By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
After finishing second in Class 6A two years ago and having its chance at a title wiped out by COVID-19 last season, Topeka High's girls basketball team still has goals it wants to accomplish this season.
But Hannah Alexander's Trojans checked the first item off their checklist Saturday, clinching the outright Centennial League championship with a 71-25 romp past Topeka West at West to improve to 18-0 overall and 15-0 in the league with their 41st straight victory.
Saturday's win gave Topeka High its second straight outright league title and it's third overall, with the Trojans sharing the crown with Washburn Rural in 2019.
"It's always a good feeling to get that accomplished,'' Alexander said. "I think that's a big test in this Centennial League to do that.''
Topeka High and Topeka West had a late-morning tipoff Saturday after both teams played Friday night and the Trojans were a little sluggish early before picking up steam.
"It was a quick turnaround,'' Alexander said. "We didn't do a very good job of taking care of the ball, too many turnovers, so that was the only negative I told them I was disappointed in.
Topeka High's Kiki Smith scored a game high of 23 points against Topeka West. (Photo by Rex Wolf / TSN) "Everything else was good. I thought the effort was there, the teamwork and togetherness were there. It was just purely that I think we need to take care of the ball better.''
Topeka High led 21-9 after the first quarter before outscoring the Chargers (2-15, 1-13) by a 42-13 margin over the middle two quarters to force a running clock in the fourth.
Sophomore Kiki Smith paced the Trojans with a game-high 23 points, while Faith Shields and Ja'Neysha Hendricks added 9 points apiece and Adisyn Caryl 8.
The Trojans played without junior star NiJaree Canady, who sat out the game as a precautionary measure after suffering a slight injury in Friday night's win over Hayden.
"I think she'll be fine,'' Alexander said. "It was just we felt like we shouldn't need her today if we took care of business.''
Sophomore Mia Anthony led Topeka West with 6 points.
TOPEKA HIGH GIRLS 71, TOPEKA WEST 25
Topeka High 21 19 23 8 -- 71
Topeka West 9 7 6 3 -- 25
Topeka High (18-0, 15-0) -- L. Smith 1 3-4 6, Thomas 2 1-2 5, K. Smith 10 1-1 23, Hendricks 4 0-2 9, Lyons 1 1-4 3, Baird 1 0-1 2, Z. Caryl 1 0-0 2, A. Caryl 3 2-2 8, Shields 4 0-0 9, Wiley 2 0-0 4. Totals 29 8-16 71.
Topeka West (2-15, 1-13) -- S. Triplett 0 0-0 0, Sanchez 1 3-4 5, Benson 0 0-0 0, Clark 0 1-3 1, Ford 2 0-2 4, Jones 0 0-0 0, Anthony 2 0-0 6, N. Triplett 1 1-2 4, Duncan 1 0-0 3, Davis 0 0-0 0, Henderson 1 0-0 2, Bearman 0 0-0 0. Totals 8 5-11 25.
3-point goals -- Topeka High 5 (K. Smith, L. Smith, Shields, Hendricks), Topeka West 4 (Anthony 2, N. Triplett, Duncan). Total fouls -- Topeka High 12, Topeka West 15. Fouled out -- none.
