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Rural boys roll to 74-45 Centennial League win over Manhattan
By NICHOLAS GAINEY
Special to TopSports.news
A strong showing on the defensive end led to offensive opportunities as the Washburn Rural boys picked up a 74-45 win over Centennial League rival Manhattan on Tuesday night at Rural.
Junior John Hoytal led Washburn Rural with 18 points in Tuesday's 74-45 Centennial League win over Manhattan. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
The Junior Blues set the tone early, starting the game with an 8-0 run. Junior Simon Rowley earned the first points of the evening, snagging his first of a team-high seven rebounds and finishing with a putback layup. The run also saw a layup from junior John Hoytal before senior Kaden Ballard knocked down a mid-range jumper to give the hosts the 8-0 lead.
After a pair of free throws by the Indians, Washburn Rural answered with layups from Rowley and senior Amare Jones to stretch the lead to 12-2.
Sam Spiegel gave Manhattan its first field goal of the evening, but a floater from Hoytal forced an Indian timeout with 2:03 to play in the first quarter. The Junior Blues forced eight turnovers by Manhattan in the first period on their way to an 18-6 lead, with Hoytal scoring seven points in the opening frame.
The Indians found the first points of the second quarter with a layup from Vince Doering, but Hoytal answered with a 3-pointer.
While the Manhattan offense took better care of the ball in the second period, Washburn Rural kept its foot on the gas, jumping out to a 36-17 halftime lead.
Jones helped the hosts’ effort with six consecutive points late in the half.
After allowing an 8-0 run to start the game, Manhattan found an 8-0 run of its own to open the second half, cutting the Junior Blue lead to 36-25.
The hosts answered with a 3-pointer from junior Draden Chooncharoen and a layup from Ballard, but a jumper from Landon Knopp and a layup from Doering kept the Indians within striking distance.
Midway through the third quarter, a pair of big plays shifted the momentum in favor of the Junior Blues.
Ballard finished a difficult layup along with a foul, hitting the free throw to complete the 3-point play. Jones then knocked down a 3-pointer from the left wing to extend the lead to 47-31.
The visitors continued to battle into the fourth quarter, with Noah McFadden completing a 3-point play to start the period.
Hoytal answered with a 3-point play of his own, before the Indians found two consecutive baskets to cut the lead to 14.
Washburn Rural closed the game with an 18-3 run to secure the win, with much of the scoring coming off the bench.
Freshman Brooks Ballard hit a pair of 3-pointers, with the first coming off an assist from older brother Kaden with 3:49 to play in the contest.
Junior Simon Rowley scored 14 points Tuesday as Washburn Rural improved to 11-4 with a 74-45 win over Manhattan. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
Senior Amare Jones scored 14 points in Washburn Rural's 74-45 Centennial League win over Manhattan. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
Hoytal led the Junior Blues with 18 points on 6-8 shooting while adding five rebounds. Rowley and Jones added 14 points each.
Tuesday prep BB roundup: West boys snap four-game skid with 77-57 romp past Lansing
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Topeka West's boys got back on the winning track Tuesday night, snapping a four-game losing streak against state-ranked teams with a 77-57 United Kansas Conference road romp past Lansing.
Senior Kamoni Ford was one of five double-figure scorers for Topeka West in Tuesday's 77-57 win over Lansing. [File photo/TSN]
The Chargers, who improved to 9-6 overall and 8-4 in the UKC, had five players crack double figures and seven players score at least seven points.
Seniors Kamoni Ford and Jalen Foy and junior Keimani Paul led the Chargers with 12 points apiece while junior Malakyah Duncan added 11 points and senior Javian Chambers 10.
Topeka West trailed 19-17 at the end of the opening quarter and led by just a 34-31 advantage at the half before breaking open the game with a 28-16 third quarter.
The Chargers then outscored the Lions 15-10 over the final eight minutes to finish off the 20-point win.
Topeka West will travel to Leavenworth on Friday for a UKC contest.
West girls pick up fourth win
Topeka West notched its fourth win overall and second United Kansas Conference victory Tuesday night, posting a 56-40 conference win at Lansing.
With the win the Chargers improved to 4-11 and 2-9 in the UKC.
West will travel to Leavenworth on Friday.
Silver Lake girls improve to 13-2
Defending Class 3A champion Silver Lake, currently ranked No. 6 by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Assocation, improved to 13-2 Tuesday night with a 61-36 home romp past Marysville.
The Eagles took control with a 22-13 opening quarter and put the game out of reach with a 19-4 second quarter, opening up a huge 41-17 halftime advantage and cruising the rest of the way.
Six Silver Lake players scored eight or more points, led by Karys Deiter with 13 points and Kailyn Hanni with 12 points.
Jaylie Whitehead and Taylor Zordel scored nine points apiece and Ella Bolan and Savannah Wende had eight each.
The Eagles will host St. Marys on Thursday.
Junior Dayne Johnson led Silver Lake with 16 points in Tuesday's 54-50 win over Marysville. [File photo/TSN]
Eagle boys top Bulldogs, 64-50
Four Silver Lake players cracked double figures Tuesday night as the Eagles posted a 64-50 home win over Marysville.
Junior Dayne Johnson led the Eagles with 16 points, followed by Brody Deiter with 15 points, Jared Johnson with 11 points and Aemon Coffman with 10.
Silver Lake, now 11-4, led 16-12 at the end of the first quarter and took control with a 21-6 second quarter.
Gragg, Becker power Seaman to 22nd straight win, 64-54 over Shawnee Heights
IBy RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Maddie Gragg was forced to sit and watch from the sidelines when the Vikings dropped a six-point decision at Shawnee Heights last Feb. 20, which just so happened to be Seaman's most recent loss.
Junior Maddie Gragg scored 23 points with five 3-pointers in Seaman's 64-54 UKC win over Shawnee Heights. [File photo/TSN]
Senior Anna Becker scored 21 points with three 3-pointers in Seaman's 64-54 UKC win over Shawnee Heights. [File photo/TSN]
But the 5-foot-10 junior made up for lost time in a hurry in Tuesday's rematch against the T-Birds, riding a monster first half to a game-high 23 points as the defending Class 5A state champions ran their winning streak to 22 games with a 64-54 home United Kansas Conference victory.
Gragg scored 17 points in the first half with five 3-pointers and formed a dynamic one-two punch with senior Anna Becker, who had 14 first-half points with a pair of 3s on the way to a 21-point night as the Vikings took control in the opening two quarters while improving to 16-0 overall and 11-0 in the conference.
Gragg said Tuesday's win was a welcome bounce back for her and the team after last year's Heights loss.
"I had a concussion, so I didn't play that game,'' Gragg said. "I was there sitting on the bench and I remember that game. The first half was good (tonight). It was high percentage shots and we kept going for like the one more pass. It was just a good half all around. You always want to beat a rival.''
Shawnee Heights (11-5 overall, 8-4) actually outscored Seaman 30-23 in the second half, but the T-Birds were unable to overcome a dismal first half that saw the Vikings lead by as many as 20 points on the way to a 41-24 halftime bulge.
"Obviously we knew what happened last year, it was in the back of our minds,'' Becker said. "We didn't forget.''
Gragg and Becker combined for 12 of Seaman's 16 first-half field goals, including the seven treys, as the Vikings shot 53.3 percent from the field in the half.
"It felt like we were shooting the ball great,'' Becker said. "Shoot, I think Maddie went 5 for 5 (on 3s) and we were passing it around well, so you can't ask for much more than that. It was a great team win and I just love that we got to play another inter-city school. It's always a fun rivalry and a game to look forward to.''
