For the second time in as many weeks, a Washburn Ichabod has been selected as the MIAA Player of the Week, as junior guard Jack Bachelor takes the honor for action ending on Dec. 21 following WU sophomore Dillon Claussen, who won the award last week.
Junior Jack Bachelor, the newest member of Washburn's 1,000-point club, was named the MIAA Player of the Week on Monday. [File photo/TSN]
Bachelor averaged 19.5 points, 4.5 assists and 2.0 rebounds last week as the Ichabods went 2-0 with victories over two top-five teams.
The former Washburn Rural star went 8 of 13 from 3-point range and 9 of 10 from the free thow line as the No. 1-ranked Ichabods improved to 13-0 on the season.
Against Lubbock Christian, Bachelor scored 20 points while adding three steals with four assists in the win, going 6 of 10 from the field and 5 of 8 from deep.
Against West Texas A&M, he scored 19 points with five assists and three rebounds, hitting 3 of 5 3-point attempts and all six free throws.
Bachelor's first basket of the game against West Texas A&M – a 3-pointer with 15:33 to go in the first half – pushed him over the career 1,000-point mark for his career at Washburn, becoming the 30th Ichabod in program history to reach 1,000 points.
Bachelor now has 1,017 career points in 77 career games and he is tied with former teammate Michael Keegan at No. 24 overall on Washburn's all-time scoring chart.
The Ichabods will return to action on Jan. 3, hosting Emporia State at 3 p.m.
Senior individual champions Lacey Middleton and Madi Blanco led the way as Washburn Rural girls wrestling reigned supreme in Saturday's 35-school eighth annual Ladycat Classic at Basehor-Linwood, taking the team championship by an 184.5-147 margin over the host Bobcats.
Washburn Rural senior Lacey Middleton has her hand raised after winning the 125-pound title in Saturday's Ladycat Invitational at Basehor-Linwood. [Photo by Rick Peterson Jr./KSHSAA Covered]
Washburn Rural senior Madi Blanco fought back from a 7-2 deficit to win the 140-pound championship with a pin in Saturday's Ladycat Invitational at Basehor-Linwood. [Photo by Rick Peterson Jr./KSHSAA Covered]
“I was impressed with our mental fortitude (Saturday), because this is always a crazy tough tournament,'' Washburn Rural coach Damon Parker told KSHSAA Covered. "We go to a national level tournament the week before this, and then they've got finals week. And then we come to this, which is the toughest tournament in the state of Kansas.
“It's the fact that they were able to keep it together. We always have some kids that struggle this week because of all of those external stressors. And this is the first time that I really saw them mat-side supporting each other and doing the relationship stuff that we really preach. They showed what they're capable of. I was impressed.”
Middleton, now 14-2 on the season, won the 125-pound title with a 4-1 decision over Kapaun Mt. Carmel senior Courtney Nye.
Middleton won with a takedown with 15 seconds left in the third period.
“I stopped being surprised by Lacey Middleton a long time ago,'' Parker said. “She's going to surprise other people because she's not a household name with everybody, but she will be. There is nobody here that went through more hammers than Lacey Middleton did today.”
Blanco, 13-1, took the 140 crown, rallying from a 7-2 deficit to record a second-period (3:18) win by pin over Dodge City junior Alejandra DeLaRosa.
“She's down 7-2, fights off her back and gets up with the biggest smile ever on her face,” Parker said. “That's who she is as a human. It’s such a rare gift to be able to look at the scoreboard, see yourself in a humongous hole, and be like, ‘Oh, cool, what a challenge. I can't wait.’ She is that kid.”
The Junior Blues also got third-place finishes from freshman 105-pounder Aliyah Tangpricha (12-2) and senior 170-pounder Elia Smith (12-2), a fourth from senior Emme Blanco (12-2) and sixth-place finishes from junior 130-pounder Rylee-Jade Ebanez (12-6) and 235-pound sophomore Emma Mehl (9-5).
“Overall, I couldn't be more pleased with the way that they wrestled (Saturday),'' Parker said. "But the coolest thing about this squad is they understand the way we performed here has absolutely no bearing on what's going to happen six weeks from now in February. They're going to enjoy it today, go home and we'll get back to work once we get back from the Christmas break.”
Shawnee Heights sophomore Olive Jones won the 135-pound championship in Saturday's 35-school Ladycat Classic at Basehor-Linwood. [Photo by Rick Peterson Jr./KSHSAA Covered]
Shawnee Heights fnished 11th as a team with 87.5 points as T-Bird sophomore Olive Jones captured the 135-pound championship with a pin at the 3:46 mark over Nemaha Central junior Autumn Feldkamp, improving to 13-1 on the season.
