By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
Having rallies come up short at the end of games is an ongoing headache for Topeka High boys basketball coach Geo Lyons.
But although the close games sting, G. Lyons is proud of how his team fought in a 76-71 Centennial League loss to Manhattan Tuesday night at High.
Topeka High coach Geo Lyons talks to his Trojans during Tuesday night's 76-71 loss to Manhattan. [Photo by Isaac Deer/TSN]
"It's hard to keep a positive locker room when we've been in so many ballgames," G. Lyons said. "I really admire the toughness and the grit that my kids have. We play from tipoff until that final horn goes off. That's really all you can ask for from your team. Even during the adversity throughout the game, our body language is still great, and our bench is still in it.
"We have to find a way to get our morale back up. We have another tough (match) on Friday with Emporia, which was another game earlier in the year that we were right in. We will talk about nothing but the positives."
Many things went right for Topeka High on Tuesday night in front of its home crowd. The Trojans shot 47 percentfrom the field and canned 13 3-point shots.
Leading the way for Topeka High's hot offense was 5-foot-9 junior Isaiah Lyons, who scored 26 points (seven 3-pointers), including a 12-point third quarter.
I. Lyons has been fighting through an injury that has kept him sidelined for multiple games. I. Lyons was sneakily shooting around in practice while G. Lyons was in his office.
Growing tired of getting treatment from the athletic trainer and wanting to be on the court pushed his dad and coach G. Lyons to the limit. G. Lyons blew the whistle and paused the scrimmage portion of practice, not risking his son to further his injury.
As a coach G. Lyons was pushed to the edge by his son. As a father, he couldn't have been more proud of his own blood.
"I have to put on my dad hat right now and say that it was a proud dad moment for me," G. Lyons said. "I talked to him right after the warmup of the girls' game, and I asked him how he was feeling. He said, 'I'm ready to go, but my wind might not be there.' But, he truly gutted one out tonight."
Three other Trojans managed to put up double-digit scoring totals, with senior Mason Gomez scoring 15 points, sophomore Da'Mykel Hales 12 points, and junior Bryson Thrasher 11.
Topeka High faced a desperate Manhattan team looking to snap a four-game losing streak.
With Manhattan's 76 points against the Trojans, that total was the Indians' season-high. In addition, Manhattan's 67-percent shooting percentage was tough to defend.
Topeka High's guard-heavy squad had to do its best to defend Manhattan's standout post-tandem of 6-foot-6 Jack Wilson and 6-4 Collins Elumogo. The duo combined for 37 points on 16 of 23 shooting.
"We worked a lot on fronting the post," G. Lyons said. "We wanted our guards to get in their guards, hoping we would pressure (the guards) enough to where they couldn't see the posts. We did a good scout on who wanted to turn with their right shoulder or who wanted to turn on their left shoulder. Our goals were to try to limit (Wilson and Elumogo), and we did just an okay job. It's tough for us being guard-heavy."
After only a six-point deficit to end the first quarter, Topeka High gained some significant ground later in the second quarter after trailing by as many as 13.
A technical foul on Elumogo immediately after a shooting foul sent Gomez to the line for four free throws. Gomez drained three of the four shots, and Topeka High fed off of the momentum from the technical.
"Those are big momentum swings," G. Lyons said. "It's just like taking a charge. It set up our offense to get more good looks. We did great taking advantage of that situation."
The Trojans tightened up their play and ended the quarter on a 15-7 run.
It was a sprint to the finish line out of the halftime break. Manhattan outscored Topeka High 40-39 in the second half.
Topeka High almost brought the game within two points on a 3-point shot attempt with 11.2 seconds to go in the game, but the shot fell short.
Topeka High (3-13, 0-6) will look to keep the Dean Smith trophy in The Dungeon as the Trojans take on Emporia (11-5, 4-2) on Friday night at Topeka High.
MANHATTAN BOYS 76, TOPEKA HIGH 71
Manhattan 20 16 22 18 – 76
Topeka High 14 17 23 16 – 71
Manhattan (9-7, 3-3) – Delort 1-3 1-2 3, Knopp 5-9 0-1 13, Braxmeyer 1-1 1-3 3, Elumogo 8-11 1-3 17, Wilson 8-12 2-3 20, Kim 2-4 2-2 7, Stanard 3-3 0-0 8, Newcomer 1-1 0-0 3, Malone 1-1 0-1 2. Totals – 30-45 7-15 76.
Topeka High (3-13, 0-6) – Lyons 9-15 1-1 26, Thrasher 5-9 0-0 11, Hales 5-9 0-0 12, Gomez 4-12 4-6 15, Votaw 2-4 0-0 6, Norman 1-3 0-0 2. Totals – 26-52 5-7 71.
3-point goals – Manhattan 9-15 (Knopp 3, Wilson 2, Stanard 2, Kim, Newcomer), Topeka High 13-31 (Lyons 7, Gomez 3, Hales 2, Thrasher). Total fouls – Manhattan 10, Topeka High 17. Fouled out – none. Technical fouls – Manhattan, Elumogo.
