By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The 2024 portion of the Shawnee County high school basketball season cranks up in a hurry, with all 10 county schools in action this week, beginning with a pair of Centennial League games on Tuesday, Jan. 2.
Here's a glance at all of this week's games involving county boys teams:
TUESDAY
Senior Cooper Colboch is averaging 16.2 points to lead 4-1 Hayden. [Photo by Kyle Grunert/Special to TSN]
EMPORIA BOYS (4-2 overall, 0-0 Centennial) at HAYDEN (4-1 overall, 0-0 Centennial)
Both Hayden and Emporia will open Centennial League play Tuesday while meeting for the second time this season. Emporia handed the Wildcats their lone loss, a 50-44 decision, in the Paul Terry Classic at Emporia in early Dec. Hayden, ranked No. 6 in Class 3A by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association, closed out 2023 with a 69-56 win over Class 6A school Shawnee Mission West while Emporia dropped a 45-42 decision to Great Bend in its '23 finale. Senior Cooper Colboch leads Hayden with a 16.2 scoring average while seniors Dom Ridley and Carter Charvat average 10.2 and 10.0 points. Charvat also leads the Wildcats with a 7.2 rebounding average.
Junior Kaden Ballard (2) is averaging a team-high 11.6 points for Washburn Rural. [File photo/TSN]
WASHBURN RURAL BOYS (0-5 overall, 0-0 Centennial) at JUNCTION CITY (6-0 overall, 0-0 Centennial)
Washburn Rural and Junction City will both open their Centennial League schedules on Tuesday. Washburn Rural closed out its pre-holiday slate with a 67-45 loss to undefeated Kapaun Mt. Carmel while Junction City, ranked No. 6 in Class 6A by the KBCA, took a 55-51 overtime win over Bishop Carroll in its 2023 finale. Junior Kaden Ballard leads Washburn Rural with an 11.6 scoring average while
senior Griffin Durst averages 10.4 points. Senior JC Heim averages a team-best 6.7 rebounds for the Junior Blues while junior King Leonard averages 3.6 assists and 1.8 steals.
THURSDAY
Junior Da'Mykel Hales is averaging 15.2 points for 3-3 Topeka High. [File photo/TSN]
TOPEKA HIGH BOYS (3-3) at BLUE VALLEY NORTHWEST (5-0)
Topeka High beat Bonner Springs 76-48 in its final game before the holiday break, equaling last season's win total, while Blue Valley Northwest is coming off an 89-61 win over Kansas City-Central. Blue Valley Northwest, which is the defending Class 6A state champion and ranked No. 2 in 6A by the KBCA, will be playing its first game against a Kansas school Thursday night. Junior Da'Mykel Hales leads Topeka High with a 15.2 scoring average while senior Miguel Villegas averages 11.2 points with 16 made 3-pointers on the season. Hales also averages 3.7 assists and 2.5 steals while Villegas averages 4.3 rebounds.
FRIDAY
WASHBURN RURAL BOYS (0-5 overall, 0-0 Centennial at start of week) at HAYDEN (4-1overall, 0-0 Centennial at start of week)
Washburn Rural and Hayden will be playing their second Centennial League game on the week, with Rural playing at Junction City on Tuesday and Hayden hosting Emporia.
Highland Park senior Tamir Anderson leads the city in scoring and 3-point field goals. [File photo/TSN]
ATCHISON BOYS (6-0 overall, 2-0 Meadowlark) at HIGHLAND PARK (3-0 overall, 1-0 Meadowlark)
Highland Park is ranked No. 3 in Class 5A by the KBCA while Atchison is ranked No. 3 in 4A. Highland Park closed out 2023 with a 77-30 win over Kansas City-Wyandotte in its Meadowlark Conference opener while Atchison rolled to a 91-41 conference win over Wyandotte in its '23 finale. Senior Tamir Anderson leads the city of Topeka with a 24.7 scoring average and 19 made 3-pointers while junior Ja'Corey Robinson averages 20 points, 8.3 rebounds and 5.0 steals. Junior Mikey Williams averages 13.7 points and 3.7 steals for the Scots while junior Jamon Wilson averages a city-high 7.7 assists.
