By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
LANSING at SEAMAN
Seaman sophomore Anna Becker averaged 14 points as a freshman for the 16-6 Vikings, earning Top 10 All-Shawnee County and first-team All-Centennial League honors. [File photo/TSN]
A good Class 5A and United Kansas Conference matchup right out of the gate between Lansing, No. 3 in the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association preseason rankings, and No. 9 Lansing (5:45 p.m. tipoff). Seaman posted a 16-6 record a year ago and will build this year's team around returning standouts Anna Becker, a sophomore, and junior Taylin Stallbaumer. Becker was a TopSports.news All-Shawnee County Top 10 and All-Centennial League first-team pick as a freshman and was named the newcomer of the year in the Centennial League and Shawnee County. after averaging 14 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.0 steals and 2.7 assists. Stallbaumer averaged 11 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.4 steals and 2.0 assists a year ago while connecting on 43 3-pointers. Stallbaumer was a Top 10 All-Shawnee County and second-team All-Centennial League selection. Lansing finished fourth in the 5A state tournament last season.
DE SOTO at SHAWNEE HEIGHTS
Shawnee Heights senior Emari Doby returns to lead a T-Bird team that is looking to improve on last season's 10-11 record. [File photo/TSN]
Shawnee Heights opens its United Kansas Conference schedule against De Soto (5:45 p.m.), with the T-Birds looking to take steps this season after a 10-11 record a year ago. Bob Wells' T-Birds showed flashes of potential last season and Shawnee Heights returns a solid nucleus from that team. After missing her sophomore season with a knee injury, Emari Doby bounced back with a strong junior campaign, earning first-team All-UKC and Second 10 TSN All-Shawnee County recognition. Doby averaged 11.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.3 assists while hitting 13 3-pointers. Breezy Canady, a junior, also returns for Shawnee Heights after averaging 1.6 asists and 1.2 steals as a sophomore. Other experienced T-Birds include seniors Riley Showalter, Taylor Rottinghaus, Abby Fleischer and Taylor Rantz.
TOPEKA WEST at BASEHOR-LINWOOD
Topeka West begins its first season in the United Kansas Conference on Friday at Basehor-Linwood (5:45 p.m.). Senior Jazmyn Ford and junior Zoe Clark are top returners for Topeka West, which will be looking to make improvement after a 2-18 campaign a year ago. Ford averaged a team-high 7.9 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.2 steals and shot 55 percent from 2-point range last season while Clark averaged 5.2 points and 1.5 steals and hit 13 3-pointers for Topeka West. Both Clark and Ford received TopSports.news All-Shawnee County honorable mention a year ago.
WASHBURN RURAL vs. HAYS
At Hays Shootout
Senior Brooklyn DeLeye scored 10 points to lead a balanced Washburn Rural attack in Thursday's 49-24 season-opening win over TMP-Marian. [File photo/TSN]
Washburn Rural will face tournament host Hays at 6:30 p.m. Friday in the semifinals of the Hays Shootout. The defending Class 6A state champions, top-ranked in the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association preseason 6A rankings, opened the 2022-2023 season on Thursday with a 49-24 first-round tournament win over Thomas More Prep-Marian. The Junior Blues started somewhat slow against the Monarchs, including an 8-6 first-quarter advantage, but went up by nine at the half and held a 26-10 scoring adantage after the break. Rural emptied its bench in the second half, with 10 Junior Blues cracking the scoring column. Senior Brooklyn DeLeye led the balanced Junior Blues with 10 points while sophomore Kate Hinck and junior Zoe Canfield added nine points apiece. Rural will face a Hays team that opened with a 45-29 first-round tournament win over Newton.
CAIR PARAVEL LATIN vs. BURLINGAME
At Burlingame tournament
Cair Paravel Latin's girls got their season off to a solid start in Thursday's first round of the Burlingame tournament, rolling to a 47-23 victory over Waverly. The Lions figure to face a tougher test in Friday's 6 p.m. contest against the tournament hosts. Burlingame is ranked No. 10 in the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association Class 1A-Division I preseason rankings. Cair Paravel will also be in action at 10 a.m. Saturday, closing out its three tournament games against Northeast Kansas Homeschool.
JEFFERSON WEST at SILVER LAKE
Silver Lake, which placed third in the Class 3A state tournament last season, begins the 2022-2023 campaign ranked No. 3 in 3A by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association. Coach Kyle Porter's Eagles, who posted a 24-2 record a year ago, are loaded with experience, including five players who averaged at least seven points a game. Junior Mackenzie McDaniel averaged 15.5 points and 11.5 rebounds last season, earning TSN Top 10 All-Shawnee County honors, while junior McKinley Kruger averaged 12.1 points and earned Second 10 All-Shawnee County recognition. Seniors Taylor Ross and Mariah Farmer averaged nine points and seven points and junior Kaibryn Kruger 7.3 points last season.
ROSSVILLE at ATCHISON
Rossville is coming off an 11-10 season and returns key players from that team. Junior Emma Mitchell earned first-team All-Mid-East League and Second 10 TSN All-Shawnee County recognition last season, averaging 13.9 points and 4.8 rebounds, while junior Kinsey Perine was a All-Mid-East League first-team selection last season and also earned TSN All-Shawnee County Second 10 recognition, averaging 11.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4 assists.
