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Topeka West point guard Marque Wilkerson is in the midst of a banner senior season, helping lead the Chargers to an 11-2 record and the Centennial League lead. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Veteran Topeka West boys basketball coach Rick Bloomquist and Charger point guard Marque Wilkerson are both quick to admit that their relationship was a bit rocky at times a year ago.
Wilerson was in and out of his coach's doghouse throughout his junior year but has used that experience to put together an MVP-type senior season while helping make the 11-2 Chargers one of the premier teams in the Centennial League and the Class 5A ranks.
“We had a love-hate relationship last year and right now I love him a lot,'' Bloomquist said. "He’s really played the system and he’s really adjusted. I don’t know if I should say this, but a lot of kids wouldn’t have adjusted to how I tried to make him adjust and would have walked away from me.
“In fact, I tried at one point and thank God he stayed. He had two choices. He had to play like I wanted him to play or he wasn’t going to play and I think he understands now because he’s having a lot of fun as well.’’
Wilkerson is currently averging 17.1 points for the Chargers, including a 25-point performance in Tuesday night's 63-46 home win over Washburn Rural that gave West sole possession of the league lead with a 8-1 record.
And while it wasn't pleasant at the time, Wilkerson knows the lessons he's learned from Bloomquist have helped him become the player he is today.
“I’m his point guard and he said I need to be an extension of him,'' Wilkerson said. "If I’m playing well it makes the team better.’’
Wilkerson said last year's season-ending loss to Blue Valley Southwest that deprived the Chargers of a 5A state tournament berth drove that point home.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
There’s no doubt that Brett Ballard's No. 17-ranked Washburn University men’s basketball team is going through some tough times.
Ichabod 6-foot-9 junior Jonny Clausing has missed five straight games with a foot injury and is doubtful for Thursday’s 7:30 p.m. home MIAA contest against Rogers State, while 6-7 junior Will McKee is also out after aggravating the knee injury that kept him out for the entire 2019-20 season and 6-5 senior Drew Maschoff has left the team to deal with a sports hernia.
Those absences have left the Ichabods short on depth, particularly up front, but Ballard promises that his Ichabods, 11-3 overall and in the MIAA, will continue to battle.
"We're just really thin right now and obviously it's disappointing on one hand, but on the other hand, you've got to play with the guys that are available,'' Ballard said. "I still like the fight of the guys we've got, but it definitely has hurt our size and our depth inside.
"It's the cards we've been dealt, so we're going to have to play them how they lie.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Like just about everything else in the age of the coronavirus, putting together the 2021 recruiting class was completely different for Washburn football coach Craig Schurig and his staff.
For one thing, there were less spots to fill due to the cancellation of the '20 MIAA season, with all of the current Ichabods, including what would have been last fall's senior class, being granted an extra year of eligibility from the NCAA.
The logistics of getting out and scouting players due to the pandemic also provided obstacles for Schurig and his coaches.
But when all was said and done, Schurig was pleased with the 19-member high school signing class he announced Wednesday on National Signing Day, including Hayden standouts Trey Pivarnik and Jayden Rainer, and thinks the newcomers will provide a good mix with the largest number of returners he has had in his two decades at the WU helm.
"You have an extra class and we're fortunate that our super senior class, we have a lot of them that are going to stick it out, and I'm glad they are,'' Schurig said. "They didn't get that senior year and they've put in a lot of work. Dr. Farley (Washburn president) has been really good about it because you have to kind of fund those guys to come back, but it should reap a lot of benefits for us, too.
"We were still able to sign a pretty decent number. It's not as big as usual, but we feel like the quality is definitely there. Obviously you always feel that way, but we feel like it really is and it hit some needs.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Freshman Emma Mitchell led the way with a game-high 22 points as Rossville's girls basketball team posted a 69-51 win over St. Marys Tuesday night, the Bulldawgs' second win in their last three games.
Mitchell, a 5-foot-8 forward, was joined in double figures by senior post Gracie Rabe, who finished with 14 points, as Rossville improved to 3-7 on the season.
Rossville and St. Marys were tied 12-12 at the end of the first quarter, but the Bulldawgs opened up a 35-22 halftime lead on the strength of a 23-10 second quarter. The Bulldawgs held the Bears at bay the rest of the way, holding a 34-29 scoring edge in the second half.
Juniors Katelyn Hurla and Morgan Hurla scored 19 and 12 points, respectively, for St. Marys (3-0).
OSAGE CITY BOYS 49, SILVER LAKE 38
Osage City spoiled Silver Lake's upset bid with a dominant fourth quarter, taking a 49-38 win to improve to 12-2 on the season.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Seaman's boys basketball team gained a measure of revenge Tuesday night at Junction City, dating back to the Vikings' season-opening game.
Junction City had outlasted Seaman (70-67) in double overtime in the earlier meeting, but the Vikings took control down the stretch in the rematch behind junior Ty Henry to take a 61-55 Centennial League win.
Henry scored 12 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter as Seaman, 6-7 overall and 5-5 in the league, outscored Junction City 21-17 in the fourth and 37-27 in the second half after trailing at the break, 28-24.
Junior Casen Stallbaumer backed Henry with 12 points while junior Dagen Brewer was the third double-figure scorer for the Vikings, scoring 10 points.
Senior Chris Dixon scored 16 points for Junction City (6-7, 4-6) to tie Henry for game-high scoring honors, while junior Seth Clark added 15 for the Blue Jays.
JUNCTION CITY GIRLS 41, SEAMAN 37
Seaman led 8-6 at the end of the first quarter, but Junction City took control with a 15-6 second quarter en route to a 41-37 home Centennial League win over the Vikings.
