By KYLE MANTHE
Special to TopSports.news
It took a total group effort for No. 5-ranked Washburn Rural (7-2 overall, 4-0 in the Centennial League) to extend its winning streak to six games against Manhattan (3-6, 1-2) after standout junior guard Zoe Canfield went down with a first-quarter injury.
Four Lady Blues scored at least eight points in the team's 48-32 win over the Indians.
Senior Brooklyn DeLeye led the way with 16 points as Washburn Rural's girls improved to 7-2 with their sixth straight win Friday night, a 48-32 decision over Manhattan. [File photo/TSN]
“I really like how we responded,” said Washburn Rural coach Kevin Bordewick. “I thought Destiny and Tinly and Kate and Allie helped to fill in after that … MaRyah stepped up, I thought she hit some big shots and handled the ball most of the time after Zoe went out … I was really proud of that.”
Rural’s seniors led the charge, scoring 36 total points, with Brooklyn DeLeye leading the way with 16 points on the day she was named the Kansas Gatorade Player of the Year in volleyball for a second straight year.
“She’s had an awesome day. She’s a competitor, she understands the game and what other teams are trying to do,” Bordewick said. “Brooklyn’s impact is always huge … we get on her shoulders every once in awhile.”
Even at full strength, it was not smooth sailing for Washburn Rural early on. DeLeye had eight of Rural’s 10 first-quarter points but the two teams were knotted at 15 in the second after nine early points from Manhattan freshman Kat Ball.
Sophomore Emery Ruliffson hit a layup for the Indians to take a 17-15 lead midway through the second before Rural senior Chloe Carlgren responded the next trip down with a 3-pointer to give the Lady Blues a lead. Carlgren and sophomore Tenly Bunck combined to score all 12 second-quarter points for the home team.
Rural wouldn’t trail the rest of the way, going into halftime up 22-17 after a strong defensive effort.
“I really liked our toughness, I thought we got down and stayed in a stance more than ever,” Bordewick said. “I thought our toughness on defending the drive was pretty good and our toughness on the boards”
Coming out of the break DeLeye took over once more, scoring the first eight points for either team and breaking the game open. After two 3-pointers by senior MaRyaLutz, Washburn Rural led by as many as 17.
The lead grew to 20 in the fourth quarter and the Lady Blues were able to settle into a 16-point Centennial League win.
“Manhattan has always been one of our rivals … I think our kids battle against each other really hard,” Bordewick said. “We come out of a tough game Tuesday … with a slow start, and overcome some adversity with Z (Zoe) going out, and I just liked the way we battled and competed”
DeLeye finished with 16 points on five of nine shooting from the floor. Carlgren added 12 points and helped fill the playmaking void while Lutz and Bunck each finished with eight for Washburn Rural.
Ball led Manhattan with 15 points, knocking down four 3-pointers. Emery Ruliffson added eight points.
WASHBURN RURAL GIRLS 48, MANHATTAN 32
Washburn Rural 10 12 14 12 -- 48
Manhattan 6 11 7 8 -- 32
Washburn Rural (7-2 4-0) – Schroeder 0-0 0-0 0, Horyna 0-0 0-0 0, Lutz 3-8 0-0 8, Hinck 1-4 0-0 2, C. Carlgren 5-11 0-1 12, Ochs 1-3 0-1 2, Canfield 0-1 0-0 0, Bunck 2-2 2-4 8, J. Carlgren 0-0 0-0 0, Haggard 0-0 0-0 0, Walker 0-0 0-0 0, DeLeye 5-9 4-4 16. Totals: 17-38 6-10 48
Manhattan (3-6, 1-2) – Carson 0-2 0-0 0, Sa. Salmans 0-2 0-0 0, Yates 1-3 3-4 5, Ingram 0-1 0-0 0, Ball 5-8 1-1 15, Larson 1-9 0-0 2, So. Salmans 0-3 0-0 0, Peabody 0-0 0-0 0, Ruliffson 3-5 1-4 8, Chauncey 0-4 1-2 1, Hilgers 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 10-37 6-11 32.
3-point goals – Washburn Rural 8 (Lutz 2, Carlgren 2, DeLeye 2, Bunck 2) Manhattan 5 (Ball 4, Ruliffson 1). Total fouls – Washburn Rural 13, Manhattan 14. Fouled out – None. Technical fouls – None.
