- Details
TopSports.news
Something had to give in Tuesday night's Class 5A boys state quarterfinal between Hays and Topeka West, with the Indians and Chargers starting the night with a combined 43 straight victories.
And in a game that was tight throughout, it was Rick Bloomquist's Chargers that kept on rolling, overcoming an injury to standout Elijah Brooks to end Hays' 30-game winning streak with a 52-49 win on the Indians' home court.
Rick Bloomquist's Topeka West boys are headed to the Class 5A semifinals after a 52-49 quarterfinal win over previously-unbeaten Hays. [Submitted]
With its 14th straight win Topeka West earned a 7 p.m. semifinal date Friday night with De Soto at Emporia's White Auditorium. The 20-2 Chargers are the No. 2 seed while 19-3 De Soto is the No. 3 seed.
Topeka West lost Brooks, who had 14 points, to an injury early in the final fourth quarter with the game hanging in the balance, but the Chargers, in the state tournament for the first time since 2010, found a way to get the job done.
"When Elijah went down, we could have quit, we could have rolled over,” Bloomquist said. “We could’ve played dead, we could have said, 'Woe is me', but they played harder
“I love that team. I love those boys. I love what they did tonight."
- Details
Topeka High's NiJaree Canady led the scoring against Wichita Heights with 21 points (Photo by Rex Wolf / TSN)
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
By now Topeka High's girls basketball team knows the way to Wichita's Koch Arena, a trip the Trojans will make for a third straight year later this week.
Now the complete focus for Hannah Alexanders team is on bringing home the prize they've coveted since 2019 -- a Class 6A state championship.
Topeka High finished second to city rival Washburn Rural in the '19 championship game and the Trojans were odds on favorites to win the championship a year ago when the tournament was canceled after the first round due to COVID-19.
Now the Trojans have put themselves back in position for a title run after advancing to Friday's state semifinals with an impressive 71-36 state quarterfinal romp past Wichita Heights Tuesday night at High.
"We had a great senior class last year and we have a great senior class this year, so I think the leadership is where it all has started and we want to make sure these girls don't leave empty-handed,'' Alexander said. "They've been been wanting this (a state title) for the last three years.''
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The Ottawa High School football job appealed to former Topeka High coach Walt Alexander for several reasons.
For one thing, Ottawa is a convenient commute for Alexander from his home in Lawrence.
Ottawa, which approved Alexander as its new head coach Monday night, also gives the former highly-successful Trojan coach the opportunity to return to the role he's grown accustomed to over more than three decades -- running his own program.
"I like to set my own schedule, I like doing everything I like to do and when the Ottawa job came open, it was awesome,'' Alexander, 59, told TopSports.news Tuesday. "It's like 20 miles from Lawrence and Shawn Phillips is the (activities director) and Kelly Whittaker's the principal and they were great.
"They've got nice facilities, it's a one-school town and everybody's pulling for one team, which is kind of nice. There's just so many things I liked about it.''
Former highly-successful Topeka High football coach Walt Alexander has accepted the head coaching position at Ottawa High School. [Submitted]
- Details
TopSports.news
Junior Aubrie Kerscht and Salina Central's girls basketball team ended Seaman's season Monday night in the Class 5A state quarterfinals, with the Mustangs rolling to a 66-38 home victory.
Kierscht scored a career-high 34 points with six 3-pointers as Salina Central improved to 19-4 while Seaman ended its season 8-15.
Brooklyn Gormley came off the bench to lead Seaman with 11 points in Monday's 66-38 loss to Salina Central in Monday's 5A quarterfinal. [File photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Topeka High's girls cleared a major hurdle with a 72-52 win over Washburn Rural in Saturday's Class 6A sub-state championship game at Topeka High.
But Trojan coach Hannah Alexander knows there's still major challenges ahead for her 21-1 team, beginning with Tuesday's 6 p.m. 6A quarterrfinal against 16-6 Wichita Heights at High.
The Falcons and Trojans were both in the 6A state tournament a year ago, with Heights dropping a 49-48 decision to Olathe East while Topeka High rolled to the semifinals with a 79-55 win over Olathe North before the tournament was canceled due to COVID-19.
Three of Heights' losses this season have come against teams that advanced to the 6A or 5A quarterfinals and Alexander said the Falcons have the Trojans' complete attention.
