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By NICHOLAS GAINEY
Special to TopSports.news
The Topeka High girls basketball team opened Class 6A sub-state play in exhilarating fashion, nearly losing a late lead but hanging on for a 44-41 victory over Wichita South on Wednesday night in The Dungeon at Topeka High School.
Sophomore Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton scored 17 points in Wednesday's 44-41 Topeka High home sub-state win over Wichita South. [File photo/TSN]
Freshman Hailey Caryl (40) scored 14 points in Topeka High's 44-41 sub-state win over Wichita South Wednesday night. [File photo/TSN]
Both teams struggled to put up points in the opening minutes of the contest, but freshman Hailey Caryl put the Trojans on the board first with a layup and foul, hitting the free throw to convert the three-point play.
Topeka High looked to break the game open early, with layups from Keimara Marshall and Ahsieryrhuajh Rayton giving the Trojans a 7-2 lead and forcing a timeout from the visiting Titans with 3:24 remaining in the first quarter.
The break in the action did not deter the Trojans, with Rayton knocking down a 3-pointer to extend the lead to 10-2.
Down by eight early, Wichita South went on a run of its own, with Valentina Hart finishing a layup after an offensive rebound to cut the deficit to 11-9 at the end of the period.
The second quarter opened with an excellent defensive play from Marshall, blocking Janiah Cathey’s game-tying layup attempt. But the Titans would take the lead a minute later with a 3-pointer from Mahogany Butler, forcing a timeout from Topeka High coach Ron Slaymaker.
The teams would trade leads for the remainder of the half, before a late layup from Wichita South’s Sa’Kirra Brown gave the visitors a 21-19 advantage at halftime.
Brown scored all seven of her points on the evening in the quarter. Coming out of the locker room, the Trojans stormed back, going on a 7-0 run to force a Titan timeout just under two minutes into the second half.
Topeka High tightened up its defense in the quarter, only allowing Wichita South to score four points in the frame. The cold spell did not carry over into the fourth quarter for the Titans, with Butler knocking down a 3-pointer to cut the Topeka High lead down to two.
The hosts answered with another 7-0 run, capped off by Rayton’s second 3-pointer of the evening to give the Trojans their largest lead of the night.
Wichita South refused to go quietly, with D Chiles hitting a pair of 3-pointers and Hart converting a pair of free throws to cut the deficit to one.
With the offense struggling to score from the field, Topeka High closed out the contest by attacking the basket and getting to the free throw line. The Trojans’ final seven points came from the charity stripe, helping secure the three-point victory.
Rayton led Topeka High with 17 points, shooting 50 percent from the field on the evening. Caryl added 14 points along with seven rebounds. Jo’Mhara Benning led the Trojans on the glass, pulling down eight rebounds.
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By Todd Fertig
TopSports.news
The Topeka West boys had to go to overtime to defeat 12th-seeded Bishop Carroll Wednesday night at home, but they advanced with a 69-63 win. And they got a surprise when it was over.
Several minutes after the conclusion of the sub-state semifinal contest, another cheer went up from the Topeka West crowd when it was announced the Chargers would host another playoff game. Due to Valley Center’s upset of Seaman, fifth-seeded Topeka West will host 13th-seeded Valley Center Saturday with a trip to state on the line.
Senior Jalen Foy scored 19 points in Wednesday's 69-63 Topeka West overtime win over Bishop Carroll. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
First-year Topeka West coach Christian Ulsaker and the Chargers will play for a Class 5A sub-state title on Saturday. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
“I got to go in there and say, “Well boys, I gotta tell you seniors, this isn’t your last home game,’ and their faces all lit up,” Topeka West coach Christian Ulsaker said.
The Chargers had to fight back from a fourth-quarter deficit to send the game to overtime.
“Basketball is a game of runs and that’s how it goes,” Ulsaker said. “Our guys did not pack it in. Down six in the fourth quarter with four minutes left, some teams couldn’t deal with that pressure. I’m very lucky to have some seniors and juniors that understand what it takes to win basketball games. That’s the great thing about playing in the (United Kansas Conference). We’re used to these kinds of nights.”
Senior Jalen Foy scored 12 of his 19 points in the fourth period and overtime. Also making a huge second half impact off the bench was Jay’veon Traylor. The junior hit all four of his shot attempts and provided 11 second-half points.
