By Todd Fertig
TopSports.news
The Topeka High boys’ bid for their first win of the season slipped just out of their grasp Thursday night in the Topeka Invitational Tournament on the Trojans’ home floor. Topeka High took Olathe East to overtime before falling, 77-70.
Junior Elisha Guest tied for team-high honors with 20 points in Topeka High's 77-70 overtime Topeka Invitational loss to Olathe East Thursday night. [Photo by
Junior Jalen Aldridge scored 20 points for Topeka High in Thursday's 77-70 Topeka Invitational overtime loss to Olathe East. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
After leading 12-10 after one period, the Trojans fell into a 36-25 hole at the intermission. But the home team chipped away at the deficit, eventually tying the score at 59-59 near the end of regulation on a bucket by freshman Mar’Saun Redmond. The Trojans held at the defensive end and had chances to win the game in regulation but came up short.
In the extra period, the Hawks converted nine free throws to pull away. They were led by Carter Gooding’s 27 points.
Topeka High coach Geo Lyons wasn’t about to be content with a near miss.
“I told the guys when we got down to the locker room that every fan, every parent is going to tell them, you know, we played great…their record is better than ours…they’re bigger than us, and all that stuff,” Lyons said. “But I told them, 'It’s not a moral victory. You guys were supposed to win a basketball game.’ And they really feel like they were supposed to win. They feel like they let one get away today.”
The Trojans were led with 20 points each from juniors Elisha Guest and Jalen Aldridge. Coming off the bench to hit big shots and ignite the defense was Redmond.
“That’s a lot of moxy from a young man,” Lyons said of Redmond. “He acts and walks like he’s supposed to belong. He’s beyond his years already.”
Topeka High gave up inches to the Hawks at nearly every position, yet they battled on defense and on the glass. Olathe East featured 6-foot-8 Tyler Schuknecht and 6-foot-5 Cade Alhom in the paint. Lyons praised the Trojans effort despite the size disadvantage.
“It’s a toughness thing is what it comes down to,” Lyons said. “We tell our guys all the time, ‘Basketball is a contact sport.’ I got young, small jitterbugs that are getting into guys’ legs and just being gnats out there, pestering (the opponent). I think, once you stick your nose up in there a little bit and you have a little bit of success, you keep going back in there and that’s what our guys are doing.”
Despite the valiant effort, the Trojans dropped to 0-9 on the season. They will face Lansing in the 5 p.m. game on Day 2 of the tournament Friday.
OLATHE EAST BOYS 77, TOPEKA HIGH 70
Olathe East 10 26 13 10 18 -- 77
Topeka High 12 13 18 16 11 -- 70
Olathe East (6-3) – Gooding 8-12 10-13 27, Alhom 7-11 1-2 15, Keech 6-11 5-6 19, Weikal 1-1 0-0 2, Burton 2-2 1-2 5, Mwenda 0-6 0-0 0, Schukenecht 1-2 1-3 3, Konen 1-1 1-2 4, Washington 0-1 2-2 2. Totals: 26-47 21-30 77.
Topeka High (0-9) – Guest 6-11 4-6 20, McFadden 4-8 1-1 9, Aldridge 5-16 8-9 20, Campbell 1-2 0-2 2, McComas 3-8 0-0 7, Carter 0-2 4-6 4, Redmond 2-3 1-3 6, Mallory 0-1 0-0 0, Dingle 1-2 0-0 2. Totals: 22-53 18-27 70.
3-point goals – Olathe East 4 (Keech 2, Gooding 1, Konen 1), Topeka High 8 (Guest 4, Aldridge 2, McComas 1, Redmond 1). Total fouls – Olathe East 26, Topeka High 23. Fouled out – Weikal, Burton, Mwenda, McComas, Redmond. Technical fouls – Alhom.
TOPEKA INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT
RESULTS THURSDAY
Highland Park 62, SM North 50
Lawrence 72, Wichita SE 67
Topeka West 76, Lansing 56
Olathe East 77, Topeka High 70 (OT)
GAMES FRIDAY
3:30 p.m. -- SM North vs. Wichita SE.
5 -- Lansing vs. Topeka High.
6:30 -- Highland Park vs. Lawrence.
8 -- Topeka West vs. Olathe East.
