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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Shawnee Heights star junior wrestler Maranda Bell, currently ranked No. 2 in the Division I girls state rankings, has suffered tough losses the past two weeks in matches that went down to the wire against top-ranked Washburn Rural senior Dajia Anderson.
But Bell thinks those defeats -- 4-2 on a last-second takedown at regionals and 8-7 last week at sub-state -- has actually raised her confidence level entering Thursday's Division I state tournament at Park City's Hartman Arena (12 p.m. start).
"I have gained confidence from them,'' said Bell, who will take a 28-4 record into the state meet. "I know what I can do and I know what I'm capable of and I think I can use that.''
Shawnee Heights' Maranda Bell (left) and Washburn Rural's Dajia Anderson could go head to head for a third straight week if both make it to the finals of the Division I state tournament at Hartman Arena. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
It’s been a full year, but Washburn Rural senior standout wrestler Rebekah Smith still hasn't got a heartbreaking loss at last year’s girls state tournament out of her mind.
But instead of sulking about that 4-3 loss to Abilene’s Lindsey Buechman in the 170-pound semifinals, Smith has used it as motivation as she takes aim on the 155-pound championship in Thursday’s Division I state tourney at Park City’s Hartman Arena.
“I was down by 1 point and there were 18 seconds left,’’ Smith said about her semifinal loss. “I was in neutral and I tried to get a takedown at the very end and they didn’t count the takedown, which cost me that match.
“Ever since that match I’ve been striving harder and harder. Every day and every competition that moment sticks in the back of my mind and that pushes me to keep going.’’
Washburn Rural senior wrestler Rebekah Smith has her sights set on the 155-pound state title after finishing 3rd as a junior. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
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Topeka West's Zander Putthoff lines up one of several 3 pointers against Highland Park. (Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN)
By ANDREW GILL
TopSports.news
Every once in a while, we all need a reminder that some things are bigger than sports.
Before falling to Centennial League-champion Topeka West 86-64 Tuesday night at West, the Highland Park boys basketball team gave everyone in attendance that reminder.
At the conclusion of West’s Senior Night festivities, the boys took the floor to warmup, but the Scots weren’t sporting their typical pregame garb.
Instead, they wore pink T-shirts with the words ‘We Support Coach Bloom,' in honor of the Chargers’ head coach, Rick Bloomquist, who was recently diagnosed with Stage 3 squamous cell carcinoma.
It was a small gesture, but one that made a huge impact and caught Bloomquist by surprise.
“I come walking out here and thought, ‘What the hell are they wearing pink shirts for?’ Then it hit me.” Bloomquist said. “It was the most sincere form of respect anyone had ever given me.”
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TopSports.news
Washburn University's women's basketball team led from start to finish Tuesday night at Northwest Missouri, cruising to a 56-43 MIAA victory over the Bearcats.
Washburn won its third straight game and improved to 10-10 on the season while Northwest Missouri fell to 7-13.
Freshman Mackenzie Gamble hit 5 of 8 shots from the field and finished with 13 points, while senior Hunter Bentley contributed 12 points and 8 rebounds and junior Nuria Barrientos had 9 points and 8 rebounds.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University senior star point guard Tyler Geiman got the word in the second half of Tuesday's game against Northeastern State that he had a chance for the first triple-double in the Ichabods' proud men's basketball history.
But Geiman didn't try to do anything special to try to etch his name in Washburn's record book. He just did what he had been doing all night and, really, for his whole career.
"With like 10 minutes to go I went to the bench and one of my coaches was like, 'Hey, you're going to get one more shot and you need two assists,' so I went in and kind of did what we normally do, go make plays and people hit shots and it worked out,'' Geiman said after finishing with 17 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists in the Ichabods' 88-73 MIAA romp at Lee Arena.
"We were just playing and doing what we do.''
Tyler Geiman notched the first triple-double in Washburn history in Tuesday's 88-73 win over Northeastern State. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
