By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Topeka West's boys had a lot of things go wrong in Tuesday's home United Kansas Conference game against Lansing.
But despite commiting 20 turnovers and hitting just 11 of 27 free throws, the Chargers rode a stifling defensive performance to a 52-41 win over the Lions.
Topeka West coach Rick Bloomquist talks to his team during Tuesday's 52-41 UKC win over Lansing at West. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"You have to win ugly basketball games,'' Topeka West coach Rick Bloomquist said. "That's about the only positive thought I have -- you have to win ugly basketball games. You have to win when you're not playing well. You usually don't win when all five people aren't playing well, and we won. That's the bottom line.
"We've got things to work out, but the thing about these kids is that they're coachable. They want to be coached, they want to do the right thing. We just have too much slippage from a practice to a game and that's what's hurt us right now. We're trying to do too many drama plays instead of just play, but we'll get there.''
Topeka West, which bounced back from last Friday's loss to Shawnee Heights, never trailed after sophomore Malakyah Duncan connected on a 3-pointer to break a 12-12 tie at the end of the opening quarter.
The Chargers, who improved to 3-1 overall and in the UKC, went on to lead 26-19 at the half and took a 36-30 advantage into the fourth quarter.
Lansing got within five points twice in the fourth stanza, but Topeka West hit enough free throws down the stretch to pull out to the double-digit outcome.
Junior Kamoni Ford tied for game-high scoring honors with 14 points, including a pair of 3-pointers, in Tuesday's 52-41 UKC win over Lansing. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Topeka West junior Ja'Vian Chambers (21) puts up an inside shot in Tuesday's 52-41 UKC win over Lansing. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Juniors Kamoni Ford and Jalen Foy scored 14 points apiece for Topeka West while junior Ja'Vian Chambers added 13 points, nine in the first half.
Senior Ryan French led Lansing with 11 points.
Tuesday's win was the start of a busy week for Topeka West, with three games in a four-day stretch.
The Chargers will host former Centennial League rival Junction City on Thursday before traveling to Kansas City-Turner for a UKC game on Friday.
TOPEKA WEST BOYS 52, LANSING 41
Lansing 12 7 11 11 -- 41
Topeka West 15 11 10 16 -- 52
Lansing -- B. Stephens 1-4 0-0 2, Zimmerman 1-5 1-2 4, Crawford 4-10 1-2 9, Graber 2-8 1-2 5, M. Stephens 3-7 2-2 8, Butler 1-1 0-0 2, Allen 0-1 0-0 0, Atchison 0-0 0-0 0, French 5-8 0-0 11. Totals 17-44 5-8 41.
Topeka West (3-1, 3-1) -- Paul 0-1 0-0 0, Chambers 6-11 1-4 13, Foy 3-5 8-17 14, Ford 6-11 0-0 14, Noonoo 2-2 0-0 4, Young 0-2 0-0 0, McGee 1-3 0-2 2, Dillahunt 0-0 0-0 0, Duncan 1-4 1-2 4, Webb 0-1 1-2 1. Totals 19-40 11-27 52.
3-point goals -- Lansing 2 (Zimmerman, French), Topeka West 3 (Ford 2, Duncan). Total fouls -- Lansing 19, Topeka West 16. Fouled out – none. Technical foul -- Graber.