Junior Jaret Sanchez is averaging a team-high 18,2 points and 9.8 rebounds for 3-2 Shawnee Heights. [File photo/TSN[
LANSING BOYS (1-3 overall, 1-3 UKC at start of week) at SHAWNEE HEIGHTS (3-2 overall, 3-2 UKC)
Shawnee Heights enters 2024 with a three-game winning streak, including an 85-37 UKC win over Leavenworth in its final game before the holiday break. Lansing closed out 2023 with a 71-67 UKC loss to Piper. The Lions will play De Soto on Wednesday. Junior Jaret Sanchez averages team-highs of 18.2 points and 9.8 rebounds for Shawnee Heights while senior Brennon Dodge averages 13.2 points. T-Bird sophomore Da'Quan Lee leads the city with 2.2 blocked shots per game.
Junior Jalen Foy (22) leads Topeka West with a 12.7 scoring average and 3.7 assists per game. [File photo/TSN]
DE SOTO BOYS (6-0 overall, 3-0 UKC at start of week) at TOPEKA WEST (4-2 overall, 4-1 UKC)
De Soto, ranked No. 4 in Class 5A by the KBCA, closed out 2023 with a 68-45 UKC win over Seaman while Topeka West beat Kansas City-Turner 57-39 in a conference game to close out its pre-holiday schedule. De Soto will play Lansing on Wednesday. Junior Jalen Foy leads Topeka West with a 12.7 scoring average, 3.7 assists and 2.7 steals while Ja'Vion Chambers averages 12.3 points and junior Kamoni Ford 8.5 points. Senior Caleb Noonoo leads the Chargers with 6.2 rebounds per game.
Sophomore KaeVon Bonner is averaging 19.8 points with nine 3-pointers for Seaman. [File photo/TSN]
SEAMAN BOYS (2-2 overall, 2-2 UKC) at LEAVENWORTH (0-5 overall, 0-2 UKC at start of week)
Seaman boys, ranked No. 10 in Class 5A by the KBCA, dropped a 68-45 UKC decision to undefeated De Soto in its final game of 2023 while Leavenworth closed out its pre-holiday slate with an 85-37conference loss to Shawnee Heights. Leavenworth will play Basehor-Linwood Tuesday night. Sophomore KaeVon Bonner is averaging 19.8 points with nine 3-pointers for Seaman while junior Bryer Finley is averaging 13.5 points and senior Holden Finley 9.5 points.
TOPEKA HIGH BOYS (3-3 overall, 0-1 Centennial at start of week) at EMPORIA (4-2, 0-0 at start of week)
Both Topeka High and Emporia will be playing their second games of the week, with High playing a Thursday night non-league road game at Blue Valley Northwest while Emporia played its Centennial League opener at Hayden on Tuesday.
Silver Lake's Jared Johnson scored 22 points with four 3-pointers in the Eagles 62-54 win over Rossville. [File photo/TSN]
ROCK CREEK BOYS (5-1 overall, 3-0 Mid-East) at SILVER LAKE (4-1 overall, 2-1 Mid-East)
Silver Lake closed out the 2023 portion of its schedule with a 62-54 Mid-East League win over rival Rossville while Rock Creek closed out its pre-holiday slate with a 50-38 win over Riley County. Jared Johnson scored a game-high 22 points with four 3-pointers in the Eagles' win over Rossville while Elijah Lopez and Brody Deiter scored 14 points apiece.
ROSSVILLE BOYS (2-4 overall, 0-1 Mid-East) at RILEY COUNTY (1-4 overall, 0-2 Mid-East)
Rossville closed out 2023 with a 62-54 Mid-East Loss to rival Silver Lake while Riley County is coming off a 50-38 league decision to Rock Creek. Kameron Badura led Rossville with 15 points in the Bulldawgs' loss to Silver Lake while Jakoby McDonnell and Jack Donovan scored 13 points apiece.
Cair Paravel senior Simon Everhart (1) is averaging a team-high 12.5 points and 6.8 rebounds for the Lions. [File photo/TSN]
CAIR PARAVEL BOYS (3-3) at MARANATHA ACADEMY (4-1)
Cair Paravel Latin closed out the 2023 portion of its schedule with a heartbreaking 68-67 overtime loss to Northland Christian while Maranatha beat Northland Christian 61-54 in its '23 finale. Senior Simon Everhart averages team-highs of 12.5 points and 6.8 rebounds for Cair Paravel while senior Evan Will averages 9.7 points and 6.7 rebounds and senior Ty Gossard 8.8 points and 4.8 rebounds.
