By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
TOPEKA WEST (18-1, 14-1) at TOPEKA HIGH (4-15, 4-11)
Topeka West clinched its second straight Centennial League championship with a 55-50 win at Highland Park on Tuesday. The Chargers will be looking for their 18th straight win in the regular-season finale. Senior Zander Putthoff led West with 17 points and five 3-pointers in the Chargers' win over Highland Park while senior Elijah Brooks added 12 points. Topeka High was off Tuesday after dropping a 66-57 league game to Hayden last Friday.
WASHBURN RURAL (8-11, 7-8) at HIGHLAND PARK (15-4, 12-3)
Washburn Rural dropped a 53-40 Centennial League decision at Junction City on Tuesday while Highland Park dropped a 55-50 decision to Topeka West in a league showdown. Senior Juan'Tario Roberts led Highland Park with 18 points against Topeka West while juniors Bo Aldridge and Jahmir Kingcannon added 13 and 10 points, respectively. Junior Jack Bachelor led Washburn Rural with 13 points against Junction City.
EMPORIA (3-16, 2-13) at SEAMAN (12-7, 11-5)
Seaman ran its winning streak to five games with a 78-67 Centennial League win over Manhattan on Tuesday while Emporia dropped a 52-40 league decision to Hayden. Senior Ty Henry led Seaman with 25 points against Manhattan while seniors Mateo Hyman and Dreighton Griess added 18 and 12 points for the Vikings and junior Kaeden Bonner scored 11. Rivers Peters scored 12 points and Parker Leeds 11 for Emporia against Hayden.
HAYDEN (6-13, 4-11) at MANHATTAN (7-12, 6-9)
Hayden continued its late-season turnaround with a 52-40 Centennial League win over Emporia while Manhattan dropped a 78-67 league decision to Seaman. Senior Trent Duffey and junior Joe Otting scored 16 points apiece to lead Hayden against Emporia while junior Jake Muller added 14 points.
SHAWNEE HEIGHTS (13-6, 5-4) at BASEHOR-LINWOOD (17-2, 9-0)
Shawnee Heights has more than doubled last season's six-victory total, with the T-Bird notching win No. 13 with a 62-43 United Kansas Conference win over Turner in a Wednesday makeup contest. Heights faces a tough test Friday against a Basehor-Linwood team which has clinched the UKC title and has won 14 straight games. The Bobcats are coming off an 80-49 win over Turner on Tuesday.