By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The 2024 portion of the Shawnee County high school basketball season cranks up in a hurry, with all 10 county schools in action this week, beginning with a pair of Centennial League games on Tuesday, Jan. 2.
Here's a glance at all of this week's girls games involving county teams:
TUESDAY
Junior Brylee Meier is averaging team-highs of 16 points and 7.6 rebounds for 5-0 Hayden. [Photo by Kyle Grunert/Special to TSN]
EMPORIA GIRLS (5-1 overall, 0-0 Centennial) at HAYDEN (5-0 overall, 0-0 Centennial)
The Spartans and Wildcats open Centennial League play Tuesday night while meeting for the second time this season. Hayden took a 50-45 win over in the Paul Terry Classic at Emporia in early Dec., handing the Spartans their lone loss in a 5-1 start. Emporia wrapped up the 2023 portion of its schedule with a 43-29 win over Great Bend while Hayden rolled to a 61-7 non-league decision over Kansas City-Ward in its '23 finale. Junior Brylee Meier is averaging a team-high 16 points and 7.6 rebounds for Hayden while Kaliya Fulton averages 10.6 points, Norma Greco 9.2 and Lauren Sandstrom 8.4 points. Fulton averages 3.8 assists. Hayden is ranked No. 2 in Class 3A by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association while Emporia is No. 6 in 5A.
Freshman Maddie Vickery (right) is averaging 15 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.6 blocks for Washburn Rural. [File photo/TSN]
WASHBURN RURAL GIRLS (4-1 overall, 0-0 Centennial) at JUNCTION CITY (0-6 overall, 0-0 Centennial)
Washburn Rural, ranked No. 6 in Class 6A by the KBCA, will put a three-game win streak on the line in its Centennial League opener while Junction City is still looking for its first win as it opens league play. Freshman Maddie Vickery leads the Junior Blues with a 15-point scoring average, 8.4 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game. Senior Zoe Canfield is averaging 14.5 points and 2.5 assists while junior Kate Hinck is averaging 4.0 steals. Washburn Rural wrapped up 2023 with a 52-26 win over Kapaun Mt. Carmel while Junction City dropped a 58-10 decision to Bishop Carroll in its final game before the holdays.
THURSDAY
Freshman Ahsieryrhuajh Rayton leads Topeka High with a 13.2 scoring average. [File photo/TSN]
TOPEKA HIGH GIRLS (2-4 overall) at BLUE VALLEY NORTHWEST (3-1 overall)
Topeka High closed out its pre-holday slate with a 40-33 non-league win over Bonner Springs while Northwest took a 46-45 win over Lee's Summit North, Mo. in its final game of 2023. Freshman Ahsieryrhuajh Rayton averages a team-high 13.2 points for Topeka High
while sophomore Sasha Gotru is averaging 7.6 points and 6.0 rebounds and sophomore Keimara Marshall 5.6 points and 6.0 rebounds.
FRIDAY
WASHBURN RURAL GIRLS (4-1 overall, 0-0 Centennial at start of week) at HAYDEN (5-0 overall, 0-0 Centennial at start of week)
Washburn Rural and Hayden will both be playing their second Centennial League games of the week after the Junior Blues and Wildcats were the first Shawnee County teams to open 2024 with Tuesday night games. Washburn Rural traveled to Junction City on Tuesday while Hayden hosted Emporia.
Highland Park junior Amelia Ramsey is the city leader in scoring and rebounding, averaging 22 points and 15 rebounds. [File photo/TSN]
ATCHISON GIRLS (3-3 overall, 2-0 Meadowlark) at HIGHLAND PARK (3-0 overall, 1-0 Meadowlark)
Highland Park opened Meadowlark Conference play with an 87-17 win over Kansas City-Wyandotte in its final game before the holiday break while Atchison improved to 2-0 in the conference with a 47-36 win over Wyandotte in its 2023 finale. Highand Park junior Amelia Ramsey leads the city in scoring and rebounding, averaging a double-double with 22 points and 15 rebounds per game while Tahtionna Broils averages 12.7 points, Pearmella Carter 11 points and De'Asia Sanders 8.0 points, 7.0 steals and 4.3 assists per game. Highland Park is ranked No. 7 in Class 5A by the KBCA.
