By VINCE LOVERGINE
TopSports.news
The turnovers the Topeka High girls create night in and night out to create points on the offensive end have been a huge part in their success this year, and that was the story again Tuesday night, as the Trojans knocked off Centennial League rival Junction City, 66-33.
Junior Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton scored a game-high 30 points Tuesday night in Topeka High's 66-33 win over Junction City. [File photo/TSN]
“No question the defense turned into offense,'' Topeka High coach Ron Slaymaker said. "We had 50 something points at the half? That’s a lot on any level. We’re not interested in how badly we can beat somebody, that’s not what this is all about. At halftime, I really tried to slow us down and that’s so hard.
"Any coach will tell you it just doesn’t work from going to go, go, go and then woah woah woah… I was so proud of that first half.''
With this seven-game winning streak the 12-8 Trojans are on, Slaymaker said it’s a great time to start doing this and he’s hoping that continues on as they’ve shot the ball very well and are playing good defense.
The Trojans started the game up 6-2 after junior Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton drilled a triple and then pushed it to a 12-4 lead after another three from Rayton.
It just kept raining from the floor for T-High, as sophomore Hailey Caryl had herself another stellar performance, going coast-to-coast off a turnover to put the Trojans up 21-5 and Topeka High would lead 32-5 at the end of one.
The clinic continued as Rayton started the second quarter with another tray to give High a 35-5 lead and the Trojans stretched their lead to 43-7. After senior Trish Short and Rayton scored a quick five points, it was 50-12. The Trojans took a commanding halftime lead of 56-18.
From then on, Topeka High would not relinquish the advantage. Slaymaker emptied his bench with 1:35 left in the third quarter and the starters sat the rest of the game.
Rayton led all scorers with 30 points.
Sophomore Hailey Caryl set Topeka High's single-season assist record Tuesday night in the Trojans' 66-33 win over Junction City. [File photo/TSN]
Caryl accomplished a milestone feat, setting the Topeka High single-season assist record at 115 and counting.
“There’s no question she has a really good basketball IQ,'' Slaymaker said. "We’re constantly talking about what’s next… where’s the next pass going, the next dribble, is there going to be a shot and she’s really good at seeing that. She’s a really good all-around player and that's her value. She plays smarter than a lot of other players.''
Slaymaker said that he’s excited to see what more this team can do, knowing they’re catching fire at the right time.
“We dug ourselves an early hole and we could’ve died right there at 0-4,'' Slaymaker said. "Since then we’ve lost to some good teams, too, and that’s what makes you better. The teams we’ve beaten recently have been good teams and I feel good about that.''
TOPEKA HIGH 66, JUNCTION CITY 33
Junction City 5 13 9 6 – 33
Topeka High 32 24 7 3 – 66
Junction City (2-16) -- Pruitt 0 1-4 1, Uhlman 1 0-0 2, Warmack 3 0-0 6, Henry-Rivers 2 0-0 4, Hatcher 0 2-2 2, Brown 1 0-0 3, Douglas 0 2-2 2, Nabus 1 0-0 2, Allen 2 5-7 9, Covington 1 0-0 2.
Topeka High (12-8) -- Short 1 1-2 3, Brown 1 1-2 3, Marshall 2 1-2 6, Rayton 12 2-5 30, Caryl 4 0-0 8, Gotru 4 0-0 8, Hartz 0 1-2 1, Martin 1 2-2 5.
3-point goals -- Junction City 1 (Brown) Topeka High 6 (Rayton 4, Martin, Marshall). Total Fouls -- Junction City 9, Topeka High 10. Fouled out -- none. Technical fouls -- none.
