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By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Former Washburn Rural and Washburn University star Andrew Beckler has been named to the Ichabod golf staff as an assistant coach for the remainder of the 2026 season.

 

Andrew Beckler has been named an assistant coach for Washburn University golf for the remainder of the 2026 season. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]

 

"Having the opportunity to bring Andrew back and help the team this spring was a no-brainer," said Washburn director of folf Ronnie McHenry. " Anytime you have the chance for a future Hall of Famer, National Player of the Year, MIAA Player of the Year and a professional athlete who's played in a U.S. Open to teach your team, you jump at that.

 

"We are excited to get him back to Washburn and are looking forward to our players learning from him."

 

Beckler was an individual and Class 6A state team champion for Washburn Rural before playing collegiately at Kansas State and Washburn.

 

During his time for the Ichabods, Beckler was the 2020-21 Jack Nicklaus National Player of the Year, 2020-21 MIAA Player of the Year, 2020-21 GCAA PING First Team All-American and a two-time All-MIAA pick while winning four tournaments.

 

He also holds the lowest scoring average in Washburn men's golf history with a 72.00 average over 67 rounds. Beckler is also tied for the third lowest round in history with 64, which he did twice in the 2020-21 season.

 

Beckler qualified for the 2022 U.S. Open at The Country Club in Brookline, Mass., where he shot a 71 in round 2. 

By CHARLES SPURLOCK

Special to TopSports.news

A non-conference city girls basketball matchup took place on Thursday night at Shawnee Heights between the host T-Birds and the Scots of Highland Park, with Heights in control from the opening jump and winning convincingly, 64-27.

Shawnee Heights senior Reianna Vega scored 12 points in Thursday's 64-27 win over city rival Highland Park. [File photo/TSN]

Shawnee Heights jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the first three minutes of the game, led by senior Reianna Vega’s seven points. Highland Park scored their only point of the first quarter on a free throw from junior Zayah Kincade with 5:29 remaining in the first stanza.

The Thunderbirds scored the final five points of the quarter to take a commanding 15-1 lead into the second quarter.

The 5-0 run that ended the first quarter was extended to 21-0 over the first seven minutes and thirty seconds of the second quarter, giving the T-Birds a 31-1 lead with thirty seconds remaining in the first half. The Scots scored  5 points in the last 25 seconds to trail 31-6 at halftime. 

The third quarter saw the Lady Scots warm up from the field by scoring 15 points in the quarter, led by juniors Mi’Luv Cosey and Kincade with 6 points each. But the T-Birds continued their efficient offense, scoring 21 in the quarter and led 52-21 heading to the final quarter. 

With the lead at 31, the running clock was in effect for the final eight minutes. The T-Birds emptied their bench early in the quarter and went on to pick up the 37-point victory.

Senior Reianna Vega scored 12 points to lead Shawnee Heights and junior KK Emmot finished with 10 points.

The Lady Scots also had two in double figures, with Cosey leading the way with 12 points -- all on 3-pointers -- and Kincade dropping in 10 points.

Shawnee Heights moved to 8-3 on the season and will be in action next Friday (1/23) on the road at Topeka West. Highland Park fe;; to 3-6 on the season and will host Kansas City-Harmon on Friday.

SHAWNEE HEIGHTS 64, HIGHLAND PARK 27

Highland Park        1 5 15 6 -- 27

Shawnee Heights 15 16 21 11 -- 64

Highland Park (3-6) -- Cosey 4-11 0-0 12, Kincade 3-14 1-2 10, Jones 0-3 0-0 0, Barnett 0-1 0-0 0, Atkins 0-2 0-2 0, Cameron 0-0 0-0 0, Inyard 1-4 0-0 3, Mitchell 0-0 0-0 0, Brown 0-0 0-0 0, Williams-Sanders 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 9-37 1-4 27.

Shawnee Heights (8-3) -- Emmot 3-9 2-3 10, McGlory 3-7 0-0 8, Carter 2-4 4-4 8, Baum 3-5 2-2 9, Vega 5-9 0-0 12, Brees 1-4 0-2 3, Aubrey Hamilton 3-3 0-2 6, Schmidt 0-1 0-0 0, Pierce 1-4 0-0 2, Allie Hamilton 0-0 0-0 0, Carlisle 3-5 0-2 6. Totals 24-51 8-15 64.

3-point goals -- Highland Park 8 (Cosey 4, Kincade 3, Inyard), Shawnee Heights 8 (Emmot 2, McGlory 2, Vega 2, Baum, Brees). Total Fouls -- Highland Park 17, Shawnee Heights 12. Fouled out -- none. Technical fouls -- none. 

By CHARLES SPURLOCK

Special to TopSports.news

Two city boys basketball teams battled on Thursday night at Shawnee Heights as the host T-Birds took a 76-53 non-conference victory over Highland Park.

Junior Cam Ross led Shawnee Heights with a game-high 28 points in Thursday's 76-53 non-league win over city rival Highland Park.

The first four minutes of the game saw both teams trade buckets and Shawnee Heights led 10-8. But the T-Birds went on a 12-3 run to build a 22-11 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Junior Cam Ross scored the first basket of the second quarter and the T-Birds extended their lead to 28-11 before the Scots were able to score. The teams went back-and-forth for the remainder of the quarter and Shawnee Heights took a 41-27 lead into the halftime break.

Both teams were very efficient on offense in the third quarter, with the T-Birds outscoring the Scots, 21-18.

Senior Ja’Veon Alston scored eight points for the T-Birds in the quarter while fellow senior JaiMarion Cook dropped in five. The Scots had two players score six points each in the quarter -- juniors G’honi Montgomery and JoJo Kingcannon.

Shawnee Heights led 62-45 going into the final quarter and were able to empty their bench over the final two minutes while capping the 23-point victory.

The T-Birds finished the game shooting 28 of 42 from the field for 67 percent and 60 percent from the 3-point line (9 of 15).

The T-Birds were led by three in double figures -- Ross with 28 points, Alston with 16 and Cook with 13.

The Scots had two in double figures, led by Kingcannon with 22 points while Ke’Sioun Drew dropped in 12.

Shawnee Heights improved to 6-4 on the season and will be in action on Saturday with a road game at Gardner-Edgerton. Highland Park fell to 2-7 on the season and will play at home Friday against Kansas City-Harmon.

SHAWNEE HEIGHTS 76, HIGHLAND PARK 53

Highland Park      11 16 18 8 -- 53

Shawnee Heights 22 19 21 14 -- 76

Highland Park (2-7) -- Anderson 1-8 0-0 2, Montgomery 0-1 3-6 3, Drew 4-13 0-0 12, Mitchell 2-4 1-2 6, Kingcannon 10-17 0-1 22, L. McMillon 0-2 0-0 0, Pollard 0-0 0-0 0, Smith 1-1 1-2 4, Nance 2-3 0-0 4. Totals 20-49 5-11 53.

Shawnee Heights (6-4) -- Alston 5-9 4-6 16, Cook 5-6 0-0 13, Ross 10-16 5-6 28, Scott 3-4 2-2 9, Wallace 2-4 0-0 4, Lee 1-1 0-0 2, Halloran 1-1 0-0 2, Becker 0-0 0-0 0, Vega 0-0 0-0 0, Terrell 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 28-42 11-14 76.

3-point goals -- Highland Park 8 (Drew 4, Kingcannon 2, Mitchell, Smith), Shawnee Heights 9 (Cook 3, Ross 3, Alston 2, Scott). Total fouls -- Highland Park 14, Shawnee Heights 15. Fouled out -- L. McMillon. Technical fouls -- none.