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Topeka High boys fall in heartbreaker to Junction City on buzzer beater
By VINCE LOVERGINE
TopSports.news
Topeka High boys basktball dropped a 61-59 Centennial League heartbreaker to Junction City Tuesday night on a buzzer-beater.
Senior Bryson McComas scored 26 points Tuesday night but Topeka High dropped a 61-59 Centennial League heartbreaker to Junction City. [File photo/TSN]
The Trojans led by six points (57-51) with about two minutes left in the game, but the Blue Jays pulled to within two (57-55) with 55.6 seconds left.
Senior Lovell Autry, who had a team-high 26 points, put his team on his back in the final ticks of the game, scored four straight to put the Blue Jays up 59-57 with 9.5 seconds left, forcing Topeka High coach Robbie Sanders into a timeout.
T-High inbounded and called another timeout to advance the ball with six seconds.
Trojan senior Bryson McComas, who had a stellar 26-point performance, drove to the bucket for a layup, but a Blue Jays player smacked the backboard, prompting the referees to call a goaltend, tying the game at 59-all.
With just 1.5 seconds left on the clock in regulation, Autry got open down the sideline, a hail mary pass fell right in his arms and he scored the game-winning lay-up, stunning Topeka High, 61-59.
A dejected Sanders in the locker room took a few seconds to gather his thoughts on what happened.
“In the month of January we found ways to win and this month we’ve consistently found ways to lose,” he said. “We’ve been in every game. Four game losing streak. We haven’t been able to step up and make the necessary plays to get some victories.
"I think it’s a little bit of nerves, a little bit of coaching mistakes and possibly having the wrong people in the game. This one is on me. I have to make adjustments. I have to figure out some ways to get another win.”
It was a back and forth contest between the league rivals and the Blue Jays had the last answer. Sanders said the last player he wanted the ball in the hands of was Autry.
“I don’t understand how we allowed that to happen but things happen,'' Sanders said. "What I said to them in the locker room is, 'I’m trusting you guys to make plays but sometimes you have to be able to step up and make that play.'
"Trust is a two-way street and me placing my trust and belief in them, you got to give me something to trust and believe in. We’ll get back to work and we’ll fight and scrap and try to get a win on Friday.''
Crawford, Menke the Dan Key Farmers Agency Rising Stars of the Week
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Seaman girls bowling standout Leah Crawford and Hayden junior boys wrestling standout Caleb Menke have been selected by the Dan Key Farmers Insurance Agency as the Rising Stars of the Week.
The Dan Key Agency will recognize top Shawnee County underclassmen throughout the bulk of the 2025-2026 school year.
Here's a brief look at the recent accomplishments of Crawford and Menke.
Leah Crowford, Seaman [Photo by Brent Maycock/KSHSAA Covered]
LEAH CRAWFORD, Seaman
Crawford shot a 661 three-game series last Friday at Gage Bowl to capture the girls individual title in the third annual Topeka Shawnee County bowling championships.
Crawford rolled games of 224, 211 and 226 to take individual honors by 36 pins as Seaman rolled to its third straight city team championship by a 3,293-2,970 margin over Washburn Rural.
As a freshman Crawford placed 12th in the city meet.
Caleb Menke, Hayden
CALEB MENKE, Hayden
Menke, a 175-pounder, recently reached the 100-win milestone in a meet at Royal Valley, a rare accomplishment for an underclassman.
Menke followed that up with the 175-pound championship in last Saturday's Centennial League tournament at Washburn Rural.
Menke posted a 5-0 record on the day, including a 55-second pin and a 15-0 technical fall.
Rural girls get back on track with 56-14 Centennial League romp past Junction City
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Coming off back-to-back double-digit Centennial League road losses, Washburn Rural girls basketball got back on track in a big way Friday night, going wire to wire at home for a 56-14 league rout over Junction City.
Senior Ella Hirschi scored a game-high 12 points on four 3-pointers in Friday's 56-14 Centennial League win over Junction City. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
Now 12-6 overall and 3-3 in the league, Rural completed a regular-season sweep over the Blue Jays, who fell to 2-15 overall and 0-6 in the league. The Junior Blues took a 36-point win (68-32) win at Junction City in their Centennial opener.
"I thought we were a lot better defensively this time,'' Washburn Rural coach Kevin Bordewick said. "I thought everybody that played did a really good job on defense.
"We're trying to work on some things like stopping drives a little bit better. I still think we can box out better (on rebounds). We're not as strong as we need to be and getting a low base and keeping them away and getting on them a little bit faster.''
Washburn Rural led 15-7 at the end of the opening quarter and then put the Blue Jays away with a 16-2 second quarter.
The Junior Blues continued to roll in the third quarter, outscoring Junction City 15-5 to open up a 46-14 lead and force a running clock over the final eight minutes.
Washburn Rural pitched a 10-0 shutout in the fourth quarter to close out the 42-point win.
Washburn Rural freshman Brynn Anderson (15) and senior Josie Carlgren (23) celebrate a big play in Friday's 56-14 Centennial League win over Junction City. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
Washburn Rural senior Hallie Walker (10) scored nine points and grabbed a game-high seven rebounds in Friday's 56-14 Centennial League win over Junction City. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
Senior Ella Hirschi connected on four 3-pointers to score a game-high 12 points for Washburn Rural while freshman Brynn Anderson also cracked double figures with 10 points, senior Hallie Walker finished with nine points and seven rebounds and senior Josie Carlgren and freshman Kamryn Smith chipped in with eight points apiece.
"It was pretty even across the board,'' Bordewick said.
