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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
After two straight losses by a total of 9 points and fighting for a berth in the MIAA postseason tournament, Washburn University's women's basketball team was in dire need of a bounce-back win Thursday night.
Riding a strong defensive effort and big nights from senior Hunter Bentley and freshman Lauren Cassaday, the Ichabods achieved that objective with a 51-41 victory over Missouri Western at Lee Arena.
Washburn freshman Lauren Cassaday scored 11 points, including 10 in the first half, helping the Ichabods snap a two-game losing streak with a 51-41 win over Missouri Western. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
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By Rick Peterson
TopSports.news
After winning the 235-pound championship for team champion Washburn Rural in last season’s inaugural KSHSAA girls state wrestling tournament, Dajia Anderson was ready to take on a new challenge.
Once she made her decision the Rural senior approached that quest with the same determination that helped her become the city’s first official girls state champ, shedding some 40 pounds so she could compete this season at 191 pounds.
“Last summer I came up for one of the workouts and it was the first one after the (COVID-19) shutdown,’’ Washburn Rural coach Damon Parker said. “I get out of my car and go over to the football field where we were working out and was like, ‘Oh yea, Dajia’s got a little sister!’
“I thought it was a sibling I didn’t know about, and I get up there and I was like, ‘Dajia?’ I didn’t know it was the same person.’’
Washburn Rural senior Dajia Anderson (top) battles Shawnee Heights junior Maranda Bell in last Saturday's Division I regional wrestling tournament at Emporia. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hayden's girls basketball team bounced back from an 11-point loss last Friday at Seaman to take a 47-45 non-league road win at Tonganoxie Wednesday night.
The Wildcats, who improved to 8-8 on the season, limited Tonganoxie to just 4 points in the first quarter while opening up a 14-4 advantage and Hayden was in front 27-19 at the half and 36-31 at the start of the fourth quarter.
"We were really good defensively early on and that was the difference,'' Hayden coach Carvel Reynoldson said.
Carly Stuke
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By Rick Peterson
TopSports.news
There can't be any celebrating until Friday, but Seaman's boys and girls bowling teams did what they could Wednesday at West Ridge Lanes to win Centennial League team championships and will now play the waiting game.
Eight of the nine league schools competed in the league meet Wednesday in two separate sessions, but Emporia did not have school Wednesday due to weather conditions and was not allowed to travel to Topeka to compete. The Spartans will compete Friday, with all of their scores counting in the final team standings.
In the meantime, Seaman put up the scores to beat in the league race, with the Viking boys rallying for a 3,380-3,330 margin over Washburn Rural, while Seaman's girls are in control by a 3,079-2,969 margin over Rural.
Seaman's girls bowling team celebrates a strike during the Baker format games in Wednesday's Centennial League bowling tournament. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Individually, Seaman sophomore Katie Price leads the girls standings with a 658 series, while Washburn Rural's Hannah Casto is currently second with a 650 and Seaman's Makenzie Millard third with a 590.
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By Rick Peterson
TopSports.news
After some hiccups earlier in the season, Highland Park's boys basketball team has continued to make steady progress, as evidenced by the Scots' 8-game winning streak.
And Highland Park's latest win Wednesday night may well have been its best performance of the year, with the Scots taking control by the end of the opening quarter on the way to a 65-40 Centennial League romp over Manhattan on Senior Night at Hi Park.
“You could kind of seeing it coming and it’s been good to see the progression, to see where we were back in December and to keep building and be at the spot we’re at right now late in the season,'' Highland Park coach Michael Williams said.
“It’s just good to put a whole game together. I think over the course of the season we’ve put stretches together and put quarters together, but now to be able to put together three quarters, three and a half quarters, four quarters, I think that’s boding well.’’
Highland Park opened up a 17-8 first-quarter advantage and stretched its advantage to 30-19 at the half before turning the game into a rout with a 35-21 scoring edge over the second half, improving to 11-5 overall and staying alive in the league race with a 10-3 record.
The Scots also displayed perhaps their most balanced offensive attack of the season, with nine played cracking the scoring column and three seniors cracking double figures.
MuKhajhae Daniels led Highland Park with a game-high 15 points while CJ Powell added 14 points and Jahi Peppers 11 as the Scots shot 51 percent and canned 9 3-pointers, including 3 from Powell and 2 from junior Juan'Tario Roberts, who finished with 8 points.
"To see multiple guys involved, that was big,'' Williams said. "I think it's a testament to the kids just sticking through it.''
Senior Owen Braxmeyer led Manhattan (8-8, 6-7) with 12 points while sophomore Jack Wilson added 9 points.
Highland Park boys basketball coach Michael Williams speaks about Scot senior CJ Powell, who was honored before Wednesday's game for reaching the 1,000-point career milestone in a recent game. (Top photo by Rick Peterson/ Bottom photo by Rex Wolf)
