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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Topeka High's No. 4-ranked girls basketball team was a huge favorite in Thursday's first-round game of the Capital City Classic at High and it didn't take long for the undefeated Trojans to show why in a 71-13 romp past Blue Valley Southwest.
Hannah Alexander's 10-0 Trojans bolted out to a 19-3 first-quarter advantage and never looked back, taking a huge 37-8 lead to the locker room at the half and hitting the Timberwolves with a 24-3 third quarter to force a running clock over the final eight minutes.
"We wanted our defense to speak volumes and I thought it did, holding them to eight points through most of the third quarter,'' Alexander said. "I think that says a lot about our defense and that's what we wanted to do.
"We wanted to make sure that we took care of business and did what we needed to do out there. I thought the girls played great team ball.''
Topeka High junior Kiki Smith scored a game-high 20 points with four 3-pointers in the Trojans' 71-13 win over Blue Valley Southwest in the first round of Capital City Classic. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Senior Tae Thomas scored 19 points and hit four 3-pointers in Topeka High's 71-13 first-round win over Blue Valley Southwest in the Capital City Classic. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Trojan standouts Kiki Smith and Tae Thomas combined for 39 points while sophomore Ayana Leesman added 11 points and nine Trojans cracked the scoring column.
Smith, a junior, led Topeka High with 20 points and senior Thomas added 19 points with both players canning four 3-pointers.
With Thursday's win the Trojans advanced to a 6 p.m. semifinal Friday againt Shawnee Mission East, a first-round winner over Maize.
Wichita Heights, which took a 75-31 first-round win over Highland Park, will face Seaman, a 54-19 winner over Shawnee Mission North, in Friday's 7:30 semifinal.
SEAMAN 54, SHAWNEE MISSION NORTH 19 -- Seaman (7-3) took control with a 29-2 first half, including a 12-0 second-quarter shutout.
"Defense is our ticket, our strength,'' Seaman coach Matt Tinsley said. "Execute your alignment and assignment and fly around and create havoc.''
Sophomore Taylin Stallbaumer and freshman Anna Becker combined for 29 points against the Bison, with Stallbaumer leading all scorers with 17 points, including four 3-pointers, while Becker added 12 points, going six of six at the free throw line.
Eleven players cracked the scoring column for the Vikings, who are No. 10-ranked in Class 5A.
"The first half was our best halfcourt execution so far this season,'' Tinsley said. "We did a good job of moving the basketball against their zone.''
WICHITA HEIGHTS 75, HIGHLAND PARK 31 -- The Falcons put the Scots away early on, opening up a 26-8 first-quarter lead and taking a huge 52-17 advantage at the half.
Senior Aisya Taylor led Highland Park with 12 points, including a pair of 3-pointers.
Senior Zyanna Walker led Wichita Heights with 17 points while sophomore Mya Mayberry added 15 points, senior Cayanna Stanley 14 points.
Highland Park will face Shawnee Mission North in a 7:30 p.m. consolation contest Friday in Topeka High's auxiliary gym.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hayden's boys went one-two individually en route to the team title in Wednesday's Hayden bowling quadrangular at Gage Bowl.
Hayden's Camden Schrickel won the individual championship with a 643 three-game series while teammate Emilio Gutierrez was second with a 631 series.
The Wildcats also got a fifth-place finish from Ethan Christy, who bowled a 569 series.
Hayden won the team title by a 3,079-2881 margin over Washington County, including the Baker format games.
Individual champion Heather Heine, who had a 527 series, led Ottawa to the girls team title by a 2,228 margin over runner-Highland Park while Hayden was third with a 2,101 total.
Highland Park got a second-place individual finish from Corina Robers with a 522 series while Hayden's Emily Ireland (500) and Abby Dodd (427) finished third and fourth.
