By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
FRIDAY'S GAMES
Connor Hanika, Hayden
HAYDEN (3-6, 0-1) at WASHBURN RURAL (6-2, 1-0)
Washburn Rural opened defense of its Centennial League championship Tuesday with a 50-45 road win over Junction City, imporoving to 6-2 on the season. Senior Kieffer O'Connor led the Junior Blues with 16 points while senior Simon Rowley added 11. Hayden will be looking to bounce back from a heartbreaking 59-56 home Centennial League loss to Emporia. Senior Connor Hanika scored a game-high 22 points for the Wildcats while junior Carter Compton added 12 points.
Bryson McComas, Topeka High
MANHATTAN (6-1, 0-0) at TOPEKA HIGH (4-3, 0-0)
Topeka High climbed above the .500 level with a 66-65 nailbiter on the road Tuesday night at Lawrence. Friday's game will be the Centennial League opener for both Topeka High and Manhattan. The Indians are coming off a 62-59 overtime win over Hays, stretching its winning streak to six games.
ATCHISON (8-0, 3-0) at HIGHLAND PARK (2-4, 2-0)
Atchison and Highland Park will square off in a game that could go a long ways to deciding the Meadowlark Conference championship. The Scots improved to 2-0 in league play with a 60-32 home win over Kansas City-Schlagle Tuesday night as junior JoJo Kingcannon scored 21 points, going 8 of 11 from the floor with three 3-pointers. Atchison is coming off an 87-32 Meadowlark win over KC-Wyandotte.
LEAVENWORTH (2-4, 1-3) at SHAWNEE HEIGHTS (3-4, 2-3)
Shawnee Heights will be looking to bounce back from a tough 51-50 United Kansas Conference home loss to De Soto Tuesday night. Junior Cam Ross led the T-Birds with 12 points. Leavenworth is coming off a 74-47 UKC home loss to Topeka West on Tuesday.
Dayne Johnson, Silver Lake
HOLTON (1-7, 1-5) at SILVER LAKE (6-2, 4-0)
Silver Lake posted a 73-61 Big East League victory at St. Marys on Tuesday while Holton picked up its first win of the season, a 57-53 league decision over Riley County. Holton is coached by former Topeka West assistant coach Marco Hunter. Silver Lake is ranked No. 6 in Class 3A by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association.
KaeVon Bonner, Seaman
SEAMAN (5-1, 4-1) at LANSING (1-5, 1-3)
Seaman senior standout KaeVon Bonner eclipsed the 1,000-point mark for his career Wednesday night in a 27-point performance as the Vikings opened 2026 with a 60-57 non-league road win at St. James Academy. Seniors Griffin Zuniga and Landon Wiltz added 12 and 11 points for the Vikings, who are fifth-ranked in Class 5A by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association. Lansing is coming off a 62-52 Tuesday night United Kansas Conference loss to Piper.
Gad Munganga, Topeka West
TOPEKA WEST (6-1, 5-0) at BASEHOR-LINWOOD (5-3, 2-2)
Topeka West, No. 2-ranked in Class 5A by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association, will be playing its third game of the week, dropping a 53-49 non-league decision at Lawrence Free State on Monday before bouncing back with a 74-47 United Kansas Conference rout over Leavenworth on Tuesday. Senior Gad Munganga led Topeka West with 26 points and eight 3-pointers while senior Malakyah Duncan and junior Prince Lassister added 13 apiece. Basehor-Linwood beat UKC rival Kansas City-Turner 63-41 on Tuesday and beat Blue Valley Southwest 65-59 on Thursday.
CAIR PARAVEL (5-2, 3-0) at MISSION VALLEY (3-5, 1-3)
Cair Paravel is coming off a thrilling 54-53 home Flint Hills League win over Wabaunsee on Tuesday while Mission Valley dropped a tight 51-50 league decision to Chase County. Senior Lucas Marichael led Cair Paravel with 29 points in the win over Wabaunsee while Blaine Durbin added 15 points.
ROSSVILLE (4-3, 2-1) at HIAWATHA (7-1, 3-0)
Rossville rolled to a 73-42 Big East League win over Jefferson West on Tuesday as senior Cameron Miller scored 26 points, Jack Donovan 16 points, Jakoby McDonnell 13 and Cael Horgan 11. Hiawatha improved to 7-1 overall and stayed unbeaten in league play with a 70-65 win over Royal Valley.