The T-Birds also got a fourth-place finish from junior 125-pounder Audry Hinkly (8-5), a fifth from senior 145-pounder Olivia Stevens (9-2) and a seventh from junior 190-pounder Brooklyn Binkley (6-5).
Rossville junior 145-pounder Madelyn Wonnell (9-4) posted a sixth-place finish, while Bulldawg sophomore Nora Mitchell (11-4) finished seventh at 105 pounds.
Seaman sophomore Hollister Olson-Thomas (6-6) placed sixth at 135 pounds while Viking sophomore Avery Villines (7-5) finished eighth at 125.
Silver Lake junior Kamiryn Clark (6-5) finished eighth at 100 pounds.
Rural won the Basehor-Linwood LadyCat Classic with 184.5 points. Basehor-Linwood’s was second with 147 points. Lacey Middleton (125) and Madi Blanco (140) won their weight classes.
T-Birds' Bonebrake claims title in Scott Bacon Classic
Shawnee Heights freshman Jacob Bonebrake earned the 113-pound championship in Saturday's Scott Bacon Classic at Blue Valley.
Bonebrake, now 14-1 on the season, took a 6-2 decision over Blue Valley junior Rocco Lanzisero in the title match, leading Shawnee Heights to a sixth-place team finish (319.5).
The T-Birds also got a third-place finish from 150-pound junior Brody Brown (17-1), a fourth from senior 175-pounder Evan Johnson (12-4) and a sixth from sophomore 144-pounder Carter Kamanda (8-10).
Seaman finished fourth as a team with 335 points, led by a third-place finish from senior 157-pounder Brennen Bowers (18-1).
The Vikings also got a fourth-place showing from junior 150-pounder Deegan Frazier (15-3), fifths from 138-pound junior Ross Shipley (15-3) and 285-pound junior Henry Reichart (15-4) and a sixth from 126-pound freshman Cale Heston (11-7).
Lawrence Free State won the team championship with 386 points.
Washburn University women's basketball improved to 9-3 Saturday while posting its third straight double-digit victory, taking down Cameron 78-49 in the finale of the Fairfield Inn and Suites Holiday Classic in Lawton, Okla.
Junor Britany Kogbara led Washburn with 14 points in Saturday's 78-49 win over Cameron. [File photo/TSN]
Quick scores put Washburn in front 7-4 early after senior Yibari Nwidadah scored on a layup at the 7:54 mark. The Aggies (0-11) responded with a run on their home floor scoring 11 of the next 16 points to go in front. They led by one at 17-16 after ten minutes of action.
Neither team scored for nearly the first three minutes of the second until junior Madelyn Amekporfor got a layup to go at the 7:21 mark. The bucket put Washburn ahead and shortly after that a 6-0 run pushed the lead up to seven points after a score by Nia McKenzie. Even while shooting under 35.0% from the floor in the first half the Ichabods were able to build a 32-27 lead going into the break.
Out of the half Cameron cut the lead down to five points in the opening minutes. The response from Washburn came in the form of a 9-0 run, ending with a layup by Amekporfor.
An 8-0 run later on pushed the lead to 20 points as the Ichabod offense exploded to shoot 10-14 (71.4%) in the quarter while holding the Aggies to just 2-14 shooting. The five-point game turned into a 58-37 contest heading into the fourth.
In the final frame the Ichabods pushed the lead to 25 points at the 6:59 mark after a pair of free throws by Britany Kogbara. The margin grew to a game-high 30 as Cloie Janskygot a bucket to go with 2:28 remaining. Washburn would go on to win by its largest margin of the season at 29 points.
Seaman's girls basketball pushed its winning streak to four games Friday night at De Soto, with the Vikings taking a 45-34 United Kansas Conference decision over the Wildcats.
Senior Maddie Gragg had 17 points, 11 rebounds and 8 steals in Seaman's 45-34 road UKC win at De Soto Friday night. [File photo/TSN]
Seaman, now 4-1 overall and in the UKC, trailed 11-5 at the end of the opening quarter but turned the game around with a 15-4 second quarter to take a 20-15 halftime advantage.
The Vikings, No. 8-ranked in Class 5A by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association, outscored De Soto 25-19 in the second half to stretch their final margin to double digits.
"The talk this week during practice was that we are treating this last game before break as a final exam, 'Show me what you have learned,' '' Seaman coach Matt Tinsley said. "We have a young team who battled and grew up tonight.
"It wasn't pretty by any means, but we are happy with a win going into the break. Now we have some time off to reflect and re-charge. It's still early in the season and our team is finding our identity. A lot of new faces, but these girls want to make a name for themselves.''
Seaman's defense pestered De Soto into 21.8-percent shooting from the field and a 2 of 27 showing from 3-point range while Seaman shot 41.7 percent from the floor.
Senior Maddie Gragg led Seaman with 17 points, 11 rebounds and eight steals while Cara Beaton added 13 points and Claire Puvogel grabbed nine rebounds.