HAYDEN QUADRANGULAR
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural star senior swimmer Nathen Trachta had to wait until the final team scores were announced at the end of Thursday's Topeka city swimming and diving championships to know whether his 18th birthday was going to be one he'd never forget or one that would leave a sour taste his mouth.
It turned out Trachta had plenty of reason to celebrate, helping lead Washburn Rural to its third straight city crown by a razor-thin margin of 530-526 at the Capitol Federal Natatorium.
"I knew it was going to be tight,'' Trachta said. "We were competing against very good teams, and especially getting the win for a birthday present, that was very awesome.
"I'm so proud of our team.''
Washburn Rural senior Nathen Trachta won the city title in the 100-yard backstroke on Thursday, was second in the 100 butterfly (above) and also swam on a pair of winning relay teams as the Junior Blues edged Seaman for the team championship, 531-525. Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Trachta earned three gold medals to go with a second-place finish and anchored the Junior Blues' 400-yard freestyle relay to a victory in the meet-ending event, giving Washburn Rural the team title.
Trachta won the the 100-yard backstroke (57.72 seconds), finished second in the 100 butterfly (54.09) and swam on the Junior Blues' winning 200 freestyle and 400 free relays.
Trachta teamed with Jalen Eilert, Jack Miranda and Luke Lemke to win the 200 free relay (1:33.25) while Miranda, Will Powell and Brogan Meier won the 400 free relay (3:22.83).
Washburn Rural's Jack Miranda won four gold medals in Thursday's city meet as the Junior Blues won their third straight city team title by a 530-526 margin over Seaman. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Miranda won four gold medals on the day, winning the 200 freestyle (1:50.09) and the 100 free (49.80) to go with his two relay wins, while Meier added a win in the 500 freestyle (5:13.72).
Seaman won just one event on the day, Jake Moss' win in the 50 freestyle (23.34), but the Vikings' depth put them in position to challenge for the team championship, with Seaman posting top-three finishes in all 11 swimming events.
Like Trachta, second-year Washburn Rural coach Jordan Metz expected a nail-biter in the city meet.
"I'm not going to lie, I was very nervous,'' Metz said. "I've been thinking about it all day while I was at my other job and I'm like, 'Did I put everybody in the right events?''
"And then I was just like, 'I've got to trust the guys and put my faith in them because they've put in the work. They got it done tonight and I couldn't be prouder of them.''
"I knew Seaman was going to be tough to beat. They've been tough to beat all season.''
Shawnee Heights didn't have the depth to challenge for the team title, but the T-Birds won four events.
Shawnee Heights' Luke Perkins won a pair of individual events and also added a relay win in Thursday's city swimming meet. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Heights' Luke Perkins won the 200 individual medley (2:01.54) and the 100 butterfly (52.72) and teamed with Truman Brede, Guillaume Humblet and Tanner Zerger to win the meet-opening 200 medley relay (1:43.21).
The T-Birds also got a victory from Humblet in the 100 breaststroke (1:00.79).
Topeka High freshman Jaxon Cowdin was the city diving champion, recording a winning score of 233.90.
TOPEKA CITY SWIMMING AND DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Capitol Federal Natatorium
Team scores
Washburn Rural 530, Seaman 526, Topeka High 354, Hayden 333, Shawnee Heights 272, Topeka West 27.
Individual results
200 medley relay — 1. Shawnee Heights (Brede, Humblet, Perkins, Zerger), 1:43.21; 2. Washburn Rural (Meier, Dimick, Powell, Eilert), 1:44.71; 3. Seaman (Pekarek, Florence, O'Rourke, Greig), 1:46.33.
200 freestyle — 1. Miranda, Washburn Rural, 1:50.09; 2. Powell, Washburn Rural, 1:54.95; 3. Ramirez, Seaman, 1:55.76.
200 individual medley — 1. Perkins, Shawnee Heights, 2:01.54; 2. Meier, Washburn Rural, 2:06.44; 3. O'Rourke, Seaman, 2:07.26.
