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Heights' Ken Darting on brink of 600-win career coaching milestone
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hall of Fame basketball coach Ken Darting has never paid much attention to numbers, apart from his five state championships.
With a win Friday night over KC-Turner Shawnee Heights boys basketball coach Ken Darting will reach the 600-win milestone for his Hall of Fame coaching career. [File photo/TSN]
In fact, the venerable 75-year-old Shawnee Heights coach has had to be reminded on several occasions over the years of how many victories he actually did have.
But reaching 600 career wins, which Darting can accomplish Friday night with a home United Kansas Conference win over Kansas City-Turner, is one milestone he can't ignore.
"It means the world, and let me tell you why it means the world,'' said Darting, who enters Friday's game with a 599-276 career record. "It means that I've spent however many many years and coached 12, 15, 20 kids every year for 600 wins and every one of them is different and every one of them went through the heartbreaks that came along the way of building programs and the stuff you have to do with kids to get them to believe.
"That means everything to me for that reason. It's a tribute to kids for staying with me for 600 wins. You saw one that graduated three years ago come up and hug me right there. Hank Harris (former Highland Park star) was here from Kansas City two games ago. It doesn't matter to me if not one more person knows about this. I don't care. The kids is what it means. That's what it's about.''
Darting, who will turn 76 next month, won a Class 3A state title at Silver Lake in 1981, led Highland Park to four Class 5A state championships after a stint at Allen County Community College and is currently 95-53 (15-3 this season) at Shawnee Heights after coming out of retirement to coach the T-Birds.
Two of Darting's most notable alums, Topeka Shawnee County Hall of Famers Kyle Weems and Michael Wilhoite, were quick to acknowledge his contributions to them and the sport of basketball.
Former Highland Park state champ Kyle Weems visits with his high school coach, Ken Darting, and Karen Darting during a Big Kev Give Back Camp at Washburn University. [File photo/TSN]
"Coach D is the epitome of a leader of young men,'' said Weems, who helped lead Highland Park to a perfect 25-0 season in 2007 before earning All-America honors at Missouri State and embarking on a long and continuing 13-year pro career overseas. "If you look in the dictionary for the word coach it should have his name and picture.
"The way he pushed me, loved me and held me accountable during my four years at Highland Park is something I am forever grateful for. He, along with obviously my parents, was one that saw the potenial I had when maybe at that time I couldn't see. I'm super happy for him and Mrs. (Karen) Darting because this is for sure an accomplishment for him, but I know he will say for her as well. They have touched so many lives along the way and this is just another huge milestone for them to be celebrated. I love them both.''
Denver Broncos linebackers coach Wilhoite, who played for Darting before a standout football career at Washburn and seven seasons in the NFL, said that Darting and his family have also had a big impact on his career.
"Coach D and his family is my family,'' Wilhoite said. "Not a word I can use to describe the impact coach had on my life. I went to Washburn on his advice. I coach the way I do because he is my all-time favorite coach.
"I am blessed to have crossed paths with the Dartings.''
Ichabod women to kick off final homestand of season with Pink Out contest against UCO
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University women's basketball opens its final homestand of the season Thursday night, hosting Central Oklahoma at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday in Lee Arena for Pink Out night.
Junior Yibari Nwidadah leads Washburn with 17 points and 7.7 rebounds a game entering Thursday's home MIAA contest against Central Oklahoma. [File photo/TSN]
Junior Payton Sterk is averaging 16.6 points and has hit 58 3-pointers for 14-11 Washburn entering Thursday's game against UCO. [File photo/TSN]
Each player will wear a custom warm up shirt featuring the player's name, number, signature and the Stormont Vail Logo. A silent auction for each of the custom shirts will be held to raise money for the American Cancer Society.
There will also be 200 Pink Out shirts given out for free, first come, first serve. Cancer screening info will be provided at the game via Stormont Vail & The American Cancer Society.
Washburn is 14-11 on the year overall and 8-7 in the MIAA after defeating Northeastern State 62-52 last Saturday. Central Oklahoma improved to 7-17 overall and 6-9 inside the MIAA after defeating Rogers State 74-44 last Saturday.
The Ichabods, 13-16 last season, were picked to finish ninth in the MIAA Preseason Media Poll and were tabbed 10th by the coaches. Washburn is ranked No. 5 in the latest KPI standings which are used for seeding in the MIAA Tournament.
Junior Yibari Nwidadah is averaging 17.0 points and 7.7 rebounds while also shooting a team-high 66.5 percent from the field. The Olathe North product has started all 23 games she has played in, logging 27.7 minutes per game and has shot at or above 50 percent in all but three games and has six double-doubles.
Nwidadah has the best field goal percentage in the nation while ranking fourth in the MIAA in scoring average and fifth in rebounding average. She has 15-plus points in 15 games this year.
Nwidadah's career field goal percentage of .591 is the best in program history and with 215 career offensive rebounds she is seventh all-time at WU. She needs two more offensive boards to move up to sixth. In overall rebounds she is 14th in Washburn history with 569.
Junior Payton Sterk is averaging 16.6 points while starting all 25 contests and playing a team-high 31.0 minutes per game. The Colorado Springs native is shooting 43.3 percent from the floor and a team-high 40.8 percent from deep while drilling a team-high 58 3-pointers.
No. 4-ranked Ichabods looking to snap brief two-game losing streak in home tilt with Bronchos
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The No. 4-ranked Washburn University basketball team returns to Lee Arena Thursday night, hosting Central Oklahoma in a 7:30 p.m. MIAA contest.
Washburn senior Andrew Orr now has 1,231 career points, sitting in 15th all-time at WU after passing Brady Skeens against Northeastern State in his last game. [File photo/TSN]
The Ichabods will be looking to snap a brief two-game slide, entering the contest with a 22-2 record while going 13-2 in the MIAA after falling at Northeastern State 88-84 last Saturday.
The Bronchos are 14-10 overall and 8-7 in the MIAA after dropping a 102-92 decision at Rogers State last time out. The game marked the second contest in a row the Bronchos had scored 92 points following a 92-60 win against Missouri Western on Feb. 8.
Washburn is 12-3 all-time against the Bronchos in games played in Topeka, winning the last eight in a row played in Lee Arena. Washburn's last home loss to the Bronchos came on Feb. 20, 2016 in a 71-60 loss.
WU has been ranked in the top five nationally for 12 straight weeks for the first time in program history.
Exclusive player worn warm up shirts that will be auctioned off to raise funds for the American Cancer Society. Each player will have their own unique shirt featuring their name, number, signature and the Stormont Vail Logo.
Against Northeastern State last time out, six players scored in double-figures against the Ichabods. It was the first time that had happened to a Washburn team since Missouri Southern had six players reach double figures on Dec. 6, 2014.
Washburn senior Andrew Orr became the 28th member of the Ichabod 1,000 point club at Fort Hays State earlier this season. Orr now has 1,231 career points, sitting in 15th all-time after passing Brady Skeens against Northeastern State last time out.
Next on the scoring chart in 14th is former Ichabod Eric Carter with 1,241 career points from 1997-2001.
Orr is 13th in the nation in field goal percentage at 63.7 percent, which leads the MIAA.