"Maddie put us on her back again with another double-double,'' Tinsley said. "She's a senior who is locked in.''
The Vikings will return to action Jan. 7 at St. James Academy.
Seaman boys top Wildcats, 56-40
No. 3-ranked Seaman rolled to a 56-40 United Kansas Conference road win at De Soto Friday night, ending its pre-holiday slate with a 4-1 record overall and in the conference.
The Vikings will return to action Jan. 7 at St. James Academy.
Senior Simon Rowley (5) led Washburn Rural with 11 points in Friday's 60-25 road win over Barstow. [File photo/TSN]
Junior Blues boys take 60-25 road win at Barstow
Washburn Rural's boys improved to 4-2 on the season with their third straight win Friday night, taking a decisive 60-25 road decision at Kansas City-Barstow, Mo.
The Junior Blues led 25-6 at the end of the first quarter and put the game out of reach with a 39-10 halftime advantage before cruising the rest of the way.
Seniors Simon Rowley and John Hoytal scored 11 and 10 points, respectively, to lead the Junior Blues.
Washburn Rural will be back in action Jan. 3, traveling to Olathe West.
Rural girls end pre-holiday slate 4-1
Washburn Rural girls basketball improved to 4-1 Friday with a 55-27 road romp past KC-Barstow, Mo.
The Junior Blues, ranked No. 6 in 6A by the KBCA, will be off until Jan. 5 when they will host Olathe North.
Scot boys give Nate Wallace first win, 78-35 over Wyandotte
Nate Wallace picked up its first win as a head coach Friday night on the road, with Highland Park routing Kansas City-Wyandotte 78-35 in a Meadowlark Conference contest.
Highland Park improved to 1-3 with the victory and will return to action on Jan. 2 at home against USD 501 rival Topeka High.
Wildcat boys top Eagles to snap three-game skid
Hayden ended its pre-holiday slate with a 64-57 win over No. 2-ranked (Class 3A) Silver Lake Friday night at Rock Creek.
The Wildcats snapped a three-game losing streak with the win, improving to 3-4, while Silver Lake is 4-2.
Hayden will return to action Jan. 2 at city rival Shawnee Heights while Silver Lake was scheduled to face Goodland on Saturday.
Washburn University women's basketball delivered a full 40-minute effort on Friday night in Day 1 of the Fairfield Inn and Suites Holiday Classic in Lawton, Okla., knocking off Western Colorado, 59-43.
Senior Payton Sterk led a balanced Washburn attack with 15 points in Friday's 59-43 tournament win over Western Colorado. [File photo/TSN]
Ichabod senior Payton Sterk opened the scoring in the game's first 15 seconds with a 3-pointer as 8-3 Washburn scored the first five points of the game.
The Mountaineers (5-4) responded with an 8-3 run to pull within three. Defensively the Ichabods were able to hold Western Colorado in check after that in the opening quarter as it shot just 25.0 percent overall, helping Washburn lead 15-9.
Both sides slowed down to begin the second quarter with just nine total points in the first five minutes of action. With the lead at just two points the Ichabods got four in a row from senior Gabi Giovannetti in the final minutes of the quarter to lead 26-20 heading into the break.
After trading baskets to open the third quarter Washburn pushed the lead to double figures, with Sterk drilling another 3-pointer to make it 35-25 at the 5:18 mark. An old-fashioned three-point play late in the quarter by Nia McKenzie made it a 15-point game as the Ichabod defense held the Mountaineers to under 30.0 percent shooting in the quarter once again.
Western Colorado turned around its offensive attack in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, cutting the lead down to six points at the 5:08 mark. Ichabod junior Britany Kogbara put a stop to the run with an and-one conversion that started a 12-0 run for Washburn that lasted into the final minute of action as they went on to win, 59-43.
The Ichabod offense shot 42.6 percent from the floor while going 5 of 11 from deep and 14-17 at the free throw line line in an all-around efficient effort. The defense was equally as stifling, holding the Mountaineers to just 31.9 percent shooting and 5-18 from three-point range.
Washburn won the turnover battle 22-14 leading to a 14-9 advantage in points off giveaways. They also had a 26-14 edge in paint scoring.
Sterk led the Ichabods with 15 points on 5 of 8 shooting to go along with four steals.
Sophomore Brooke Gomez had a season-high 11 points on 5 of 6 shooting and three steals while Giovannetti had 10 points. Six players finished with five or more points while all 14 Ichabods logged minutes.
Alyssa Eckroth had a team-high 10 points for Western Colorado.
The Ichabods will finish off the tournament on Saturday, facing the host Cameron at 4 p.m.
Junor Britany Kogbara led Washburn with 14 points in Saturday's 78-49 win over Cameron. [File photo/TSN] 
