By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Topeka High's No. 4-ranked girls didn't necessarily play their best basketball in the first half of Tuesday's home Centennial League game against Manhattan, although the undefeated Trojans still held a 10-point advantage.
But the Trojans had plenty to celebrate in the second half, including a milestone from junior star Kiki Smith, as Topeka High improved to 8-0 on the season with a 78-53 win.
Manhattan was still hanging around at the half, trailing 39-29, but Topeka High put the game away with a 25-15 third quarter and the fourth quarter belonged to Smith, who capped a 19-point night with six straight points, eclipsing the 1,000-point mark for her career with 3:33 left to play.
"It's like now the pressure's off and now she can just continue to keep playing,'' Topeka High coach Hannah Alexander said of Smith. "She knew it was coming up and she wanted to hit it.''
Topeka High junior Kiki Smith scored 19 points and went over the 1,000-point mark for her career in Tuesday night's 78-53 home Centennial League win over Manhattan. [File photo]
Alexander felt like it took awhile for the Trojans to get started against the Indians (3-6, 3-5), but was pleased with her team's play in the second half.
Tuesday's win was Topeka High's second over Manhattan this season, with the Trojans opening their season with a 63-41 win over MHS.
"They're much-improved from the last time we played them,'' Alexander said of Manhattan. "I thought that they looked a lot better, more sound offensively and defensively. They were scrappy.
"We were doing little things that were a little uncharacteristic of us and I told them we've got to tighten up things. We've got to do all the little things and we can never look past or overlook any opponent and each day we've got to get better. No matter who we're going against, it's us that we're looking at.''
Senior Tae Thomas led Topeka High with a game-high 21 points, including three 3-pointers, while junior Adisyn Caryl was the third Trojan in double figures with 12 points and senior DayShauna Wiley added nine points and junior Faith Shields eight.
Junior Destiny Yates led Manhattan with 20 points, including three 3-pointers, while senior Grace Dixon added 12 points and sophomore Maxine Doering 11.
Topeka High will host Hayden in a Centennial League game on Thursday.
TOPEKA HIGH GIRLS 78, MANHATTAN 53
Manhattan 13 16 15 9 -- 53
Topeka High 22 17 25 14 -- 78
Manhattan (3-6, 3-5) -- Yates 5 7-9 20, Larson 2 2-6 7, Doering 4 3-6 11, Ruliffson 0 1-2 1, Dixon 6 0-0 12, Shardo 0 0-0 0, Carson 0 0-0 0, Ingram 0 0-1 0, Peabody 0 0-0 0, Jimenez 0 0-0 0, Barron 1 0-0 2. Totals 18 13-24 39.
Topeka High (8-0, 8-0) -- Wiley 4 1-1 9, Caryl 5 2-6 12, Thomas 7 4-7 21, Shields 3 0-0 8, Smith 7 3-3 19, Leesman 0 0-0 0, Baird 2 0-0 4, Zimmerman 1 0-0 2, Fulton 0 0-2 0, Sharpe 0 0-0 0, Mwangi 0 0-0 0, Jones 0 1-2 1, Verser 1 0-0 2, Benning 0 0-0 0. Totals 30 11-21 78.
3-point goals -- Manhattan , Topeka High 7 (Thomas 3, Shields 2, Smith 2). Total fouls -- Manhattan Topeka High 21. Fouled out -- Wiley.
