- Details
By Rick Peterson
TopSports.news
OK, so Washburn Rural's 42-28 home Centennial League win over Emporia Friday night was far from pretty.
But it was exactly what Alex Hutchins' Junior Blues needed coming off a tough six-point loss to Blue Valley West on Tuesday.
Junior Simon Rowley (facing) scored 13 points to lead Washburn Rural in Friday's 42-28 Centennial League win over Emporia. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"We felt like we lost Tuesday because we let their physicality get the best of us,'' Hutchins said. "And this was quite the back-to-back test playing an Emporia team that kind of prides itself on being physical. So we really thought that this was kind of a judgement game for our guys.
"Were they going to respond to the challenge and step up and match the physicality or was it going to be an issue again? It wasn't pretty, but Emporia doesn't let anybody beat them pretty. We've got some guys who like to make shots and take pride in scoring but we can't have a bad taste in our mouth after an ugly win against a team that forces you to play ugly.''
Washburn Rural, which improved to 6-2 overall and 2-0 in the league, never trailed on the night (there was one tie at 5-5) and didn't allow more than 10 points in a quarter and limited Emporia (4-3, 0-1) to eight or fewer points in three of the four periods.
Rural took a 14-10 first-quarter lead on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from senior Amare Jones and outscored the Spartans 12-4 in the second period to go up 26-14 at the half.
Back-to-back hoops from junior Simon Rowley and Jones to open the second half boosted Rural's lead to 30-14 and the Junior Blues went on to lead by 18 points twice in the quarter before taking a 38-22 advantage into the final eight minutes.
- Details
By Rick Peterson
TopSports.news
Looking at Friday's 55-24 final score it would appear that the fourth-ranked Washburn Rural girls had an easy time with Emporia.
But the winless Spartans got Rural's attention with a solid first-half performance and Junior Blues coach Kevin Bordewick got his team's attention by putting four starters on the bench for the bulk of the first quarter before the hosts took control over the final 17 minutes to improve to 5-2 overall and 1-1 in the Centennial League.
Washburn Rural sophomore Maddie Vickery scored a game-high 17 points in Friday's 55-24 win over Emporia. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Senior Kate Hinck scored 16 points and led Washburn Rural's defense in Friday's 55-24 win over Emporia. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Emporia, which fell to 0-7 and 0-2, jumped out to an 8-0 lead, including six early points in Friday's opening quarter, prompting Bordewick to make mass substitutions about two minutes into the game, with sophomore Brooklyn Rutherford the lone Junior Blue starter to stay in the game.
"They know better and we've talked about it,'' Bordewick said of the slow start. "We got off to a zero to eight start against Hayden on Friday and we talked all week about being the aggressor, being smarter with the ball, running your offense and we did none of what we had worked on in practice.
"I did think Brooklyn did what she was supposed to do and that's why she stayed and it was just the little things that she was doing that I didn't feel like the other four were. Above all, we're kind of known as a team that plays hard and we get that from how hard we work in practice. I thought we had really good practices this week and then it doesn't show up and that drives me insane, so obviously I'm the link that's not connecting the two and somehow I've got to figure out how to get that message across from the start.''
Emporia led 10-6 at the end of the first quarter and was still tied at 16-all with 1:06 left in the half before sophomore Maddie Vickery scored on a follow shot and junior Ella Hirchi hit a 3-pointer to give Rural a 21-16 halftime advantage.
The Junior Blues then scored the first 14 points of the second half and outscored the Spartans 22-5 in the third to take a commanding 43-21 advantage into the final stanza.
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Highland Park sophomore girls basketball standout Pearmella Carter and Topeka West junior basketball standout Malakyah Duncan have been selected by the Dan Key Farmers Insurance Agency as the Rising Stars of the Week.
The Dan Key Agency will recognize top Shawnee County underclassmen throughout the bulk of the 2024-2025 school year.
Here’s a brief look at the accomplishments of Carter and Duncan over the past week:
Highland Park sophomore Pearmella Carter is the Dan Key Farmers Insurance Agency female Rising Star of the Week. [File photo/TSN]
PEARMELLA CARTER, Highland Park
Carter had 28 points, 5 rebounds and 5 steals in a 70-22 Meadowlark Conference win over Kansas City-Schlagle on Monday and scored 23 points and grabbed 20 rebounds (13 offensive), with 3 assists and 3 steals in a 54-42 conference win over KC-Sumner on Tuesday as Highland Park remained unbeaten on the season.
