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By Todd Fertig
TopSports.news
The Topeka West Chargers cruised by Lansing 76-56 Thursday in the first round of the Topeka Invitational Tournament at Topeka High.
The Chargers improved to 6-2 on the season with their fourth straight win and will face Olathe East in the tournament semifinals at 8 p.m. Friday.
Sophomore Prince Lassiter came off the bench to score 16 points in Topeka West's 76-56 first-round Topeka Invitational win over Lansing Thursday. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
The Chargers were able to play their reserves a significant number of minutes, resting their starters and creating a very balanced statistical line. Ten players scored for Topeka West, with four breaking double figures.
Charger coach Christian Ulsaker was pleased to rotate so many players in the opening-round game.
“It’s good for our coaching staff, because we are evaluating throughout the entire year, and it’s hard sometimes in practice to evaluate because you’re going against the same guys over and over,” Ulsaker said. “So, getting 11 guys on the court is very beneficial for the program.”
Playing big schools from around the state will help the Chargers, currently ranked seventh in Class 5A by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association, prepare for bigger challenges ahead.
“This is going to get us ready for sub-state, for sure,” Ulsaker said. “Three games in three days. No shot clock. We’ve played with a shot clock all year and now we don’t have a shot clock. This is really getting us ready for postseason play.”
Junior Malakyah Duncan (12) scored 10 points in Topeka West's 76-56 Topeka Invitational win over Lansing Thursday night. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Starters Kamoni Ford tallied 11 points and Malakyah Duncan and Javian Chambers added 10 apiece. But the leading scorer for the Chargers was reserve big man Prince Lassiter, who came off the bench to score 16. A big-bodied post, Lassiter may develop into a different weapon for the Chargers.
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By Todd Fertig
TopSports.news
The Highland Park boys got an unexpected challenge in the opener of the 64th annual Topeka Invitational Tournament, held at Topeka High School. The Scots had to hold off upset-minded Shawnee Mission North Thursday, 62-50.
Senior Isaiah Kelley (4) puts in 2 of his 10 points in Thursday's 62-50 Topeka Invitational win over SM North. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Shawnee Mission North entered the game with a 1-7 record and looked to be out-matched against the Scots, the top-ranked team in Class 5A according to the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association. But the Bison closed to within four points of the undefeated Scots 42-38 as the third period expired.
The Scots responded with a 10-0 run to open the fourth period and protected their undefeated record.
As with every game, Highland Park coach Mike Williams was focused on peaking in March.
“Playing Thursday, Friday, Saturday night, you’re playing with less rest, less prep, playing on a quick turnaround. That’s huge for us,” Williams said. “We’re trying to find ways to mimic scenarios that are like the state tournament.”
Highland Park players who have experienced the state tournament appreciate the opportunity to face teams outside of their league, and outside of the Topeka area.
“This helps prepare us to play better teams in the future,” said senior Isaiah Kelley. “Last year we played (a lot of) bad teams, so we kind of let our effort down at times. This tournament kind of helps us play in close game situations like we’ll see at state.”
Based on the records of the two teams, viewers might have expected the kind of blowout the Scots often produce. But Kelley said the Scots’ high-flying, high-scoring style can be misleading.
“Some people might not know that we’re a good fundamental team,” Kelley said. “They might think we play kind of fancy, throw lobs and all that stuff. But that’s not what we do. We can play the right way.”
Senior Mikey Williams (5) scored a game-high 23 points in Thursday's 62-50 Highland Park win over SM North. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Senior Ja'Corey Robinson scored 20 points in Thursday's 62-50 Highland Park win over SM North. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Kelley scored 10 points in support of the Scots’ usual leading scorers. Mikey Williams tossed in 23 points and Jacorey Robinson added 20.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University women's basketball shot 84.6 percent and scored 25 points in the first quarter and held on the rest of the way for a 71-60 MIAA road win over Northwest Missouri State on Wednesday night.
