By TODD FERTIG
TopSports.news
Just 24 hours after the Chargers outlasted rival Topeka High in a grueling battle at The Dungeon, Topeka West withstood a challenge Tuesday from Turner 72-54 to draw within one game of a United Kansas Conference crown.
Malakyah Duncan scored a game-high 16 points to help lead Topeka West to a 72-54 Senior Night win over Turner. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Senior Keimani Paul scored 13 points to help lead Topeka West to a 72-54 Senior Night win over Turner. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
The Golden Bears didn’t go down willingly. They led 21-20 early in the second period and stayed within reach the entire first half. An 8-0 run to start the third quarter gave the Chargers some breathing room.
As the Chargers slowly built a lead Tuesday, Topeka West coach Christian Ulsaker went deeper into his bench to rest his starters and allow others to get minutes. Coming off the bench on Senior Nigh, regular junior starter Prince Lassiter scored 12 points and junior J.J. Doby added eight.
“Second game in as many days, I thought we started fast last night,” Ulsaker said. “So, trying to replicate that two nights in a row might be a little bit challenging with how high intensity the game last night was. I’m just proud of our boys for just battling, getting the win.”
The Chargers, ranked fourth in the final ranking of Class 5A teams by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association, improved to 18-3, 13-2 in the United Kansas Conference. A win Friday at Lansing would guarantee that they will at least share the crown, if not win it outright.
Ulsaker started all five of his seniors Tuesday and saw them combine for 48 points. Leading the seniors was Malakyah Duncan with 16 and Keimani Paul with 13. Gad Munganga added eight, Jay’Veon Traylor at six and Trey Ware tossed in five.
“It was good to honor the seniors tonight. (Senior Night) is fun to see and it’s also sad at the same time.” said Ulsaker, who came to Topeka West from Wabaunsee two seasons ago. “These guys have been in the program for four years, I’ve had the great opportunity of coaching them for two. I can’t tell you how great of a class this is. You have certain groups and senior groups that you just wish you could have more, and this is definitely one of them.”
After the game, Duncan reflected on his career at Topeka West.
“I feel good. I’m ready for sub-state, hopefully make it to state,” Duncan said. “I have great confidence in my team. We are balanced, talented. I think we can take it all the way. We’ve got the potential to do something this team has never done, to win state for the first time in history. We’ve just got to go do it.”
TOPEKA WEST BOYS 72, TURNER 54
Turner 16 12 14 12 -- 54
Topeka West 20 16 18 18 -- 72
Turner (4-18, 0-15) – Marshall 4-8 0-0 9, Scott 1-3 0-0 2, McBride 1-4 1-2 3, McGee 6-11 2-2 14, Bryant 2-3 0-0 5, Hamilton 5-9 1-2 13, Thomas 3-4 0-0 6, Solido 0-1 0-0 0, Ramanis 0-0 2-2 2, Springer 0-0 0-0 0, King 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 22-43 6-8 54.
Topeka West (18-3, 13-2) – Munganga 2-6 4-4 8, Ware 2-6 0-0 5, Traylor 2-5 2-4 6, Duncan 7-12 1-1 16, Paul 5-8 2-2 13, Phillips 1-2 0-2 2, Lassiter 5-6 2-5 12, Doby 3-3 1-2 8, Fox 1-5 0-0 2, Lloyd 0-1 0-0 0, Emerson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 28-54 12-20 72.
3-point goals – Turner 4 (Hamilton 2, Marshall, Bryant), Topeka West 4 (Ware, Duncan , Paul, Doby). Total fouls – Turner 14, Topeka West 10. Fouled out – none. Technical fouls – none.