“I felt like the fourth quarter, when we got there, it was a little rough, and then we started to pick it up,” Foy said. “We all just contributed in our own way. None of us thought it was one man bigger than the other. It was all just playing as a team.”
Ulsaker praised Foy for his leadership and character.
“He is very tough minded and has thick skin,” Ulsaker said. “We’ve had a lot of talks about what we need from him, not only on the basketball court but off of it, being a leader for some of these guys.”
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By JUSTIN BURKHARDT
TopSports.news
Just a year ago the Wildcats were in Class 3A and entered the postseason 5-13.
What a difference a year makes and the Wildcats, led by first-year coach Dwayne Anthony entered the postseason in Class 4A with a 13-8 record and ranked No. 7 in the last Kansas Basketball Coaches Association poll.
Senior Jacob Deister (4) led Hayden with 15 points in Tuesday's 93-59 Class 4A sub-state win over Independence. [File photo/TSN]
Hayden would end up drawing the Bulldogs of Independence, who would enter the game with a 9-11 record and led by 5-foot-10 sophomore Javen Colbert. Javen's mom is from Topeka so he was able to play in front of a lot of friends and family and would score 14 points on the night.
"It was very special to be able to play in Topeka tonight because all my family is from here, and I am glad I was able to represent for them just wish the game would of gone a different way,'' Colbert said.
The Wildcats would get off to a 6-0 run to start the game and take off from there as they would stretch that into a 22-10 lead midway thru the first quarter and take a commanding 32-19 lead to end the first quarter.
The Wildcats would start the second quarter with a 12-0 run that would put them up 47-19 as the Wildcats would use their length and speed to go into halftime up 54-29.
The Wildcats would be led by senior Jacob Deister, who would have 13 of his game-high 15 points at halftime.
The Wildcats would roll from there and out-score the Dawgs 39-29 the rest of the game to take a 93-59 semifinal win.
Hayden would get double-digit nights from four athletes as Deister would lead the way with 15 points, followed by Mason Becker’s 14, Connor Hanika’s 13 and Cooper Zweisler with 11 points.
The Wildcats were hot from 3-point range all night as they would shoot 9-17 from outside the arc.
"We came out really hot and our press really got the momentum going for us,'' Hanika said. "We still have a few adjustments to make to get ready for Rock Creek, including watching lots of film before Friday.”
"I really applaud the boys' passion and attention to detail and our energy and effort,'' Anthony said. "We are really, really a strong team when they bring those things. Now we just need to get back to it and watch film on Rock Creek and get ready for Friday.
"I am blessed, I have a team full of leaders, not just Mason, Connor and Jacob, but the senior class alone, each and every one of them is solid individuals and it is the reason that these guys have experienced success so far.''
The Wildcats now turn their attention to the No. 2 team on the East side of sub-state in Rock Creek, which advanced with a 59-39 win over Tonganoxie.
The game will be Friday night at Rock Creek with a game time of 7p.m. The winner will punch their ticket to the Class 4A state tournament next week in Salina.
HAYDEN BOYS 93, INDEPENDENCE 59
Independence 19 10 7 23 — 59
Hayden 32 22 22 17 — 93
Independence (9-12) — Smith 5-12 2-4 15, Colbert 4-11 4-6 14, Lanning 2-7 2-2 7, Veile 1-2 3-6 5, Bunyard 2-3 0-0 4, Sprague 3-3 1-2 7, Small 2-2 0-0 6, Sanders 0-0 1-1 1. Totals 19-40 13-21 59.
Hayden (13-8) — Deister 7-12 0-0 15, Becker 5-8 1-2 14, Hanika 6-9 1-2 13, Mitchell 2-4 0-0 4, Kuta 2-3 0-2 4, Zweisler 4-7 1-1 11, Compton 3-6 2-2 10, Tourtillot 4-6 0-2 9, Banks 3-5 0-0 6, Heinen 2-4 1-1 5, Wolff 1-2 0-0 2, Power 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 39-67 6-12 93.
3-point goals — Indy 8 (Smith 3, Colbert 2, Small 2, Lanning) Hayden 9 (Becker 3, Zweisler 2, Compton 2, Tourtillot, Deister). Total Fouls — Indy 10, Hayden 18.
Highland Park girls roll to 59-11 5A sub-state win
No. 3 Class 5A East girls seed Highland Park opened its sub-state bid with a 59-11 home semifinal win over Meadowlark Conference rival Kansas City-Washington Tuesday night.
