2, Small 2, Lanning) Hayden 9 (Becker 3, Zweisler 2, Compton 2, Tourtillot, Deister). Total Fouls — Indy 10, Hayden 18.

Highland Park girls roll to 59-11 5A sub-state win

No. 3 Class 5A East girls seed Highland Park opened its sub-state bid with a 59-11 home semifinal win over Meadowlark Conference rival Kansas City-Washington Tuesday night. 

By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news

Parirings have been finalized for this week's sub-state high school basketball tournaments, with 12 city teams earning home court advantage for at least the semifinals of sub-state competition, which begins Tuesday and continues through Saturday.

Both Washburn Rural (Class 6A), Highland Park (5A) and Seaman (5A) teams, Shawnee Heights' boys (5A) and Hayden's girls (4A) could all stay at home through both rounds of sub-state competition.

Topeka High's girls (6A), Topeka West's boys (5A), Shawnee Heights' girls (5A) and Hayden's boys (4A) will be at home for at least the sub-state semifinals.

Both Silver Lake and Rossville teams and the Cair Paravel Latin boys have already posted first-round sub-state wins to advance to semifinals.

Silver Lake's girls and boys will compete in the Class 3A Hiawatha sub-state while Rossville and the CPLS boys will compete in the Class 2A Valley Heights sub-state.

Here's a look at sub-state tournaments involving Shawnee County teams:

Senior Kaden Ballard and the Washburn Rural boys will open their bid for a Class 6A state tournament berth with a home semifinal game against Wichita West Tuesday night. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]

CLASS 6A BOYS

West sub-state No. 3 -- Centennial League champion Washburn Rural (16-4) is the No. 3 West seed and will host No. 14 Wichita West (4-16) a 6 p.m. Tuesday semifinal.

The Washburn Rural-Wichita West winner will advance to a Friday night 7 p.m. sub-state final to face the semifinal winner between No. 6 seed Junction City (13-7) and No. 11 Manhattan (6-14).

Senior standout Kate Hinck and the Washburn Rural girls are the No. 3 West seed for the Class 6A sub-state tournament. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]

CLASS 6A GIRLS

West sub-state No. 3 -- Washburn Rural, second in 6A the past two years after winning the title in 2022, is the No. 3 West seed and will host No. 14 Lawrence Free State (3-17) in a 7 p.m. Wednesday semifinal.

The Washburn Rural-Free State winner will advance to a 5 p.m. Saturday sub-state championship game to face the semifinal winner between No. 6 seed Manhattan (13-7) and No. 11 Maize (5-15).

CLASS 6A GIRLS

West sub-state No. 2 --Topeka High, the No. 7 West seed at 13-7, will host No. 10 Wichita South (8-12) Wednesday for a 6 p.m. sub-state semifinal. 

The winner of that game will advance to a 5 p.m. Saturday final to meet the winner of the semifinal between No. 2 seed Wichita Heights (17-3) and No. 15 Dodge City (1-19).

CLASS 5A GIRLS

East sub-state No. 2 -- Shawnee Heights is the No. 7 East seed at 13-7 and will host No. 10 Basehor-Linwood (10-10) in a 7 p.m. Tuesday semifinal. The T-Birds beat the Bobcats twice during the regular season in the United Kansas Conference.

The winner of that game will advance to a 7 p.m. Friday final to face the winner of the semifinal between No. 2 seed Piper (16-4) and No. 15 Kansas City-Harmon (6-14).

East sub-state No. 3 -- Highland Park (16-4) is the No. 3 East seed and will host No. 14 seed Kansas City-Washington (6-14) in a 7 p.m. semifinal on Tuesday. Hi Park owns a pair of Meadowlark Conference wins over the Wildcats this season.

The Highland Park-Washington winner will advance to a 7 p.m. Friday sub-state final to face the semifinal winner between No. 6 Aquinas (13-7) and No. 11 Pittsburg (10-10).

Undefeated Seaman begins defense of its Class 5A state title Tuesday against city rival Topeka West. [File photo/TSN]

West sub-state No. 2 --Defending Class 5A state champion Seaman is the No. 2 West seed with a perfect 20-0 record and will host city and United Kansas Conference rival Topeka West, the No. 15 West seed at 6-14, in a 7 p.m. Tuesday semifinal.

The Seaman-West winner will advance to Friday's 7 p.m. sub-state final to face the winner of the semifinal between No. 7 Kapaun Mt. Carmel (15-5) and No. 10 Valley Center (10-10).

CLASS 5A BOYS

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Washburn Rural, coming off a third-place team finish in last year's Class 6A state tournament, placed third Saturday in the Garden City 6A West regional, with the Junior Blues qualifying 10 wrestlers for Friday and Saturday's state meet at Overland Park.

Washburn Rural senior Easton Broxterman (top) will be aiming for his third straight Class 6A state wrestling championship this weekend in Overland Park. [File photo/TSN]

Rural, which scored 218.5 points to finish behind Manhattan and Garden City, was led by individual champions Landen Kocher-Munoz, Easton Broxterman and Kristan Marshall.

Washburn Rural senior Kristjan Marshall (top) enters this weekend's Class 6A state wrestling tournament as a defending state champion. [File photo/TSN]

Washburn Rural junior Landen Kocher-Munoz is a two-time state finalist and a former Class 6A state champ. [File photo/TSN]

Broxterman, a 144-pound senior, will be shooting for his third straight 6A state title this weekend while Marshall, a 157-pound senior and 138-pound junior L. Kocher-Munoz will be looking for their second state championships.

Broxterman will take a 37-2 record into the state tournament while Marshall is currently 33-5 and L. Kocher-Munoz 30-3.

