By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
For a half, Topeka West's girls basketball team looked like it might be on the way to pulling off a major United Kansas Conference upset Tuesday night.
But Basehor-Linwood ended the Chargers' hopes with a dominating second half, pulling away for a 54-34 decision at Topeka West.
Senior Jazmyn Ford led Topeka West with 12 points in Tuesday's 54-34 UKC loss to Basehor-Linwood. [FIle photo/TSN]
Topeka West led 10-9 early in the second quarter and trailed by just a point (13-12) at the half, but Basehor-Linwood took control with a 19-9 third quarter and led by 25 points (52-27) midway through the fourth quarter, outscoring the Chargers 41-22 in the second half.
"That's kind of been our personality this year,'' Topeka West coach Jeff Skar said. "We were within two of De Soto at halftime and it was kind of the same thing. In trying to establish the program we're talking about trying to break the other team's momentum or keeping ours going and it's a challenge for us right now. We need to put a complete game together.
"It was frustrating tonight because every time we caught the ball we were putting our head down and trying to drive it into traffic and driving it kind of without a purpose instead of driving to maybe draw two defenders and get it to a shooter.''
Junior Kodi Greer led Basehor-Linwood with a game-high 16 points, including a pair of 3-pointers, while junior Harley Baker added 15 points and 14 rebounds and senior Emma Johnson nine points.
Basehor-Linwood improved to 8-3 overall and 6-2 in the UKC with the Bobcats' fifth straight win, including a double-overtime decision over then-No. 1-ranked Seaman last week.
Senior Jazmyn Ford led Topeka West (1-8, 1-7) with 12 points, but was the only Charger with more than five points.
Topeka West will travel to Leavenworth Thursday night for a UKC contest.
BASEHOR-LINWOOD GIRLS 54, TOPEKA WEST 34
Basehor-Linwood 9 4 19 22 -- 54
Topeka West 6 6 9 13 -- 34
Basehor-Linwood (8-3, 6-2) -- Johnson 4-9 1-4 9, Fisher 1-3 0-0 2, Greer 7-18 0-1 16, Cruse 3-9 2-2 8, Baker 6-13 3-9 15, Christopher 0-2 0-0 0, Brillhart 0-1 1-2 1, Cornish 0-0 0-0 0, Friesen 0-0 3-4 3, Gilliam 0-4 0-0 0. Totals 21-59 10-22 54.
Topeka West (1-8, 1-7) -- Brooks 1-8 2-4 4, Alexander 0-8 0-0 0, Duncan 2-11 0-2 5, Clark 1-4 3-5 5, Ford 4-8 4-4 12, Gonzales 0-3 0-0 0, McGlory 1-2 1-2 4, Hall 0-1 0-0 0, Bearman 1-2 2-2 4. Totals 10-47 12-19 34.
3-point goals -- Basehor-Linwood 2 (Greer 2), Topeka West 2 (McGlory, Duncan). Total fouls -- Basehor-Linwood 15, Topeka West 21. Fouled out – Brooks. Technical fouls -- Basehor-Linwood coach.
