By Rick Peterson
TopSports.news
Zander Putthoff is sick of being sick.
But fortunately for the 6-foot-4 senior, he is finally starting to turn the corner in both the way he's feeling and the way he's playing for the Topeka West basketball team, which will take a 7-1 record into Thursday's 3:15 p.m. Topeka Invitational Tournament opener against Lawrence at Highland Park.
A year ago Putthoff was named the TopSports.news Shawnee County newcomer of the year and earned third-team All-Shawnee County recognition and All-Centennial League honorable mention after playing a key role for the 21-3 Chargers, who finished second in Class 5A.
Topeka West senior Zander Putthoff (center) is coming off a 17-point performance in the Chargers' 79-67 win over previously-unbeaten Highland Park last Friday. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Putthoff averaged 9.3 points as junior and was one of the state's top 3-point shooters, connecting on 63 treys while shooting 42 percent from outside the arc.
Coming off that success Putthoff entered his senior year with high hopes, but encountered a series of medical setbacks that slowed his progress.
"It started in the fall during workouts, I kept getting sick,'' Putthoff said. "I had tonsillitis , then I had COVID. It was mentally defeating because I was up in weight more than I've ever been and then I dropped way back down. I was starting to feel better and then I got (sick) again right before the (Shawnee) Heights game.''
Throw in the fact that Putthoff is also a diabetic and the West standout faced a severe uphill climb..
"I've been a Type 1 diabetic since I was three.'' Putthoff said. "That was a big thing. That's why I really couldn't get over it because blood sugar has a lot to do with sickness. If it's high your immune system doesn't fight off disease as well, so it was a battle.''
Putthoff wasn't the player in the early going that veteran Topeka West coach Rick Bloomquist expected, but Bloomquist also knew there was a reason why.
"I've known he hasn't been feeling well,'' Bloomquist said. "You're a diabetic and then you're playing with a cold and the flu and everything else it takes you down, but we just had to be patient.''
Topeka West senior Zander Putthoff is feeling better and playing better for the Chargers have fighting through a variety of medical issues. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Over the last several games Putthoff has started to come around and turned his best game of the year in last Friday's 79-67 Centennial League win over previously-unbeaten Highland Park, scoring 17 points with three long-range 3-pointers.
"The Hayden game is probably when I felt pretty normal and then (against Highland Park) I felt pretty much like myself,'' Putthoff said. "I was in bed for weeks and when I came back my shot was not there. It was really a mental game but now that I've gotten a few weeks under me I'm starting to feel better.
"My shot slowly got there but if I was anywhere not on the (3-point) line I still felt like my legs weren't fully there. Now I'm finally starting to feel like I was in the fall. Now I'm good.''
Putthoff has been known primarily as a shooter throughout his career, but has been focused this season on trying to become a more complete player.
"I've been taking good shots but if someone else is open I'm going to try to find them,'' Putthoff said. "I feel like I'm still known as a shooter but I feel like (teams) are respecting me a little more because I've gone to the rim the past few games a little bit.
"I just want to do whatever will get us the win.''