Junior Yibari Nwidadah scored a game-high 25 points in Wednesday's 71-60 MIAA road win at Northwest Missouri. [File photo/TSN]
Junior Gabi Giovannetti scored 14 points and went 8 of 9 at the free throw line in WU's 71-60 win over Northwest Missouri. [File photo/TSN]
Wednesday's win was Washburn's third straight, dating back to a 66-61 overtime loss to the Bearcats on Jan. 11 in Lee Arena.
After the first two points of the game went to the Bearcats (9-10 overall, 2-7 MIAA) the Ichabod (11-8, 5-4) offense began to churn, pushing the lead to double digits after a Yibari Nwidadah basket that made it 17-6.
They continued on what would be a 10-0 run after Gabi Giovannetti got a layup to go to make the score 21-6 at the 2:36 mark in the quarter.
Amaya Davison ended the opening frame with a driving basket to give Washburn a 25-10 advantage.
Northwest Missouri was able to chip away at the lead at the free throw line to start the second quarter. They shot 6-7 from the line in the 10-minute period and brought the deficit back to single digits after a make at the line.
The Ichabods continued shooting efficiently, going 6-13 in the quarter. On the other end the Bearcats were able to hang around because of extra opportunities, grabbing seven offensive boards in the first half.
The Washburn lead got as low as six before Nia McKenzie made it 41-33 heading to the break with a last second basket.
Washburn was able to boost its lead to 13 at the 3:25 mark of the third quarter after layups from Nwidadah and Madelyn Amekporfor.
The Ichabods again shot 50.0 percent in the quarter, and after a 5-2 push by the Bearcats in the final two minutes, led by 10 going into the fourth.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The No. 1-ranked Washburn University men's basketball team rallied from a 3-point halftime deficit, closing the game with an 8-0 run over the final 3:59 of the contest for an 80-69 win over Northwest Missouri on Wednesday in Bearcat Arena.
Sophomore Brayden Shorter recorded his first collegiate double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds in Wednesday's 80-69 MIAA road win at Northwest Missouri. [File photo/TSN]
Sophomore Jack Bachelor scored 12 of his 17 points in the second half as undefeated and top-ranked Washburn rallied for an 80-69 MIAA win at Northwest Missouri. [File photo/TSN]
Improving to 18-0 on the season and 9-0 in the MIAA, Washburn swept the regular-season series over the Bearcats for the first time since the 2010-11 season.
The Ichabods trailed at the half (40-37) for only the second time this season and not since a 36-32 deficit against Texas Permian Basin in San Antonio on Dec. 18 in a game they rallied to win by 14 after trailing by as many as nine in the game.
Washburn shot 43 percent in the opening frame, trailing until taking an 18-17 lead over the Bearcats. A 10-1 run by the Ichabods pushed Washburn's lead to 28-20, but the two teams traded leads seven times in the opening half and Northwest took a 40-37 lead into the break on a 3-pointer at the buzzer by Emorie Knox.
Starting the second half the Bearcats stretched their lead to seven at 44-37 with 18:51 to go before Washburn chipped away at the lead and pulled within one at 46-45 after a 3-pointer by Jack Bachelor with 16:04 left.
Washburn tied the score at 52 with 13:46 to go on a jumper by Dillon Claussen and would take a 54-52 lead on a Brayden Shorter dunk.
The lead was short-lived as the Bearcats came back with a 3-pointer of their own to take a 55-54 lead on their next possession, but Washburn came right back with a jumper by Bachelor as the Ichabods regained the lead at 56-55 with 11:58 to play.
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By Rick Peterson
TopSports.news
Shawnee Heights junior Henry Schattilly bowled a perfect 300 game in Tuesday's high school bowling meet at Lawrence, earning the individual title while leading the T-Birds to the team crown.
