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By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
SILVER LAKE – The Silver Lake boys' basketball squad cut into a substantial deficit against Clay Center late in the fourth quarter on Thursday evening, but couldn't complete its rally and secure the victory.
Despite a low-scoring second quarter, Silver Lake kept itself an eyelash away from winning in the 57-49 loss to non-conference opponent Clay Center.
Senior Troy Heiman scored a team-high 13 points in Thursdays 57-49 non-league loss to Clay Center. [File photo/TSN]
Silver Lake faced multiple double-digit deficits throughout the game, and several times throughout the game the Eagles brought the game back within either four or five points.
Clay Center sophomore Cole Pladson was a nightmare for Silver Lake in the first half. Pladson had a game-high 25 points with 20 of those coming in the first half.
"We didn't do a good job, especially against (Cole Pladson)," Silver Lake coach Johnny Roberts said. "He got downhill and attacked… did a great job and killed us. Their penetration and quickness overmatched us at times tonight.
"We tried to shut (Pladson) down in the second half, put Dayne (Johnson) on (Pladson), and it helped, but it might've been a little too late. I probably made that adjustment too late tonight, and I should've made that adjustment quicker. It's not fair to our guys, and I should've done a better job as the coach."
Silver Lake kept Clay Center scoreless for 2:46 in the first quarter. Silver Lake used that defensive momentum to key a 6-0 drive to begin the game. Clay Center took less than two minutes to bite back with a run of its own.
Pladson had all seven points in a 7-0 Tiger run. That run forced Roberts to take a timeout as Clay Center gained a 7-6 lead with 3:36 remaining in the first quarter.
In the final 3:36, 6-foot-4 Fort Hays State football signee Braxton McDaniel gave the Silver Lake offense a spark. McDaniel provided seven points off of the bench and hit a free throw to give Silver Lake a one-point lead before the first quarter clock expired.
"Braxton has been huge for us off the bench," Roberts said. "He's really stepped into his role. He knows his role and does a good job. He did a better job today of knowing when the defense was going to come and collapse. He did a great job of attacking and squaring up while knowing where everyone was."
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By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
SILVER LAKE – It was just another night in the office for Class 3A's No. 6-ranked Silver Lake's girls' basketball team on Thursday night as the Eagles swiftly took care of business over non-conference opponent Clay Center, 64-38.
Silver Lake junior Makenzie McDaniel led the way with 19 points as the No. 6-ranked Eagles to a 64-38 win over Clay Center Thursday night. [File photo/TSN]
The Lady Eagles notched another dominant win in a near unblemished season while Clay Center was worn down, out-worked and needed help to keep up with Silver Lake's aggressive fastbreak offense.
Since the Lady Eagles lost its first and only game of the season on Jan. 13 against Mid-East League foe Riley County, they've smothered the opposition.
After its only loss of the 2022-2023 campaign eight games ago, Silver Lake has had a positive point differential of 163.
"You learn from every game, and we learned a lot from Riley (County)," Silver Lake coach Kyle Porter said. "I don't know if it was a turning point for us; I just think it was a game for us to learn from and get better. I think what we are seeing right now is a result of coming in and getting better each and every day.
"I mean, there is no magic from that loss, and now everything is great. I think it's just playing more consistent basketball, getting better shots on the offensive end, and we are really improving our defense and finding out what we have to do to get consistent stops against quality teams."
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
MANHATTAN (8-6, 2-2) at HAYDEN (6-6, 1-3)
Hayden was off Tuesday after a 58-51 non-league home loss to Shawnee Heights last Friday. Manhattan is coming off a 67-59 loss to Blue Valley, its third straight loss. Senior Joe Otting and junior Jacob Padilla scored 14 points apiece in the Wildcats' loss to Shawnee Heights, with Otting going six of six at the free throw line. Senior Jake Muller also cracked double figures for Hayden with 11 points.
Washburn Rural senior Jack Bachelor is coming off a 27-point performance in Tuesday's 65-60 non-league road win at Blue Valley. [File photo/TSN]
EMPORIA (10-4, 3-1) at WASHBURN RURAL (10-4, 3-1)
Senior Jack Bachelor scored 27 points in Washburn Rural's 65-60 non-league victory over Blue Valley on Tuesday. Bachelor went nine of 13 from the field and six of seven from the free throw line against the Tigers while sophomore Kaden Ballard added 13 points while hitting four of seven 3-point attempts. Emporia is coming off a 41-39 win over Manhattan.
