By TODD FERTIG
TopSports.news
Topeka High graduate Robbie Sanders, a longtime assistant at Topeka High and Shawnee Heights, recorded his first victory as a head coach Thursday as his alma mater ran away from guest Wamego, 82-54.
Former Topeka High star Robbie Sanders notched his first win as a head coach Thursday night, with the Trojans rolling to an 82-54 win over Wamego. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
The Trojans demonstrated some firepower they didn’t have a year ago when they won just one game against 19 losses. Thursday, Topeka High exploded out of the gate for 26 first-quarter points, then put up another 26 in the second period to lead 52-29 at the half.
“I’ve been waiting my whole life for this moment. I’m just so happy and proud to lead these guys in this program,” Sanders said. “I was emotional. I feel like I put a lot of work in over the years, and I’ve prepared for this moment. But my emotions… I struggled. I saw my dad. I saw my mom up there, and I almost lost it. I had to go back in the office and sit down for a little while.
“But I knew the guys were ready. I knew we would play pretty well, but they surprised the heck out of me by how hard they competed tonight.”
In the locker room, Sanders was presented the game ball by Topeka High administrators in recognition of his first victory. And he had some familiar faces – the Shawnee Heights team – in the stands behind him. Sanders even paused at halftime to shake the hands of the T-Birds in attendance and thank them for being there.
“That’s my family. I love those guys at Shawnee Heights, coach (Ken) Darting and all the players, and I was really happy to see them,” Sanders said. “It feels a little weird not coaching them anymore. But I love the guys that I got right now.”
Senior Bryson McComas scored a game-high 24 points Thursday as Topeka High opened its season with an 82-54 win over Wamego. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Sanders started five seniors who combined for 69 of the Trojans’ 82 points. Bryson McComas led the team with 24 points, with Elisha Guest and Jalen Aldridge tossing in 16 and 15, respectively.
“These seniors believed. They never gave up,” Sanders said. “Any of them could have tried to quit, transfer, go somewhere else and see greener pastures. They believed in each other. They believed in me.”
“I was pretty disappointed by how our season ended last year,” said McComas, who hit nine of 16 shots from the field and six of nine free throws. “With Coach Rob coming and bringing us some intensity and getting this win, we should be all feeling pretty good. We’re playing more together as a team.”
Sanders inherited a group with a lot of experience, but not a lot of success. He set to work during the summer changing the mindset within the program.
“I really wanted this win, not just for me but for them,” Sanders said. “They’ve been beaten on, they’ve been talked about and they’ve been disrespected. These are good basketball players and great kids.
“We just focused on getting a little bit better every day. Our motto is, ‘Progress, not perfection.’ We’re going to continue to build throughout the season to where we’re playing our best basketball at the end of the season.”
The Trojans will be tested at the De Soto Hardwood Classic next week with games on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
TOPEKA HIGH BOYS 82, WAMEGO 54
Wamego 16 13 15 10 -- 54
Topeka High 26 26 15 15 -- 82
Wamego (0-1) – McDiffett 1-8 2-4 5, Williams 2-6 2-4 7, Tupps 3-8 2-2 10, Kueker 7-15 3-3 19, Doll 1-3 0-0 2, Eckstein 3-5 2-4 8, Winter 0-9 0-0 0, Schiel 1-6 0-0 3, Linn 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 18-60 11-17 54.
Topeka High (1-0) – Aldridge 6-9 0-0 15, Guest 6-12 0-0 16, McComas 9-16 6-9 24, Ross 3-7 0-0 8, McFadden 3-4 0-0 6, Tibbs 0-2 0-0 0, Villegas 1-2 0-0 2, Carter 1-2 0-0 2, Redmond 3-4 0-0 6, Arnold 0-2 0-0 0, Luarks 1-1 1-1 3, Ramirez 0-1 0-0 0, Harris 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 33-61 7-10 82.
3-point goals – Wamego 7 (Tupps 2, Kueker 2 McDiffett 1, Williams 1, Schiel 1) Topeka High 9 (Guest 4, Aldridge 3, Ross 2). Total fouls – Wamego 12, Topeka High 18. Fouled out – None. Technical fouls – McComas.
