By KYLE MANTHE
The Washburn Review
On Tuesday night Topeka West and Washburn Rural boys basketball were in action for a rematch of the first game of the season for both teams, which saw the Chargers take a 69-57 Centennial League win back on Dec. 3.
This game would be no different, as Topeka West claimed a 56-42 road win propelled by a 24-1 second quarter, moving to 13-1 on the season as the final month of regular-season play begins.
Senior Elijah Brooks led Topeka West with 21 points in Tuesday's 56-42 win over Washburn Rura. [File/TSN]
Junior Xavier Alexander scored 16 points with three 3-pointers in Tuesday's 56-42 win at Washburn Rural. [File photo/TSN]
On the other end, the Junior Blues fell to 6-7 on the year and 5-4 in league play.
Forty-two points were the second-fewest allowed this season by the Chargers, much to the delight of coach Rick Bloomquist.
“I was really pleased with how we handled this basketball game,” Bloomquist said. “Our defense had to turn into our offense and I thought we pressed real well and got our hands in passing lanes real well.”
The first quarter was as even as possible, with the score knotted at 11 after eight minutes.
Junior Jack Bachelor scored two buckets and knocked down two free throws in the quarter to lead the Junior Blues.
“I think they had a great gameplan for how to neutralize Elijah (Brooks) with the zone,'' Bloomquist said. "It’s the first time we have seen a true well-coached zone all year.
:"Once we started rolling and got more consistent and got to the paint we did better.”
On the other end Chargers junior Xavier Alexander knocked in six points as well, including one 3-pointer.
The game flipped in the second quarter as Topeka West’s defense picked up to as high of levels as it has all season, holding Washburn Rural to just one point.
Offensively the Chargers were just as effective, scoring 24 in the quarter. They were led by an inside attack of senior Brooks and junior Malachi Berg, who each had eight in the quarter to give Topeka West a 35-12 halftime lead.
“We just knew we had to play with high energy on the defensive end,'' Brooks said. "Coming into their place you gotta be jacked up (because) every play (can) shift momentum, so we knew we had to just lock in defensively and try to limit them from the inside-out game.''
Out of halftime, the defense of Topeka West loosened and Washburn Rural senior Brock Howard was able to take advantage down low, with three baskets in the first four minutes.
Alexander continued to shoot well from the outside for the Chargers, knocking down two 3-pointers in the same time.
Topeka West’s defense picked up again, forcing turnovers and holding the Junior Blues to two points in the final four minutes to lead 47-22 after three quarters.
Some early scoring from Washburn Rural capped off by a 3-pointer from Bachelor at the 5:20 mark pulled the game within 20. Five more from Bachelor had the game down to 13 with less than three minutes left.
Brooks then took over for Topeka West, scoring three layups in a 66-second span to put the game out of reach.
“I feel great, and I feel like we are definitely clicking, and we can play to do anything, that’s the biggest thing,'' Brooks said. "Anything a team throws at us we are ready for, everybody is going to step up.''
Brooks led Topeka West with 21 points while Alexander and Berg were in double figures with 16 and 11, respectively.
“Washburn Rural is very disciplined, and coach (Kevin) Muff want’s to control the ball and control the game,” Bloomquist said. “We responded, if we didn’t respond it would have been a 35-37 game, and I’m not sure we would have won,”
Bachelor had 16 points to pace the Junior Blues, while the next highest scorer was Howard with six.
Both team's next games will be at home, with Washburn Rural taking on Hayden Friday and the Chargers playing host to Manhattan next Tuesday.
WASHBURN RURAL BOYS 42, TOPEKA WEST 56
Topeka West 11 24 12 9 -- 56
Washburn Rural 11 1 10 20 -- 42
Washburn Rural (6-7, 5-4 ) – Kidd 2 0-0 5, Morris 1 0-0 3, Bowen 0 0-0 0, Hirschi 0 0-0 0, Bachelor 4 6-6 16, Durst 1 1-2 3, JC Heim, 0 0-0 0, Conklin 2 0-0 5, Ross 2 0-0 4, Howard 3 0-0 6. Totals 15 7-8 42.
Topeka West (13-1, 9-1 ) – Austin 2 2-4 8, Robinson 0 0-0 0, Foy 0 0-0 0, Brooks 8 4-8 21, Thompson 0 0-0 0, Alexander 5 3-4 16, Berg 5 1-3 11, Noonoo 0 0-0 0, Bearman 0 0-0 0. Totals 20 10-19 56.
3-point goals – Washburn Rural 5 (Bachelor 2, Kidd, Morris, Conklin). Topeka West 6 (Alexander 3, Austin 2, Brooks). Total fouls – Washburn Rural 16, Topeka West 8. Fouled out – none. Technical fouls – none.