50 freestyle — 1. Moss, Seaman, 23.34; 2. Gregg, Hayden, 24.09; 3. Appelhanz, Seaman, 24.36.
One meter diving -- 1. Cowdin, Topeka High, 233.90; 2. Haag, Topeka West, 158.50; 3. Cooney, Washburn Rural, 150.70.
100 butterfly — 1. Perkins, Shawnee Heights, 52.72; 2. Trachta, Washburn Rural, 54.09; 3. O'Rourke, Seaman, 55.37.
100 freestyle — 1. Miranda, Washburn Rural, 49.80; 2. Humblet, Shawnee Heights, 50.54; 3. Florence, Seaman, 53.02.
500 freestyle — 1. Meier, Washburn Rural, 5:13.72; 2. Johnson, Hayden, 5:55.82; 3. Wagnon, Seaman, 6:02.88.
200 freestyle relay — 1. Washburn Rural (Eilert, Miranda, Lemke, Trachta), 1:33.25; 2. Shawnee Heights (Zerger, Hoobler, Perkins, Humblet), 1:33.63; Seaman (Ramirez, Biggs, Appelhanz, Florence), 1:36.59.
100 backstroke — 1. Trachta, Washburn Rural, 57.72; 2. Ramirez, Seaman, 1:02.18; 3. Brede, Shawnee Heights, 1:03.60.
100 breaststroke — 1. Humblet, Shawnee Heights, 1:00.79; 2. Florence, Seaman, 1:05.36; 3. Dimick, Washburn Rural, 1:05.76.
400 freestyle relay — 1. Washburn Rural (Miranda, Powell, Meier, Trachta), 3:22.83; 2. Seaman (Moss, Greig, Ramirez, O'Rourke), 3:33.42; 3. Seaman B (Appelhanz, Pekarek, Stuke, Wurm), 3:43.07.
ALL-CITY SWIMMING/CITY
First team
Jack Miranda, Washburn Rural; Luke Perkins, Shawnee Heights; Brogan Meier, Washburn Rural; Guillaume Humblet, Shawnee Heights; Nathen Trachta, Washburn Rural; Daniel Ramirez, Seaman, Adin Florenece, Seaman; Jake Moss, Seaman; Colin O'Rourke, Seaman; Will Powell, Washburn Rural; Jaxon Cowdin, Topeka High (diver).
Second team
Ryan Johnson, Hayden; Blaize Appelhanz, Seaman; Truman Brede, Shawnee Heights; Jalen Eilert, Washburn Rural; Cordell Dimick, Washburn Rural; Dylan Gregg, Hayden; Perry Payne, Topeka High; Marcus Greig, Seaman; Evan Hoobler, Shawnee Heights; Coldy Colwell, Washburn Rural; Luke Lemke, Washburn Rural; Robert Haag, Topeka West (diver).
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University men's basketball team has been red hot of late, winning six of their last seven games and eight of 10.
But the Ichabods, who had won their previous eight conference games by an average of 5.9 points including five wins by three or fewer points, got to do something Wednesday night they hadn't been able to do throughout their MIAA schedule -- celebrate a blowout.
Washburn, which improved to 12-7 overall and 9-4 in the MIAA, used a 14-0 run to open up a 46-29 halftime cushion and outscored the Jets (4-12, 1-10) by a 45-31 margin in the second half to run away with a 91-60 win at Lee Arena.
Newman had played Washburn to a 72-61 decision in Wichita on Dec. 11, but the Ichabods did a much better job of imposing their will on the Jets in Wednesday's rematch.
"That was definitely a point of emphasis, get out in attack mode and get out in transition to start the game,'' Washburn star senior point guard Tyler Geiman said. "We kind of got downhill and got some easy shots and got some other guys going, so that was good.''
Washburn senior Tyler Geiman had a double-double with 20 points and 10 assists in the Ichabods' 91-60 win over Newman Wednesday night. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Geiman led three double-figure scorers for WU with 20 points while Geiman and senior Jeremy Harrell both registered double-doubles.
