By VINCE LOVERGINE
TopSports.news
Topeka High boys basketball was unable to overcome a big third-quarter run from Manhattan Friday night, dropping a 70-63 home decision to the Indians in the Centennial League opener for both teams.
The Trojans found themselves in an early hole but managed to climb back and lead for several minutes but then strugged in the third quarter as Manhattan took control.
“I’m proud of the guys, I think we grew up a little bit today,” Topeka High coach Robbie Sanders said. “We saw how we have to compete to beat some of the best teams in the state and we didn’t quit. We made a lot of mistakes, the players did, I did as a coach. We didn’t lay down and didn’t quit.”
The Indians got off to a 7-2 lead as Will Carpenter hit a three and that lead would expand to 12-2 after Easton Duff backed his way down in the post and banked it off the window.
But Topeka High caught some momentum bringing it to 12-10 after senior Jalen Aldridge got an and-one opportunity but missed the free throw.
After Manhattan hit a three, Aldridge responded with one of his own, and the Indians led after one quarter. 18-15.
In the second quarter, Alridge kept it going, earning an and-one opportunity, falling to the baseline but missed the free throw, MHS still led by one, 18-17.
Aldridge would put the Trojans ahead for the first time since the opening minute of the first quarter with a triple and the Trojans took a four-point lead into the locker room, 34-30.
The Indians were red hot coming out of halftime, going on a 14-2 run as Tim Washington scored eight points in the quarter and Carpenter had seven himself, as part of a 24-point quarter for Manhattan.
McComas would trim the deficit to 51-44 after converting an and-one but then Carpenter pushed it back to 10 points as he too converted an and-one.
But then a scene Trojan fans didn’t want to see, Alridge went to drive to the cup from the left wing but fell awkwardly and immediately grabbed for his right knee and had to be helped off the court.
No word on his condition after the game but TopSports.news did see Alridge walking on his own gingerly without any assistance.
“I’ve been in that situation as a player here at Topeka High that sustained a major knee injury and hopefully it’s nothing serious,'' Sanders said. "I’m really worried about Jalen because he’s a great kid, he’s working hard, he's trying to do everything that I ask of him, he’s taking on extra responsibilities, he’s been coachable and he’s willing to change the narrative about himself.''
The rest of that fourth quarter, it was all MHS to a certain point, Topeka High with the help of Mar’saun Redmond, McComas and Ross, they were able to cut the deficit down to seven and then five at one point.
The Trojans did have an opportunity to bring it within two or three when it was 68-63 MHS. Redmond had a look from distance but it was blocked by Manhattan with about 10 seconds to go and Manhattan would pick up its seventh win of the season.
Redmond led Topeka High with 16 points, followed by McComas and Alridge who both had 14. Manhattan’s Sawyer Newton had a game-high 22 points.
“They’ve been through a lot. Everybody knows where this program and these guys have been. I’m very proud of the growth they’re showing and the direction that we’re headed,” Sanders said. “These kids are starting to believe, they think we’re good. I don’t know if they think they’re as good as I think we can become but I think there is a belief amongst the core group of guys and if that can trickle down to the rest of the group, I think we can be dangerous in the last stretch of the season.''
MANHATTAN 70, TOPEKA HIGH 63
Manhattan 18 12 24 16 -- 70
Topeka High 15 19 10 19 -- 63
Manhattan (7-1, 1-0) – Carpenter 6 1-2 15, Newton 0 1-2 1, Doering 4, 1-6 9, Newton 10 2-4 22, Witt 0 6-8 6, Washington 6 0-1 12, Duff 1 0-0 2.
Topeka High (4-4, 0-1) – Aldridge 6 0-2 14, Guest 1 0-0 2, McComas 5 3-5 14, Ross 4 0-0 11, McFadden 1 0-0 2, Carter 1 0-2 2, Redmond 5 5-6 16, Lucrks 0 2-2 2.
3-point goals – Manhattan 5 (Carpenter 3, Doering 2,), Topeka High 7 (Redmond 1, McComas 1, Alridge 2, Ross 3). Total fouls – Manhattan 18, Topeka High 18. Fouled out – none. Technical foul -- none.
