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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Like just about everything else in the age of the coronavirus, putting together the 2021 recruiting class was completely different for Washburn football coach Craig Schurig and his staff.
For one thing, there were less spots to fill due to the cancellation of the '20 MIAA season, with all of the current Ichabods, including what would have been last fall's senior class, being granted an extra year of eligibility from the NCAA.
The logistics of getting out and scouting players due to the pandemic also provided obstacles for Schurig and his coaches.
But when all was said and done, Schurig was pleased with the 19-member high school signing class he announced Wednesday on National Signing Day, including Hayden standouts Trey Pivarnik and Jayden Rainer, and thinks the newcomers will provide a good mix with the largest number of returners he has had in his two decades at the WU helm.
"You have an extra class and we're fortunate that our super senior class, we have a lot of them that are going to stick it out, and I'm glad they are,'' Schurig said. "They didn't get that senior year and they've put in a lot of work. Dr. Farley (Washburn president) has been really good about it because you have to kind of fund those guys to come back, but it should reap a lot of benefits for us, too.
"We were still able to sign a pretty decent number. It's not as big as usual, but we feel like the quality is definitely there. Obviously you always feel that way, but we feel like it really is and it hit some needs.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Freshman Emma Mitchell led the way with a game-high 22 points as Rossville's girls basketball team posted a 69-51 win over St. Marys Tuesday night, the Bulldawgs' second win in their last three games.
Mitchell, a 5-foot-8 forward, was joined in double figures by senior post Gracie Rabe, who finished with 14 points, as Rossville improved to 3-7 on the season.
Rossville and St. Marys were tied 12-12 at the end of the first quarter, but the Bulldawgs opened up a 35-22 halftime lead on the strength of a 23-10 second quarter. The Bulldawgs held the Bears at bay the rest of the way, holding a 34-29 scoring edge in the second half.
Juniors Katelyn Hurla and Morgan Hurla scored 19 and 12 points, respectively, for St. Marys (3-0).
OSAGE CITY BOYS 49, SILVER LAKE 38
Osage City spoiled Silver Lake's upset bid with a dominant fourth quarter, taking a 49-38 win to improve to 12-2 on the season.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Seaman's boys basketball team gained a measure of revenge Tuesday night at Junction City, dating back to the Vikings' season-opening game.
Junction City had outlasted Seaman (70-67) in double overtime in the earlier meeting, but the Vikings took control down the stretch in the rematch behind junior Ty Henry to take a 61-55 Centennial League win.
Henry scored 12 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter as Seaman, 6-7 overall and 5-5 in the league, outscored Junction City 21-17 in the fourth and 37-27 in the second half after trailing at the break, 28-24.
Junior Casen Stallbaumer backed Henry with 12 points while junior Dagen Brewer was the third double-figure scorer for the Vikings, scoring 10 points.
Senior Chris Dixon scored 16 points for Junction City (6-7, 4-6) to tie Henry for game-high scoring honors, while junior Seth Clark added 15 for the Blue Jays.
JUNCTION CITY GIRLS 41, SEAMAN 37
Seaman led 8-6 at the end of the first quarter, but Junction City took control with a 15-6 second quarter en route to a 41-37 home Centennial League win over the Vikings.
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By ANDREW GILL
TopSports.news
In Tuesday night’s 49-27 non-league home win over Tonganoxie, Adysen Burghart could not have had a much better game for Shawnee Heights' girls basketball team.
“She’s been having some big nights and was ready to have another breakthrough,” Shawnee Heights coach Bob Wells said of the senior. “With only four weeks of the regular season left, I think she’s starting to feel being a senior a little bit. She’s been showing up with a different attitude [in practice], I’m hoping that’ll be infectious.''
Burghart shot an impressive 8 for 12 from the field and 3 for 3 from the charity stripe for a game high 20 points. She also managed to snag 7 rebounds.
Fellow senior Taylor Hawkins also came up big for Heights, grabbing 11 rebounds and scoring 7 points. Sophomore Riley Showalter was the only other T-Bird to score in double-digits, adding 12 points.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Highland Park's boys basketball is starting to look like the team coach Michael Williams expected at the start of the 2020-21 season, with the Scots running their win streak to four games Tuesday night with a 63-58 home Centennial League win over Emporia.
CJ Powell, a 6-foot-6 senior, had a monster night for the Scots, scoring 31 points as Highland Park improved to 7-5 overall and 6-3 in the league. Junior Juan'Tario Roberts added 16 points with 4 3-pointers as the Scots' 1-2 punch carried the team offensively.
Emporia (6-6, 3-5) led 16-14 at the end of the first quarter, but Highland Park used a 15-7 second quarter to take a 29-23 lead at the half.
The Scots were still in front by 6 points (45-39) at the start of the fourth quarter and held off the Spartans for the win.
Emporia was led by senior Charles Snyder's 24 points.
CAIR PARAVEL LATIN BOYS 44, ST. MARY'S ACADEMY 38
Tuesday wasn't one of Cair Paravel Latin's most productive offensive games, but the Lions did the job defensively, not allowing more than 12 points in a quarter on the way to a 44-38 home boys victory over St. Mary's Academy.
