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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Topeka West's boys basketball team combined outstanding defense with timely offense to open its 2023-2024 season with a home 52-37 United Kansas Conference decision over Basehor-Linwood.
West (1-0 overall, 1-0 UKC) held Basehor-Linwood (0-1, 0-1) to single-digit point totals in each of the final three quarters and just 13 points in the second half while juniors Jalen Foy and Ja'Vian Chambers combined for 38 points to lead the Chargers on the offensive end.
Junior Jalen Foy (22) scored a game-high 23 points as Topeka West opened its season with a 52-37 UKC win over Basehor-Linwood. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Junior Ja'Vian Chambers (21) scored 15 points in Topeka West's 52-37 UKC win over Basehor-Linwood Friday night. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"This time of year, in December, the defense better be ahead of your offense,'' veteran Topeka West coach Rick Bloomquist said. "I'm not saying it is, but it better be, and that was my big concern because I knew coming in we were going to play against a very well-disciplined team that's going to go inside-out and give us a lot of problems because they are big.
"I was very pleased with how when we changed defenses I thought we played it very well because I don't think we could have matched up with them too well man to man with the big guy (6-foot-6 junior Peyton Brown) inside. I'm very pleased with how we played defense against a good team.''
Basehor-Linwood, a Class 5A state qualifier last season, led 15-13 at the end of the first quarter but Foy canned a 3-pointer to open the second quarter and Chambers scored five straight points to put West in front 21-15 and the Chargers never trailed again.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Obviously, there were multiple factors that contributed to Topeka West's 61-31 season-opening girls basketball loss to United Kansas Conference rival Basehor-Linwood Friday night at West.
Sophomore Imani McGlory (5) led Topeka West with 15 points in Friday's 61-31 UKC loss to Basehor-Linwood. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
But the Chargers' early foul trouble and the Bobcats' success from 3-point range were at the top of the list.
Angie Ketterman's Topeka West team (0-1 overall, 0-1 UKC) got into foul trouble shortly after tipoff while Basehor-Linwood singed the nets for 12 3-pointers en route to forcing a running clock in the fourth quarter due to the 30-point spread rule.
"The foul trouble got us and Basehor was draining the 3s,'' Ketterman said. "We got in four trouble and our shots weren't falling early, but they hustled the entire time.''
Topeka West led 6-3 early in the opening quarter but Basehor-Linwood (1-0, 1-0) used six straight free throws followed by a 3-pointer to take a 14-6 lead and the Bobcats never looked back.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Twelve city players earned first-team spots on the 2023 All-Centennial League football team, led by Washburn Rural senior quarterback Branton DeWeese, who was named the offense player of the year.
Washburn Rural senior quarterback Branton DeWeese has been named the Centennial League offensive player of the year after helping lead the Junior Blues to the league title and an 11-1 record overall. [File photo/TSN]
Steve Buhler has been named the Centennial League coach of the year after leading Washburn Rural to the league title and an 11-1 record on the year. [File photo/TSN]
DeWeese, who was also a first-team pick on offense, is one of 11 players to receive first-team recognition from Washburn Rural, which won the Centennial League championship on the way to an 11-1 record and advanced to the semifinals of the Class 6A playoffs.
Washburn Rural coach Steve Buhler was selected as the Centennial League coach of the year.
Senior wide receiver Titan Osburn, junior offensive linemen Caden Estrada and Jacob Hawks and sophomore running back TJ Minikwu also earned first-team honors for Washburn Rural on offense along with DeWeese while senior linemen Packson Bettis and Jamond Lane, senior linebackers Jaren Heim and JC Heim and junior defensive back Kingston Leonard first-team picks on defense and Rural sophomore Trevon Creager was named the first-team punter.
Topeka High junior Jayden Norman earned a first-team berth on the all-league offense at wide receiver.
Junction City senior Michael Boganowski was named the Centennial defensive player of the year.
ALL-CENTENNIAL LEAGUE FOOTBALL
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Cair Paravel Latin's boys basketball team opened the Chip Kueffer era with a come-from-behind 46-42 win over Burlingame in the opening round of the Waverly tournament.
Kueffer was making his debut as the Lions' coach and picked up the win as CPLS closed with a strong fourth-quarter rally.
Cair Paravel senior Evan Will scored 14 points, including the game-winning 3-pointer, in the Lions' 46-42 win over Burlingame on Thursday. [Photo by Jan Pabitzky/Special to TSN]
Evan Will led the Lions with 14 points and hit the game-winning 3-pointer from the left wing off a pass from Ian Brian.
Brian also came up with an offensive rebound off a missed Lion free throw with 10 seconds remaining to clinch the win.
CPLS senior Simon Everhart scored 10 points in Thursday's 46-42 season-opening win over Burlingame in the Waverly tournament. [Photo by Jan Pabitzky/Special to TSN]
Ty Gossard goes to the hoop in Thursday's 46-42 Cair Paravel win over Burlingame. [Photo by Jan Pabitzky/Special to TSN\
Ty Gossard and Simon Everhart added 10 points apiece for the Lions.
Cair Paravel will face tournament host Waverly at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
WASHBURN RURAL GIRLS 53, NEWTON 13
Maddie Vickery, a 6-foot-1 freshman, scored 18 points in her high school debut, helping lead Washburn Rural to a 53-13 win over Newton in the first round of the Hays Shootout.
In addition to Vickery's game-high performance, the Junior Blues got 13 points from junior Kate Hinck.
Washburn Rural played without senior standout Zoe Canfield.
The Junior Blues, who won the Class 6A state title in 2022 and finished second in 2023, advanced to a 6:30 p.m. Friday semifinal game to face tournament host Hays.
Rural will close out its tournament appearance on Saturday.
BURLINGAME GIRLS 57, CAIR PARAVEL LATIN 30
Burlingame topped Cair Paravel Latin 57-30 in the opening round of the Waverly tournament.
The Lions will play Waverly at 6 p.m. Friday.
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By Todd Fertig
TopSports.news
The Topeka High girls basketball team started a new era with a young lineup and, despite some growing pains, were encouraged by what they saw in a 44-40 loss to Wamego at Topeka High Thursday.
Topeka High coach Britney Redmond gives instructions to her team during Thursday's 44-40 loss to Wamego. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Topeka High senior Ladaysha Baird fights for a loose ball in Thursday's 44-40 loss to Wamego. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
The Trojans played just one player – Ladaysha Baird – who was older than a sophomore. Baird is one of two holdovers from last year’s team that went 16-6 and came just short of a trip to the 6A state tournament.
The young Trojans fell behind by 12 in the second period, but they didn’t wilt. They struck back after halftime, outscoring the Lady Raiders 12-2 in the third period. Topeka High claimed the lead 29-28 early in the fourth and kept it close the rest of the way.
“I think we have the youngest team in the state of Kansas. We didn’t play our best and still only lost by four,” said Topeka High coach Brittney Redmond. “I know the identity of this team and I told them ‘Hey, second half, things are going to go our way.’ ”
The Trojans were led in scoring by freshman Ahsieryrhajh Rayton with 16. In all, Topeka High played three freshmen and three sophomores in addition to Baird.
“There were a lot of nerves. I don’t think they knew what to expect today,” Redmond said. “I think they exceeded my expectations. I’m extremely proud of this group. I know this is only just the beginning.”