Topeka West junior Malakyah Duncan has been named the Dan Key Farmers Insurance Agency male Rising Star of the Week. [File photo/TSN]
MALAKYAH DUNCAN, Topeka West
Duncan had 14 points and hit the game-winning free throws in Tuesday's 59-57 come-from-behind 59-57 United Kansas Conference win at Seaman. Duncan had 7 points in a 71-38 win over Leavenworth on Monday for the Chargers, who are 4-2 on the season and eighth-ranked in Class 5A by the KBCA.
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
EMPORIA (4-2, 0-0 Centennial League) at WASHBURN RURAL (5-2, 1-0 Centennial League)
Washburn Rural is coming off a 52-46 home non-league loss to Blue Valley West on Tuesday while Emporia is coming off a 41-36 non-league victory over Hays. Senior Kaden Ballard scored 15 points and hit three 3-pointers for Washburn Rural against Blue Valley West while junior Simon Rowley added 13 points. Game time: 7:30 p.m.
JUNCTION CITY (6-0, 1-0 Centennial League) at TOPEKA HIGH (0-7, 0-1 Centennial League)
Topeka High is coming off a 65-50 Centennial League loss to Hayden on Tuesday while Junction City took a 66-62 league win over Manhattan. Junior Jalen Aldridge led Topeka High with 17 points and hit three 3-pointers against Hayden. Game time: 7:30 p.m.
KC-TURNER (1-6, 0-5 United Kansas Conference) at TOPEKA WEST (4-2, 4-2 United Kansas Conference)
Topeka West will be looking for its third win of the week Friday, with the Chargers coming off a 59-57 come-from-behind United Kansas Conference win over Seaman Tuesday night. West is ranked No. 8 in Class 5A by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association while Seaman is No. 7. Junior Keimani Paul scord 17 points and junior Malakyah Duncan 14 points against Seaman, with Duncan hitting the game-winning free throws. Turner is coming off a 77-27 UKC loss to Basehor-Linwood Wednesday night. Game time: 7:15 p.m.
WEST FRANKLIN (3-5, 2-4 Flint Hills League) at CAIR PARAVEL LATIN (3-5, 1-3 Flint Hills League)
Cair Paravel is coming off a 61-37 Flint Hills loss to Osage City on Tuesday while West Franklin is coming off a 53-42 league league loss to Mission Valley. Lucas Marichal scored 12 points to lead Cair Paravel in the Lions' loss to Osage City. Game time: 7:30 p.m.
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
EMPORIA (0-6, 0-1 Centennial League) at WASHBURN RURAL (4-2, 0-1 Centennial League)
Washburn Rural, ranked No. 4 in Class 6A by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association, was off Tuesday after a tough 46-44 Centennial League loss at Hayden last Friday. Sophomore Maddie Vickery led Rural with 15 points against Hayden while senior Kate Hinck added 11 points. Both of Rural's losses have been two-point road losses. Emporia is still looking for its first win after dropping a 66-12 decision to Hays on Tuesday. Game time: 6 p.m.
JUNCTION CITY (1-4, 0-1 Centennial League) at TOPEKA HIGH (3-3, 0-1 Centennial League)
Topeka High is coming off a 56-41 Centennial League loss to undefeated Hayden on Tuesday while Junction City dropped a 93-25 league game to Manhattan. Sophomore Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton and freshman Hailey Caryl led the Trojans with 11 points apiece against Hayden. Game time: 6 p.m.
KC-TURNER (0-5, 0-4 United Kansas Conference) at TOPEKA WEST (0-6, 0-6 United Kansas Conference)
Topeka West will be looking for its first win of the season Friday against the winless Bears after dropping a 71-29 UKC decision at undefeated and top-ranked Seaman Tuesday night. Turner is coming off a 70-11 loss to Basehor-Linwood Wednesday night. Game time: 5:45 p.m.
WEST FRANKLIN (2-6, 2-3 Flint Hills League) at CAIR PARAVEL LATIN (1-7, 0-4 Flint Hills League)
Cair Paravel is coming off a 69-10 Flint Hills loss to Osage City on Tuesday while West Franklin is coming off a 47-37 league win over Mission Valley. Game time: 6 p.m.
