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Top-ranked Seaman girls stay unbeaten with 71-29 UKC romp past Topeka West
By Todd Fertig
TopSports.news
Ranked atop Class 5A, the Seaman girls are doing everything they can to stay sharp despite the long holiday, snow and ice, and an up-and-down schedule.
Senior Ava Esser led a balanced Seaman attack with 15 points in Tuesday's 71-29 UKC win over Topeka West. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Tuesday night the Vikings put their foot on the gas in the second half to run away from Topeka West 71-29 at Seaman.
The Chargers were within 16 points early in the second half. But Seaman turned it on and ran its record to 7-0, with all seven wins coming in the United Kansas Conference.
The defending state champs know what it takes to reach the pinnacle, and coach Matt Tinsley isn’t letting the team take its focus off the ultimate goal.
“We don’t talk about the number one ranking or anything like that, because really that doesn’t matter,” Tinsley said. “We’ve only got 20 practices before sub-state. We’ve got to make those 20 practices where we’re getting better. We can’t afford to take two steps forward and two steps back.”
The Christmas vacation, compounded by snow days, threatened to throw the plan off schedule.
“We haven’t had a lot of conditioning,” the coach said. “Just over Christmas break when I thought we were getting in shape, we had to take five days off.”
The Vikings shook off some of the rust Tuesday, getting balanced scoring up and down the lineup. Nine Vikings scored, with five players contributing nine or more points.
Leading the way with 15 points was senior post Ava Esser, who helped lead Seaman to 5A state runners-up in volleyball in the fall.
“She’s a weapon inside, who we’ve got to throw the ball to,” Tinsley said. “She showed us what she can do when she gets it down there.”
“I’m pleased by how I’ve developed, and I definitely give credit to my coaches for all that they’ve done for me and for pushing me to be the player I can be,” said Esser, who will play volleyball at Johnson County Community College upon graduation. “I try to be there for when my teammates need me. I’m more (focused) on rebounds and helping my teammates get their shots. We’re more of a guard-team, so I just try to do my part.”
Duncan free throws cap Topeka West's 59-57 comeback win over Vikings
By Todd Fertig
TopSports.news
The boys basketball teams from Topeka West and Seaman couldn’t be much more evenly matched, judging by their two United Kansas Conferencee meetings this season.
Junior Malakyah Duncan (12) hit the game-winning free throws with 8.5 seconds remaining, giving Topeka West a 59-57 UKC win at Seaman. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Avenging a 60-57 loss at Topeka West in mid-December, the Chargers went to Seaman Tuesday night and won in the final seconds, 59-57.
After falling into a huge hole early, the Chargers crept back, taking their first lead of the night with 1:20 left in the third period. The teams swapped leads until Seaman junior sharpshooter Landon Wiltz dropped in a shot from about 35 feet from the basket to tie it at 57-57 with 50 seconds remaining.
Topeka West junior playmaker Malakyah Duncan attacked the goal and drew a foul with 8.5 seconds left. He nailed both free throws to give the Chargers the come-from-behind win.
The win lifted Topeka West to 4-2 on the season and also in the UKC. Seaman dropped to 5-2 overall and in the conference. Seaman was ranked seventh in the latest Kansas Basketball Coaches Association Class 5A rankings, while the Chargers were eighth.
“This was huge, not just for the UKC standings but also sub-state,” first-year Topeka West coach Christan Ulsaker said. “Anytime you can notch a win against the team that you’re kind of battling for a home court (playoff) game, it’s a plus.”
A team can’t start a game much hotter than Seaman did Tuesday. The Vikings hit 10 of 13 attempts in the first period, including five 3-pointers. They bolted to a 26-12 lead that could have demoralized the visiting Chargers.
“I wanted to start hot, but that wasn’t the case,” Ulsaker said. “I told them at the end of the first quarter that basketball is a game of runs. They’ve heard it a thousand times from me that if you can withstand their runs, we’d make our own.
“Seaman is so well coached. They got some great players in (KaeVon) Bonner and (Bryer) Finley and our guys really stepped up and took it to them throughout the game.”
Monday prep BB roundup: Robinson reaches 1,000-point milestone in 80-29 Hi Park rout
By Rick Peterson
TopSports.news
Highland Park senior star Ja'Corey Robinson surpassed the 1,000-point milestone for his career Monday night with a 32-point game as the Scots rolled to an 80-29 Meadowlark Conference win at Kansas City-Schlagle.
Highland Park senior Ja'Corey Robinson (23) scored 32 points Monday night at KC-Schlagle, surpassing the 1,000-point milestone for his career. [File photo/TSN]
Senior Mikey Williams scored 22 points Monday in top-ranked Highland Park's 80-29 romp past KC-Schlagle. [File photo/TSN]
Senior Mikey Williams backed Robinson with a 22-point night as Highland Park, top-ranked in Class 5A by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association, improved to 6-0 overall and 2-0 in the conference.
The Scots will be right back in action Tuesday night, traveling to KC-Sumner for a Meadowlark Conference contest.
Sophomore Pearmella Carter scored 28 points in Highland Park's 70-22 Meadowlark Conference win over KC-Schlagle Monday night. [File photo/TSN]
Carter leads Hi Park girls with 28 points in 70-22 rout over Stallions
Highland Park posted a 70-22 Meadowlark Conference win Monday night at KC-Schlagle as sophomore Pearmella Carter led the Scots with 28 points.
Senior Tahtionna Broils added 16 points and had 6 rebounds while senior De'Asia Sanders was credited with 14 assists and sophomore Majesty Grace had 7 steals as the Scots improved to 4-0 overall and 2-0 in the conference.
Highland Park will be back in action Tuesday night, traveling to KC-Sumner for a conference game.
Senior Javian Chambers (21) scored 8 points Monday night in Topeka West's 71-38 UKC win over Leavenworth. [File photo/TSN]
No. 9-ranked Charger boys roll to 71-38 UKC win
Topeka West boys basketball ended its long layoff with a 71-38 home United Kansas Conference victory over Leavenworth Monday night in the Chargers' 2025 debut.
The Chargers, ranked No. 9 in Class 5A by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association, showed exceptional balance in the win, with seven players scoring 7 or more points as West improved to 3-2 overall and in the UKC.
Sophomore Prince Lassiter led Topeka West with a game-high 11 points while junior Gad Munganga and senior Javian Chambers added 8 points piece and senior Kamoni Ford, junior Malakyah Duncan, sophomore Damon Webb and senior Jalen Foy all scored 7 points.