Geiman added 10 assists to go with his 20 points while Harrell had 12 points and 11 rebounds and Connor Deffebaugh scored 15 points.
Connor Deffebaugh scored 15 points in Washburn's 91-60 MIAA romp past Newman Wednesday night. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Washburn played 14 players in the game and 12 cracked the scoring column.
"It was definitely good to get some other guys in,'' Geiman said. "They've been working hard in practice every day, so that was great to see.''
Washburn coach Brett Ballard agreed.
"It's good to give some of the guys that contribute a lot in practice but don't get in games the opportunity to play,'' Ballard said. "I think that's one of the best things about a game like this. Those guys got some solid minutes and got an opportunity to get out there in front of a crowd, which they deserve.
"So I was pleased with that and obviously was overall pleased with how we played. I thought it was a good overall game for us.''
The Ichabods didn't have a great shooting night from 3-point range (11 of 38) or the free throw line (eight of 18), but WU shot a respectable 46.8 percent from the field overall, while holding Newman to 41.2-percent shooting.
Washburn held a 42-36 rebounding edge and forced 23 Jet turnovers while committing just five floor errors.
Newman was led by Deandre Johnson with 11 points while Israel Barnes added 10 points. Both Johnson and Barnes both grabbed seven rebounds for the Jets.
Washburn will be back at Lee Arena on Saturday for a 3 p.m. game against Central Oklahoma, which is 17-2 overall, 12-1 in the MIAA and the winner of 13 straight games.
The Bronchos took a 97-87 overtime win over the Ichabods in an earlier game.
WASHBURN MEN 91, NEWMAN 60
Newman 29 31 -- 60
Washburn 46 45 -- 91
NEWMANI (4-12, 1-10)
Javorsky 1-2 0-0 3, Johnson 5-8 1-2 11, Barnes 4-15 0-2 10, Strong 3-8 2-2 9, Lee 1-4 0-0 2, Bunn 2-7 1-2 6, Agyapong 0-0 1-2 1, Morris 1-3 5-6 8, Jovanovic2-2 1-3 5, Oliva 2-2 0-0 5, Jones 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-51 11-19 60.
WASHBURN (12-7, 9-4)
Harrell 5-13 0-0 12, Deffebaugh 7-10 0-0 15, Geiman 8-13 1-2 20, Lewis 1-7 0-0 3, Keegan 2-4 0-0 4, Clausing 3-5 3-5 9 Nelson 3-7 0-0 7, Ellis 2-5 0-0 5, Braun 2-5 0-0 6, Monday 1-4 0-0 2, Thorne 0-1 0-0 0, Orr 1-1 3-6 5, Cordes 1-2 1-2 3, Ross 0-0 0-2 0. Totals 36-77 8-18 91.
3-point goals -- Newman 7-17 (Barnes 2-5, Javorsky 1-2, Strong 1-4, Bunn 1-3, Morris 1-2, Oliva 1-1), Washburn 11-38 (Geiman 3-5, Braun 2-5, Harrell 2-8, Deffebaugh 1-1, Lewis 1-7, Nelson 1-4, Ellis 1-3, Thorne 0-1, Monday 0-3, Cordes 0-1), Rebounds -- Newman 36 (Johnson 7, Barnes 7), Washburn 42 (Harrell 11). Assists -- Newman 13 (Lee 8), Washburn 17 (Geiman 10). Turnovers -- Newman 23, Washburn 10. Total fouls -- Newman 22, Washburn 18. Fouled out -- none. Technical fouls -- none.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University's women's basketball team didn't have a good offensive night Wednesday until Shae Sanchez and Macy Doebele got hot in the late going.
But when you hold an opponent to 30 points -- an average of 7.5 points per quarter -- you've got to like your chances to pick up a victory.