Shawnee Heights junior Henry Schattilly bowled a 300 game Tuesday in Lawrence, winning the individual title with a 693 series. [File photo/TSN]
Schattilly bowled his 300 in his second game after a first-game 182 and finished his series with a 212 to take individual honors by two pins over Ottawa's Shane Circle with a 693 series.
The T-Birds also got a fourth-place individual finish from Caden Cochrane (680) and a fifth-place showing from Trey Donath (662) en route to the team championship by a 2,703-2,342 margin over Free State.
Chevy Stallbaumer added a 634 series for Shawnee Heights while Donovan Davis had a 597 and Cooper Brown a 552.
Shawnee Heights also won the girls team title in Tuesday's event by a 2,068-2,020 margin over Lawrence Free State.
Reese Bell posted a fourth-place individual finish for the T-Birds with a 533 series.
T-Birds sweep titles in home quadrangular
Shawnee Heights swept the individual and team titles in Wednesday's home quadrangular at Gage Bowl.
Junior Henry Schattilly won his second individual championship in as many days, rolling a 643 three-game series to claim top honors by five pins over teammate Chevy Stallbaumer (638).
Trey Donath also posted a top-five finish, placing fourth with a 591 series, as the T-Birds finished first as a team by a 2,479-2,306 margin over Piper. Topeka West finished fourth as a team with a 2,197 team score.
Shawnee Heights sophomore Addison VanMetre won the girls individual title with a 540 series as the T-Birds edged Piper by a 1,953-1,942 margin in the team standings. Topeka West was fourth with a 1,417 total.
Heights' Sophie Scheve finished fifth individually with a 482 series.
Manhattan wins titles in Topeka High bowling quad
Manhattan dominated Tuesday's Topeka High bowling quadrangular at Gage Bowl, sweeping both the girls individual and team championships.
Manhattan's boys swept the top five individual spots on the way to a 2,603-2,212 margin over Highland Park, while Topeka West (2,109) was third and Topeka High (2,030).
Cristian Reyes led Highland Park with a 579 series while Allen McCracken had a 572 series and Aaron Poe a 565 for the Scots.
Alec Rutschmann led Topeka West with a 556 series while Austin Mitchell paced Topeka High with a 551.
Manhattan went one-two individually in the girls division on the way to a 1,997-1,469 margin over Topeka West in the team standings. Highland Park finished third with a 1,336 team score while Topeka High was fourth at 1,297.
West's Kaitlyn Leeburg finished third with a 459 series while Highland Park was led by Thalia Villanueva, who finished fifth with a 434.
Lilly Krohe led Topeka High with a 380 series.
Lady Scots bounce back with 23-point Meadowlark Conference win
Highland Park girls basketball, which suffered its first loss on Tuesday to USD 501 rival Topeka High, bounced back with a 61-38 Meadowlark Conference victory over Atchison Wednesday night.
Sophomores Zayah Kincade and Pearmella Carter scored 15 points apiece to lead Highland Park, which Carter also grabbed 15 rebounds with five steals and Kincade connected on four 3-pointers.
Highland Park improved to 7-1 with a perfect 5-0 record in the Meadowlark Conference.
Malakyah Duncan led the way with 18 points in Tuesday's 50-49 Topeka West UKC win over Basehor-Linwood, the Chargers' fourth straight. [File photo/TSN]
West boys tune up for tourney with 50-49 UKC win over Bobcats
Juniors Malakyah Duncan and Keimani Paul combined for 30 points Tuesday night as No. 7-ranked Topeka West held on for a 50-49 United Kansas Conference win over Basehor-Linwood.
Duncan scored 18 points to lead the Chargers while Paul added 12 points as West improved to 6-2 overall and in the UKC with its fourth straight win.
West led 10-9 at the end of the first quarter and used a 16-10 second quarter to take a 26-19 halftime advantage.
West went up 42-33 after three quarters and held on for the win after Basehor-Linwood closed with a 16-8 fourth quarter.
Topeka West is competing Thursday, Friday and Saturday in the Topeka Invitational Tournament at Topeka High.