Freshman KK Emmot leads 4-1 Shawnee Heights with a 13.4 scoring average and a city-high 10 made 3-pointers. [File photo/TSN]
LANSING GIRLS (1-3 overall, 1-3 UKC) at SHAWNEE HEIGHTS (4-1 overall, 4-1 UKC)
Shawnee Heights, ranked No. 9 in Class 5A by the KBCA, has won four straight games, including a 39-35 United Kansas Conference win over Leavenworth in its final game before the holiday break while Lansing dropped a 51-23 league decision to Piper in its final game of 2023. Lansing will play a Wednesday night UKC game against De Soto. Freshman KK Emmot leads Shawnee Heights with a 13.4 scoring average while sophomore Reianna Vega averages 8.8 points and 6.0 rebounds and senior Rachel Swift 8.2 points. Emmot leads the city with 10 3-pointers. Senior Breezy Canady leads the T-Birds with 3.2 assists per game.
Sophomore Imani McGlory is averaging a team-high 14.3 points for 3-3 Topeka West. [File photo/TSN]
DE SOTO GIRLS (4-2 overall, 2-1 UKC) at TOPEKA WEST (3-3 overall, 2-3 UKC)
Topeka West closed out 2023 with three straight wins to even its record at 3-3. The Chargers ended its pre-holiday slate with a 57-22 romp past Kansas City-Turner while De Soto wrapped up '23 with a 49-44 conference loss to Seaman. De Soto will play a Wednesday night UKC game against Lansing. Sophomore Imani McGlory leads Topeka West with a 14.3 scoring average while senior Zoe Clark averages 8.5 points and senior Rebecca Bearman 5.2 points and a team-high 8.6 rebounds.
Junior Anna Becker (23) averages a team-high 13.6 points 3.4 assists for 5-0 Seaman. [File photo/TSN]
SEAMAN GIRLS (5-0, 4-0) at LEAVENWORTH (1-4, 0-2)
Seaman, ranked No. 3 in Class 5A by the KBCA, is coming off a 49-44 UKC win over De Soto to close out its 2023 schedule while Leavenworth is coming off a 39-35 conference loss to Shawnee Heights in its '23 finale. The Pioneers will play Basehor-Linwood on Tuesday. Junior Anna Becker leads a balanced Seaman offensive attack with a 13.6 scoring average whle senior Taylin Stallbaumer averages 12.4 points and sophomore Maddie Gragg 10.6 points. Junior Ava Esser averages a team-high 7.8 points while Becker averages 3.4 assists and junior Jaida Stallbaumer 2.8 steals.
TOPEKA HIGH GIRLS (2-4, 0-1 Centennial at start of week) at EMPORIA (5-1, 0-0 at start of week)
Topeka High and Emporia will both be playing their second games of the week after the Trojans traveled to Blue Valley Northwest for a non-league contest on Thursday while Emporia opened Centennial League play at Hayden on Tuesday.
Senior Makenzie McDaniel (10) has helped lead top-ranked Silver Lake to a perfect 5-0 record to open the 2023-2024 season. [File photo/TSN]
ROCK CREEK GIRLS (2-4 overall, 0-3 Mid-East) at SILVER LAKE (5-0 overall, 3-0 Mid-East)
Silver Lake wrapped up 2023 with a 66-52 win over rival Rossville in a battle of state-ranked teams while Rock Creek is coming off a 46-29 loss to Riley County. Silver Lake, top-ranked in Class 3A by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association, got 20 points from senior Makenzie McDaniel in the Eagles' win over Rossville.
Sophomore Rylee Dick (12) is off to a hot start for 5-1 Rossville. [File photo/TSN]
ROSSVILLE GIRLS (5-1, 0-1) at RILEY COUNTY (4-2, 1-1)
Rossville, No. 4-ranked in Class 3A by the KBCA, is coming off its first loss of the season, a 66-52 decision to rival Silver Lake, in its final game of 2023, while Riley County beat Beloit 32-30 in its 2023 finale. Sophomore Rylee Dick has turned in an impressive start to the 2023-2024 season for the Bulldawgs, including a team-high 19 points in the Mid-East League loss to Silver Lake.
CAIR PARAVEL GIRLS (1-5 overall) at MARANATHA ACADEMY (4-1 overall)
Cair Paravel Latin takes a one-game winning streak into 2024, with the Lions ending '23 with a 53-36 win over Northland Christian. Maranatha also played Northland Christian in its final game before the holiday break, taking a 46-15 win. Freshman Becca Gateley leads Cair Paravel with a 6.2 scoring average while sophomore Karsyn Hastert averages 4.7 points and leads the city with 1.7 blocked shots per game. Senior Abby Kuder averages 7.2 rebounds for the Lions while sophomore KellyAnn Chada averages 4.3 steals and 3.0 assists.
