By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
Topeka High sophomore point guard Bryson Thrasher had a huge 23-point night on Tuesday, leading the Trojans to a 69-56 home Centennial League win over Manhattan.
Thrasher canned four 3-point shots on the night while scoring 13 points in the first half and 10 in the second.
Trojan coach Ty Baumgardner believes that Tuesday's win was a good step for his team, whch has won two out of its last three games.
“Any win is a good win,” Baumgardner said. “Ever since we got back from Christmas break, we’ve been knocking on the door and have been right there. We haven’t been able to put it all together to get a win, but tonight was a good win.”
Topeka High coach Ty Baumgardner talks to his team during Tuesday's 69-56 Centennial League win over Manhattan. [Photo by Isaac Deer/TSN]
Topeka High is a team comprised of three seniors, two juniors and 10 sophomores and freshmen.
Baumgardner acknowledges the youth of the team, but he doesn’t believe that youth should be a factor in wins or losses at this point of the season.
“We are a young, inexperienced team,” said Baumgardner. “We keep telling them that you aren’t young anymore. I know we are starting four sophomores, but they’re not sophomores anymore. At this point in the regular season, you can’t be making freshman or sophomore mistakes.”
Topeka High had three players score in double figures, with senior Germane Mays adding 16 points and sophomore Isaiah Lyons 14 for the Trojans.
The 21-point second quarter from High was the turning point of the game for the Trojans, who trailed by two points to end the first quarter.
“To be quite honest, the second quarter has been our demise,” said Baumgardner. “This second quarter was really good to see. I thought we played with a lot of poise throughout that second quarter.”
It wasn’t just the second quarter that was friendly to the Trojans, all four were. The 69 total points scored Tuesday were a season-high for Topeka High. It was the best scoring night that the Trojans have seen since they scored 70 points against St. Marys back on Jan. 24th, 2020.
While the win was nice, Baumgardner believes that the team has a lot to work on before Friday night’s Centennial League contest with Emporia.
“We still have a lot to work on, there is no question about that,” said Baumgardner, an Emporia High grad. “Friday is the Dean Smith game and that is a pretty big and meaningful game for both schools. (Emporia) won it last year, so they will bring the trophy up here, and I hope they don’t take it back with them.
TOPEKA HIGH BOYS 69, MANHATTAN 56
Manhattan 15 13 17 11 – 56
Topeka High 13 21 18 17 – 69
Topeka High (3-11, 3-7) – Thrasher 8 3-4 23, Mays 6 4-4 16, Lyons 2 8-8 14, Flenoy 3 1-3 7, Canady 3 1-3 7, Cameron 1(0-1 2.
Manhattan (3-10, 2-7) – Wilson 5 0-0 12, Brown 5 1-2 12, Perkins 3 1-2 10, Coonrod 3 0-0 7, Elumugo 3 0-1 6, DeLurt 2 0-0 4, Holloway 0 3-4 3, Schartz 1 0-0 2.
3-point goals -- Topeka High 6 (Thrasher 4, Lyons 2), Manhattan 7 (Perkins 3, Wilson 2, Brown, Coonrod). Total Fouls: Topeka High 10, Manhattan 18.
