By Rick Peterson
TopSports.news
A solid win over a respected Class 6A program was just what the doctor ordered for Rick Bloomquist's Topeka West Chargers.
After a recent 46-point loss to De Soto and a tough 49-47 loss to Shawnee Mission North on Thursday, Topeka West bounced back to claim a much-needed 54-46 win over Lawrence in Friday's Topeka Invitational Tournament consolation game.
Topeka West junior Jalen Foy scores the final basket of the game in Friday's 54-46 Topeka Invitational Tournament win over Lawrence, part of Foy's 17-point night. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"This was a key game,'' Bloomquist said. "I didn't sleep last night, understanding how this game was going to have an impact on this season. I've seen it happen, I've seen it happen both ways, I've been a part of it both ways.
"It springboards you into the second half of the season or you just dump it and I was really worried about that, but by the same token as critical as I've been of my kids, my players, they're pretty resilient to me and you can't walk away from that. I've never seen a kid drop his head, drop his eyes. They're buying in and tonight was a buy-in game. We bought into the changes we need to make.''
With Friday's win the Chargers improved to 5-4 on the season while advancing to Saturday's 11:45 a.m. fifth-place game to face city and USD 501 rival Topeka High.
Topeka West trailed 16-15 at the end of the first quarter, but never lost contact with the Lions, who fell to 1-9 on the season.
The Chargers outscored Lawrence 7-3 in a low-scoring second quarter to take a 22-19 halftime advantage.
West opened up a 36-26 lead late in the third quarter on a hoop from senior Johnny Young and took an eight-point advantage into the fourth.
The Chargers never trailed the rest of the way, but the Lions got as close as a point (40-39) with 5:30 left and was within four points (50-46) with 29.6 seconds remaining before Young hit a pair of throws and junior Jalen Foy scored on a layup to close out the wrest win.
Foy led Topeka West with 17 points, including three 3-pointers, while Young added 13 points and sophomore Keimani Paul 11 points.
Topeka West senior Johnny Young (left) defends Lawrence's Jaylen Parks in Friday's 54-46 West win. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Young was inserted into the West starting lineup on Friday after playing sparingly over the course of the season.
"If there was a player of the game, it's him,'' Bloomquist said. "I texted him late last night, about 11, 11:30 and said, 'I'm starting you.' Drastic things need drastic changes sometimes and that was drastic because he was a minute, two-minute guy.''
Lawrence senior star Zaxton King led all scores with 26 points, but was the lone Lion with more than six points.
On Saturday Topeka West will face a Topeka High team that took a 66-49 consolation win over Hayden on Thursday.
Lawrence will take on Hayden in Saturday's 10 a.m. seventh-place game.
TOPEKA WEST 54, LAWRENCE 46
Topeka West 15 7 14 18 -- 54
Lawrence 16 3 9 18 -- 46
Topeka West (5-4)-- Young 5 3-4 13, McGee 2 0-0 4, Paul 5 0-0 11, Foy 7 0-0 17, Noonoo 2 1-2 5, Duncan 1 0-0 3, Chambers 0 1-2 1, Ford 2 1-2 5. Totals 22 5-8 54.
Lawrence (1-9) -- Parks 2 0-0 6, King 7 9-12 26, Johnson 1 0-0 3, Fineday 2 0-0 4, Galbreth 1 2-4 4, Ramirez 0 1-2 1, Roman Nose 1 0-0 2, Foster 0 0-0 0. Totals 14 12-18 46.
3-point goals -- Topeka West 5 (Foy 3, Duncan, Paul), Lawrence 6 (King 3, Parks 2, Johnson). Total fouls -- Topeka West 14, Lawrence 11. Fouled out -- none.
RESULTS FRIDAY
Topeka West 54, Lawrence 46
Topeka High 66, Hayden 49
Highland Park 67, Shawnee Mission North 52
Wichita Northwest 81, Lansing 46
GAMES SATURDAY
10 a.m. -- Lawrence vs. Hayden.
11:45 -- Topeka West vs. Topeka High.
1:30 -- Shawnee Mission North vs. Lansing.
2:45 -- Highland Park vs. Wichita Northwest.