LEAVENWORTH (4-9, 2-8) at SHAWNEE HEIGHTS (10-4, 7-3)
Shawnee Heights posted a 57-48 United Kansas Conference road win at Basehor-Linwood on Tuesday, giving the T-Birds a regular-season sweep over the Bobcats. Sophomore Jaret Sanchez led Heights with 16 points while junior Brennon Dodge added 15 points, seniors Jeremyah Kendrick and Q Stovall eight points apiece and sophomore Deacon Pomeroy seven. Leavenworth has lost four straight games, including a 67-60 non-league loss to Bonner Springs on Tuesday. Heights beat Leavenworth 61-40 in an earlier game between the two teams.
Senior Jahmir Kingannon scored 18 points with five 3-pointers in Thursday's 79-48 Meadowlark Conference win over KC-Schlagle. [File photo/TSN]
HIGHLAND PARK (13-0, 6-0) at KC-WYANDOTTE (3-10, 3-4)
Highland Park, top-ranked in Class 5A, will be playing its third game in four days. The Scots are coming off a 79-48 Meadowlark Conference home win over KC-Schlagle Thursday night, with seniors Tre Richardson and Jahmir Kingcannon scoring 18 points apiece and senior Bo Aldridge adding 11 points. Kingcannon canned five 3-pointers on the night. Highland Park took a 95-42 win over Wyandotte earlier in the season. The Bulldogs are coming off a 65-62 league win over KC-Harmon on Tuesday.
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'By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
MANHATTAN (6-8, 2-2) at HAYDEN (8-4, 1-3)
No. 8-ranked (Class 4A) Hayden has been off since winning the Wellsville Top Gun Tournament last Saturday with a 48-39 win over Spring Hill. The Wildcats have now won four straight games and put sophomores Brylee Meier and Kaliya Fulton and junior Lauren Sandstrom on the all-tournament team. Manhattan is coming off a 46-35 win over Dodge City and has won two straight games for the first time this season.
Senior Brooklyn DeLeye scored 19 points in Washburn Rural's 54-52 overtime loss to Blue Valley Northwest on Tuesday. [File photo/TSN]
EMPORIA (12-2, 3-1) at WASHBURN RURAL (9-4, 4-0)
No. 4-ranked (Class 6A) Washburn Rural will be looking to protect its lead in the Centennial League race while No. 4 (5A) Emporia will be looking to pull even with the Junior Blues. Both teams are coming off losses, with the Spartans dropping a last-second 46-43 decision to Seaman in the Glaciers Edge championship game last Saturday while Rural fell to non-league foe Blue Valley Northwest in overtime on Tuesday, 54-52. Senior Brooklyn DeLeye scored 19 points against Blue Valley Northwest while senior Chloe Carlgren added 11 points and sophomore Tenly Bunck nine points on three 3-pointers.
LEAVENWORTH (2-11, 2-7) at SHAWNEE HEIGHTS (9-5, 7-3)
Ninth-ranked (Class 5A) Shawnee Heights is coming off a tough 37-33 United Kansas Conference loss at Basehor-Linwood Tuesday night while Leavenworth is coming off a 59-26 loss to Bonner Springs. Shawnee Heights took 49-36 UKC win over the Pioneers earlier in the season. All five of Shawnee Heights losses have been by four or fewer points. Senior Riley Showalter led the T-Birds with 11 points against Basehor-Linwood while seniors Emari Doby and Taylor Rottinghaus added 10 and seven points, respectively.
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By Rick Peterson
TopSports.news
For one of the few times all season, Highland Park's boys basketball team found itself behind in the first half of Thursday's Meadlowlark Conference home game against winless Kansas City-Schlagle, prompting Hi Park coach Mike Williams to call a timeout to express his displeasure with his Scots.
Highland Park coach Mike Williams talks to his team early in Thursday's 79-48 win over KC-Schlagle. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Highland Park senior Jahmir Kingcannon (right) scored 18 points with five 3-pointers in Thursday's 79-48 win over KC-Schlagle. [File photo/TSN]
But it didn't late long for No. 1-ranked (Class 5A) Highland Park to right the ship, with the Scots taking control with 14-2 run at the end of the half and cruising to their 13th straight win, 79-48 over the Stallions.
"As much as we don't want that, we were able to try some things,'' Williams said of the early deficit. "Credit to Schlagle for how they started out the game but credit to our guys for sticking together and putting some things together for us.''
Schlagle (0-12, 0-6) led 17-16 at the end of the first quarter and held a 21-18 advantage midway through the second quarter before Highland Park dominated the remainder of the half to take a 32-23 lead.