"I would hope so,'' said Doebele, a 5-foot-11 sophomore out of Hanover. "That's the biggest thing I can say about this team is that no matter what's going, usually we have our defense.
"Everyone grinds through the defensive part of it and that's something we have all committed to doing.''
Washburn senior Shae Sanchez scored 14 points with four 3-pointers in the Ichabods' 47-30 win over Newman Wednesday night. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Sophomore Macy Doebele scored 10 points and went six of six from the free throw line in the Ichabods' 47-30 MIAA win over Newman Wednesday night. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
The Ichabods limited the 2-18 Jets, who are still looking for their first MIAA win, to what was believed to be the lowest point total in Newman program history on the way to a 47-30 win at Lee Arena.
Newman's game plan was to milk the shot clock and limit Washburn's possessions, a ploy that was somewhat successful during a 15-14 first half (WU led) and through the first five and a half minutes of the third quarter before the Ichabods (8-9 overall, 6-5 in the conference) ended the quarter with an 11-0 run to take a 28-18 lead into the fourth quarter, getting a lift from Doebele and Lauren Cassaday.
"They've been doing this the last couple of weeks, trying to slow the pace down and get you in lower possessions,'' Washburn coach Ron McHenry said of Newman. "We just didn't handle it very good (in the first half) and thank goodness our defense was good.
"That's been their (modus operandi) for a couple of weeks now and really trying to keep the game at a number they can manage. I thought the kids stayed patient and pressed them up enough to bother them. Defense wasn't an issue tonight, obviously.''
Doebele canned two free throws to open the fourth quarter, pushing Washburn's lead to 30-18, and Sanchez drained three 3-pointers over the final 3:24 as the Ichabods built their biggest lead of the night.
Washburn shot just 35.4 percent from the field and was just four of 20 from 3-point range, but limited Newman to 23.3 percent shooting and a 2 of 15 showing from outside the arc.
Sanchez, a 5-10 senior, accounted for all four of Washburn's 3-point makes and finished with a game-high 14 points while Doebele added 10 points (six of six from the free throw line), sophomore Abby Oliver eight points and Cassaday, a freshman, seven.
Senior Nuria Barrientos tied for game-high honors with eight rebounds.
Newman did not have a player with more than six points.
Washburn will be back at home Saturday to host Central Oklahoma in a 1 p.m. MIAA contest.
WASHBURN WOMEN 47, NEWMAN 30
Newman 9 5 4 12 -- 30
Washburn 9 6 13 19 -- 47
NEWMAN (2-18, 0-14)
Ho 3-9 0-0 6, Nilles 0-3 2-2 2, Dubbert 2-13 0-0 5, Beck 0-4 0-0 0, Vang 2-4 0-0 5, Bello 2-6 2-2 6, Hayes 0-1 2-2 2, White 1-3 2-3 4, Rottinghaus 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 10-43 2-15 30.
WASHBURN (8-9, 6-5)
Cassaday 3-5 1-2 7, Gamble 0-1 0-0 0, Bentley 0-8 2-2 2, Barrientos 2-4 0-0 4, Doebele 2-4 6-6 10, Sanchez 5-9 0-0 14, Oliver 4-8 0-2 8 , Dewey 1-4 0-0 2, Sanz 0-5 0-0 0. Totals 17-48 9-12 47.
3-point shots – Newman 2-15 (Dubbert 1-7, Vang 1-2, Beck 0-4, Nilles 0-1, White 0-1), Washburn 4-20 (Sanchez 4-6, Bentley 0-6, Sanz 0-5, Barrientos 0-1, Doebele 0-1, Dewey 0-1). Rebounds – Newman 26 (Ho 8), Washburn 40 (Barrientos 8). Assists – Newman 7 (Dubbert 4), Washburn 14 (Bentley 4). Turnovers – Newman 14, Washburn 12. Total fouls – Newman 11, Washburn 12. Fouled out – none. Technical fouls – none.
