By TODD FERTIG
TopSports.news
WICHITA -- The Topeka West Chargers were knocked off balance early and never recovered Thursday, losing to Bonner Springs 76-61 in the Class 5A state semifinal round at Wichita State's Koch Arena.
Junior Prince Lassiter led Topka West with 21 points in Thursday's 76-61 Class 5A semifinal loss to Bonner Springs. [Photo by Selena Rivas Favela/Special to TSN]
The third-seeded Chargers fell quickly into foul trouble and found themselves in a 19-8 hole in the opening period. The Chargers played the Braves essentially even on the scoreboard the rest of the way, but never challenged. The closest Topeka West ever came to catching the Braves was eight points.
“We came out flat,” said Topeka West coach Christian Ulsaker. “Bonner Springs was ready to play. We were not ready to play. Too many turnovers for us. We didn’t make the 50-50 plays, and they did.”
Topeka West won a grueling double-overtime quarterfinal over rival Piper on Tuesday to advance to the semifinals. Ulsaker admitted the Chargers might have been dealing with a hangover effect.
“It could be. But I think Bonner Springs just has a lot of guys who are pretty good basketball players, and we just weren’t ready for it,” Ulsaker said. “They do the same things we’ve been seeing all year. They hedge ball screens and we didn’t make the right reads to get the ball inside. I think (our) guys were hunting shots they shouldn’t have been hunting for and didn’t stick to the game plan.”
Chargers guard Malakyah Duncan spent a good portion of the first half on the bench in foul trouble. He scored just one basket prior to halftime, by which time Bonner Springs led 37-25.
Senior Gad Munganga, who scored 15 points, reacts during Thursday's 76-61 Class 5A semifinal loss to Bonner Springs. [Photo by Selena Rivas Favela/Special to TSN]
Prince Lassiter led the Chargers with 21 points, followed by Gad Munganga with 15.
Bonner Springs shot a blistering 62.5 percent from the field in the game. They were led by a three-headed monster at the offensive end. Kelan Gruver tossed in 32 points while Jaiden Jones and Nathanael Ferrell provided 20 and 17, respectively.
The Braves improved to 26-1 on the season, with their lone defeat coming in overtime versus Baldwin. The Braves will face undefeated defending 5A champ Kapaun Mt. Carmel in the championship game on Saturday.
The Chargers, meanwhile, will face Seaman for the third time this season, this time in the consolation match on Friday at noon at Wichita State.
“We’ve got to regroup,” Ulsaker said. “There’s nothing that I’m going to say to them in the locker room that’s going to make them feel any better. So, they’re going to have to take it and talk to each other, figure out how they can get themselves to muster up some courage to win a basketball game tomorrow.”
BONNER SPRINGS BOYS 76, TOPEKA WEST 61
Topeka West 8 17 18 18 -- 61
Bonner Springs 19 18 18 21 -- 76
Topeka West (23-4) – Munganga 4-6 4-5 15, Traylor 3-7 1-2 7, Duncan 3-4 0-1 7, Paul 3-9 0-0 6, Lassiter 9-13 3-3 21, Phillips 0-2 1-4 1, Ware 1-2 2-5 4, Doby 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 23-44 11-20 61.
Bonner Springs (26-1) – Donnell 0-0 2-4 2, Jaiden Jones 9-10 1-2 20, Ferrell 4-10 9-12 17, Jason Jones 2-4 1-3 5, Gruver 10-15 8-10 32, Cruse 0-0 0-0 0, Nez 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 25-40 21-31 76.
3-point goals – Topeka West 4 (Munganga 3, Duncan 1), Bonner Springs 5 (Gruver 4, Jaiden Jones 1). Total fouls – Topeka West 26, Bonner Springs 17. Fouled out – Traylor, Lassiter. Technical fouls – none.