Rural sophomore 190-pounder Jadyn Baum, 31-7 on the season, also advanced to the regional championship match, finishing second.

The Junior Blues also got third-place finishes from junior Cooper Stivers (132) and sophomore Brodye Kocher-Munoz (150), fourth-place finishes from junior Ryder Harrison (120) and senior Walker Doyal (126), a fifth from freshman Kaiden Marshall (215) and a sixth from sophomore Gavin Homeyer (175).

Topeka High qualified four wrestlers for state, led by senior 165-pounder Nick Davis (38-5), who posted a fourth-place regional finish.

The Trojans got a fifth-place finish from sophomore Landon Snyder (175), a sixth from senior Cooper Martin (190) and an eighth-place finish from sophomore Jose Gomez (106).

Friday and Saturday's state meet will get under way at 9 a.m. at the AdventHealth Sports Park.

Hayden junior Jude Krentz won the 175-pound title in Saturday's Class 4A regional at Tonganoxie. [File photo/TSN]

Hayden's Krentz, Silver Lake's Clelland win 4A regional titles

Silver Lake sophomore Kayden Clelland and Hayden junior Jude Krentz won regional championships in Saturday's 4A tournament at Tonganoxie as Silver Lake posted a third-place team finish and Hayden finished sixth.

Krentz won the 175-pound championship while improving to 38-0 on the season while Clelland won the 165-pound title, improving to 32-11.

Silver Lake got runnerup finishes from junior Jayden Waterer (144) and senior Trent Rollenhagen (175), thirds from freshman Carter Spreer (215) and senior Trent Harris (157) and fourths from junior Garrett Holmes (132) and freshman Kendrick Vande Velde (285).

In addition to Krentz, Hayden got second-place finishes from sophomore Caleb Menke (157) senior Broderick Desch (190) and a third from senior Hunter Diederich (285).

The 4A state tournament will be held Friday and Saturday at the Tony's Pizza Events Center in Salina (9 a.m. starts both days).

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Koti Best

KOTI BEST, Seaman

A senior wrestler, Best returned from an injury to claim the 125-pound championship and reach the 100-win milestone for her career in Saturday's Class 5A West regional at Seaman. Now 17-2 on the season, Best went 4-0 on the day with none of her matches lasting longer than 1 minute, 25 seconds, including pins in 25 seconds, 30 seconds and 1:02.

KaeVon Bonner

KAEVON BONNER, Seaman

Bonner, a 6-foot-3 junior guard, scored 26 points last Tuesday as No. 7-ranked Seaman took a 68-66 home United Kansas Conference win over No. 8-ranked Shawnee Heights. Bonner scored 13 points in the fourth quarter and went 12 of 15 at the free throw line as Seaman improved to 12-4 on the season. 

 Jaxon Cowdin

JAXON COWDIN, Topeka High

A senior swimmer/diver, Cowdin captured his third straight Centennial League championship in one-meter diving last Thursday at the Capitol Federal Natatorium. Cowdin dominated the competition en route to a winning 11-dive score of 428.75. Cowdin's third league title came on the heels of his fourth straight city title.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Silver Lake's boys outlasted Rossville Monday night for a 66-63 Big East League win on the Eagles' home floor, avenging an earlier loss to the rival Bulldawgs.

Junior Dayne Johnson led Silver Lake with 31 points in Monday's 66-63 win over Rossville. [File photo/TSN]

The game was tight throughout, with Rossville leading 15-13 at the end of the first quarter before Silver Lake used a 19-12 second quarter to go up 32-27 at the half.

It was still a five-point game at the start of the fourth quarter (47-42) before the Eagles held off the Bulldawgs down the stretch.

Junior Dayne Johnson led the 14-4 Eagles to their fourth straight win with a game-high 31 points while Jared Johnson and Brody Deiter added 11 points each, with J. Johnson hitting three 3-pointers.

Junior Jack Donovan led 12-6 Rossville with 20 points (three 3-pointers) while Cameron Miller added 18 points with three 3s and Kameron Badura had 12 points.

Eagle girls roll to 38-point victory over rivals

Silver Lake's girls dominated the first half Monday night on the way to a 58-20 Big East League win over rival Rossville at Silver Lake.

The 16-2 Eagles outscored the 8-10 Bulldawgs 17-4 in the first quarter and then used a 20-2 second quarter to take a huge 37-6 cushion to the locker room at the half.

Silver Lake increased its advantage to 56-16 at the end of the third quarter, forcing a running clock the rest of the way.

Freshman Karys Deiter led the Eagles with a game-high 19 points while Taylor Zordel added 13 points and Ella Bolan 12.

Junior Rylee Dick led Rossville with 13 points. 

Junior Simon Rowley scored a game-high 18 points Monday night as Washburn Rural posted a 65-39 road win over Emporia. [File photo/TSN]     

Rural boys clinch share of Centennial crown with 65-39 romp

Washburn Rural's boys rode a monster first half to a 65-39 Centennial League road win at Emporia Monday night, with the clinching at least a share of the league championship with three games remaining.

The Junior Blues put the game away by halftime, hitting 11 3-pointers en route to opening up a commanding 41-18  lead at the break after leading by as many as 29 points.

Rural cooled off a little in the second half but still connected on 13 of 28 3s on the night.

Junior Simon Rowley scored 16 of his game-high 18 points in the first half, going 4 of 4 from 3-point range.

Senior Kaden Ballard hit three 3-pointers in the first half on the way to a 12-point night while freshman Brooks Ballard canned a pair of first-half treys.

With Monday's win the Junior Blues improved to 13-4 overall and 7-0 in the league, holding a full three-game lead over Junction City in the league race.

Washburn Rural will be at home Friday to host Hayden in a Centennial League tilt.