Topeka High's Ahsieyrhuagh Rayton is both a long & triple jumper.

[File Photo /TSN]

Hayden junior Carsyn Broxterman (4) scored four goals in the Class 4A-1A regional game.

[Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Shawnee Heights pole vaulter, Tyler Wedl.

[File Photo/TSN]

Topeka West's Adrian Lehman won the 1,600 meters @ the UKC meet.

[File Photo/TSN.]

Seaman junior Ava Golightley (14) scored four goals in a Class 5A regional game.

[Photo Rick Peterson/TSN]

Isaiah Terry, Washburn Rural, in a 400 meters event.

[File Photo/TSN]

Regional Champ Jack Donovan (left) and Rossville teammate Jonathan Hart at the Class 2A golf tournament.

[Photo Rossville Golf}

All City Boys Tennis Team.

[Photo Rick Peterson]

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By Todd Fertig

TopSports.news

Highland Park boys basketball coach Mike Williams notched his 100th career victory in an 81-42 romp at Topeka High Friday night.

Following the contest, Williams received the game ball from Trojans coach Geo Lyons and a plaque from Highland Park athletic director Boshner Whitaker to commemorate the accomplishment.

MikeWilliams2025100thwin 1Highland Park coach Mike Williams receives a plaque commemorating his 100th win from Hi Park athletic director Boshner Whitaker after Friday's 81-42 win at Topeka High. [Photo by Todd Fertig/TSN]

MikeWilliams2025100thwin 2Highland Park coach Mike Williams celebrates his 100th career victory with his Scots after Friday's 81-42 win at Topeka High. [Photo by Todd Fertig/TSN]

Williams took over the Scots program in 2018, a season in which they won just three games. His son, Mikey, a senior on the current Scots team, recalls those difficult days.

“It was hard on him,” Mikey Williams said. “He would come home and tell me, ‘I wish things were different, but I’m never going to give up.’ So, I just watched him keep working to get to this point. It’s just a testimony to who he is as a person.”

MikeyWilliams2025TH 1Senior MIkey Williams slams down a dunk in Friday's 81-42 Highland Park win at Topeka High. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

The younger Williams threw down several impressive dunks to spark the Scots. He finished with 19 points on the special night.

“When I got into coaching, I didn’t know it would come to this point,” coach Williams said. “I got into it to coach my son. I wanted to impact him, and then some things changed. Some coaching positions came open and I was an assistant. You get into something because you love the game, you love teaching and working with young people. You want to impact the community.

“Then you look up and, through the grace of the Most High, you’re winning games and things are coming together.”

Williams said lessons learned during the losing seasons helped him harness his optimism and channel it into a coaching style.

“The crazy thing about it was, I never thought we would lose,” Williams said. “I always had belief. I’m a competitor. I’m a winner. Even in those years where we were losing, I didn’t think we were (losing).

“That’s what I want to get across to the guys. That you can manipulate situations through your focus, through your approach, through doing things right, day in and day out. Doing things together. And I think we’re finding that recipe this year, and I think we’re onto something really special.”

Mikey sat on the bench or in the stands during the early years of the climb. Now he is helping lead the 5-0 Scots. He remembers the players who went before him.

“When they finally went to state (in 2021) it was like a testimony to the guys who went before them,” the younger Williams said. “We want to keep going and put a banner up there so that the guys who went before us can see that legacy.”

JaCoreyRobinson2025TH 1Senior Ja'Corey Robinson (23) led all scorers with 24 points in Friday's 81-42 Highland Park win at Topeka High. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

Jacorey Robinson led the Scots Friday, converting on a bunch of dunks and layups en route to 24 points. Da’Mykel Hales joined Robinson and Williams in double figures with 12.

The Scots’ coach didn’t focus on the score Friday.

“We don’t ever play opponents,” coach Williams said. “We’ve got to play for ourselves. We’re working towards something. The boys will look at me crazy if I wait until March 15 and now we’ve got a scouting report coming out. Or now our prep is different. We’ve got to prepare the same every day regardless of who we’re playing. And they’re buying in and they’re doing it.

“I’m not the easiest guy to play for. We practice a lot. I yell a lot. I demand a lot. And these guys are allowing us to challenge them and push them.”

Leading Topeka High, which fell to 0-6, were Elisha Guest and Jalen Aldridge, who each contributed 11 points.

HIGHLAND PARK BOYS 81, TOPEKA HIGH 42

Highland Park 22 23 30 6 -- 81

Topeka High     9 11 12 10 -- 42

Highland Park (5-0) – Wilson 1-2 0-2 2, Hales 4-9 0-0 12, Kelley 3-5 0-0 6, Williams 8-16 3-5 19, Robinson 12-14 0-2 24, Brown 2-4 0-0 4, Kingcannon 2-2 0-0 4, Howell 1-3 0-0 2, Bradley 0-3 0-0 0, Thomas 3-4 0-2 6, Montgomery 1-1 0-1 2, Drew 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 37-64 3-12 81.

Topeka High (0-6) – Guest 4-14 1-1 11, McFadden 0-0 2-2 2, Aldridge 4-6 2-5 11, Campbell 2-4 0-0 4, Mallory 0-1 0-0 0, Redmond 0-1 0-0 0, Caddell 0-1 0-2 0, Dingle 1-1 0-0 2, Trotter 1-4 0-0 2, Villegas 3-5 1-1 7, Sanders 0-1 0-0 0, Humphrey 0-1 0-0 0, Arnold 1-4 0-0 3. Totals:  16-42 6-11 42.

3-point goals – Highland Park 4 (Hales 4), Topeka High 3 (Guest 2, Aldridge 1). Total fouls – Highland Park 14, Topeka High 9. Fouled out – Kelley. Technical fouls – None. 

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