By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
Topeka West boys basketball coach Rick Bloomquist most likely slept easier on Friday night after his Chargers snapped a four-game losing streak with a 53-48 home overtime victory over United Kansas Conference rival Leavenworth.
It's been a while since Topeka West (13-7) has experienced a draught as it had experienced recently. The Chargers are missing two integral pieces to its successful starting lineup, and the younger guys have had to learn how to play like veterans quickly.
Topeka West freshman Keimani Paul puts up a shot in Friday's 53-48 overtime win over Leavenworth. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Topeka West senior Xavier Alexander led the Chargers with 13 points in Friday's 53-48 overtime win over Leavenworth. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Underclassmen such as freshmen Keimani Paul and Malakyah Duncan and sophomores Mason Jones and Ja'Vian Chambers played like poised veterans in the crucial overtime win against the Pioneers (7-13).
"Obviously, I'm pleased with this win," Bloomquist said. "I'm pleased because of a lot of the intangibles that happened. We missed some easy shots and had unnecessary turnovers, but the thing is when you're playing two freshmen and two sophomores with juniors that didn't play much last year, you have to grow. Usually, it takes a season to grow. We don't have that much time. I saw my young kids really mature with how the game is supposed to be played.
"Leavenworth is a really nice and athletic team, especially on the perimeter. As long as we are and as young as we are, it's sometimes hard to guard the perimeter. But I'm really proud of the (underclassmen's) progression in the last week and a half. It's been a big-time progression."
It's not just the young guns that have to make adjustments and discover their identities within the team; the coaches have to work around a team missing two key components. Finding a new identity has been a headache, but Topeka West is more determined than ever.
"We've had to change offenses and learn more about what we have," Bloomquist said. "They have really adapted well to this. The way that our younger guys worked together and came back down five (points) was great. I can't be any happier."
You could tell the young Charger crew was developing on the fly. Unfortunately, Topeka West had a rocky offensive start in the opening quarter.
Although Leavenworth jumped out to an 8-2 run, Topeka West fought back and closed out the quarter, only trailing 10-9. The Chargers shot 2-8 in the field and would have to shoot sharper for the remainder of the game.
In the second quarter, Topeka West and Leavenworth locked horns in a defensive slugfest. Topeka West gained some traction with its offense, though.
Five different players collected a bucket, and it was evident that seniors Xavier Alexander and Jacob Reimer acclimated with the young core surrounding them.
With old-school defensive play, Topeka West held a 19-17 advantage over Leavenworth heading into the halftime break.
Leavenworth matched its halftime total with 17 points in the third quarter. Four of those points came within seven seconds from senior Jeremiah Lewis, including a buzzer-beater to end the third quarter.
Topeka West managed to hang on tight with 12 points of their own. However, critical offensive production from Chambers, Alexander and Paul kept the Chargers within three points.
Leavenworth was rolling up and down the quarter in the middle of the fourth quarter until Duncan attacked the board offensively and converted an and-one with 2:48 to go.
With a 46-46 stalemate with 1:01 to go in the contest, Leavenworth took advantage of not having a shot clock.
The Pioneers would run the clock down all the way to seven seconds before they went on the hunt for a win. Lewis tried to convert a shot at the buzzer to give Leavenworth the win but missed.
Topeka West would get a chance to earn a massive overtime win in front of its home faithful on its senior night.
Underclassmen Paul, Chambers and Duncan made an emphatic statement.
"A couple of those guys graduated from the eighth grade last year," Bloomquist said. "Now they are playing 5A and 6A basketball. It's baby steps for them. We try not to push them to where they get frustrated. I want them to gradually elevate on their own. I can admit that I challenged them tonight. This was the first time that they were really challenged. We want them to play with power, play with strength and toughness."
Paul would score Topeka West's first four points in the extra period giving Topeka West a momentum boost.
Leavenworth wouldn't hit a shot until there was just a minute remaining. The Pioneers were forced to foul the Chargers due to Topeka West having a 50-48 lead with 41.4 remaining.
Duncan nailed both of his free throws to give Topeka West a 52-48 lead. However, Leavenworth would miss its next shot and foul Chambers. Chambers would hit one of his two charity stripe shots and made the game unwinnable for Leavenworth with 19 seconds left in the game.
Topeka West got its sweet relief with a massive 53-48 overtime win over Leavenworth, completing the regular-season sweep over its United Kansas Conference nemesis.
"This was the most relieving win I've had in a long time," Bloomquist said. "It was a very satisfying win because they responded. As a coach it was a fun game to coach. You will win those games if you play with that type of intelligence."
The Chargers will host Arkansas City for the first round of the Class 5A sub-state on Wednesday night.
TOPEKA WEST BOYS 53, LEAVENWORTH 48.
Leavenworth 10 7 17 12 2 – 48
Topeka West 9 10 12 15 7 – 53
Leavenworth (7-13) – Miller 2-5 0-0 5, Bethea 1-2 1-1 3, Lewis 6-13 3-4 17, McLaughlin 3-6 3-4 11, Strickland 1-1 0-0 2, Crawford 3-5 0-0 6, Beard 0-1 0-0 0, Johnson 2-2 0-0 4. Totals – 18-35 7-9 48.
Topeka West (13-7) – Paul 3-5 0-0 7, Alexander 3-13 5-5 13, Chambers 3-4 5-6 11, Noonoo 3-6 3-5 9, Reimer 0-0 2-2 2, Duncan 3-4 1-1 7, Jones 2-3 0-0 4. 17-35 16-19 53.
3-point goals – Topeka West 3 (Alexander 2, Paul), Leavenworth 5 (Lewis 2, McLaughlin 2, Miller). Total fouls – Topeka West 14, Leavenworth 18. Fouled out – none. Technical fouls – none.