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BY RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
WICHITA -- Seaman's girls bowling team was shooting a lot higher in Wednesday's Class 5A state tournament at Bowlero Northrock, but the Vikings still took home a team trophy, finishing third to lead the city 5A state contingent.
Seaman's girls bowling team poses for a picture with the Class 5A third-place team trophy Wednesday in Wichita. [Photo by Selena Favela/Special to TSN]
Led by state medalist Claire LaDuke, the Vikings finished with a team score of 2,844, finishing behind team champion Bishop Carroll (2,987) and runnerup Maize South (2,958).
"We had great high hopes,'' Seaman coach Bob Benoit said. "They just bowled so good all year and won by so much, winning the regionals by 514 pins. We have two juniors, two sophomores and two freshman and this was so nerve-wracking. The first game we had one girl crying, the second game we had four crying.''
Benoit said the Vikings' inability to pick up spares was the difference between a possible run at a state title and Wednesday's third-place finish.
"Our spare-shooting today killed us,'' Benoit said. "If we make our spares like we have all year, we probably have a chance of being first or second. So it was just execution. I know the nerves were there and things started to fall apart. They were trying to make things happen, but tried in the wrong way.
"The girls were really disappointed and I told them, 'I hope this is enough of a punch in the gut for you to understand what I've told all of you. Spare are more important than strikes.' We gave away over 200 pins today in spares. ''
Benoit said the young Vikings will use the offseason to get ready for the 2026 season.
"We'll regroup this summer and we'll get back here next year,'' Benoit said. "It's a good learning experience and we'll figure it out and be back next year.''
Claire LaDuke (right) finished eighth individually with a 582 series, helping lead Seaman to a third-place team finish in Class 5A. [Photo by Selena Favela/Special to TSN]
LaDuke rolled a 582 series with a 214 high game to finish eighth individually while the Vikings also got a 22nd-place finish from Leah Crawford (532), a 29th from Kayla Duncan (514), a 37th from Paige Snyder (492), a 45th from Ava Carlson (467) and a 48th from Laci Cole (459).
Shawnee Heights finished sixth as a team with a 2,753 score while the T-Birds had a pair of state medalists.
Shawnee Heights' Addison Van Metre earned a Class 5A state medal with a 15th-place individual finish Wednesday in Wichita. [Photo by Selena Favela/Special to TSN]
Shawnee Heights' Jasmine Villalobos earned a Class 5A state medal with a 16th-place individual finish. [Photo by Selena Favela/Special to TSN]
Heights' Addison Van Metre finished 15th individually with a 559 series while teammate Jasmine Villalobos was a pin behind with a 558 series to finish 16th.
Shawnee Heights' boys came up short in their bid to win a second straight team championship, finishing fifth with a 3,340 team score.
Shawnee Heights' Kaden Evans placed ninth in the Class 5A boys state tournament with a 676 series, including a 279 game. [Photo by Selena Favela/Special to TSN]
Kaden Evans led the T-Birds with a ninth-place individual finish, bowling a 676 series, including a final-game 279.
Donovan Davis finished 14th in Class 5A for Shawnee Heights with a 653 series Wednesday in Wichita. [Photo by Selena Favela/Special to TSN]
Heights also got a 14th-place finish from Donovan Davis, who rolled a 653 series.
CLASS 5A STATE BOWLING
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By CHARLES SPURLOCK
Special to TopSports.news
In the locker room following their victory this past Friday night at Shawnee Heights, Seaman girls coach Matt Tinsley wrote 20-0 on the dry erase board. He then quickly erased it and wrote 0-0.
Senior Anna Becker scored 27 points in Tuesday's 59-42 Seaman sub-state win over Topeka West. [File photo/TSN]
That was the mindset the Vikings had as they began this ‘new’ season against cross-town opponent Topeka West Tuesday night in the semifinal round of the Class 5A sub-state playoffs.
The Seaman Lady Vikings continued their undefeated season with a 59-42 victory over the Topeka West Chargers. There were moments where Seaman’s offense was sluggish, but other moments where they had excellent execution.
"We are better when the ball moves to the side, back to the top and to the opposite side. The best thing to do against any defense is to always move and be hard to guard,” Tinsley commented after the game.
For the first five-plus minutes of the contest, the teams traded baskets and the Lady Vikings and Chargers were tied at 11 with 2:20 left in the quarter. Topeka West took their first and only lead of the game,13-11, following two free throws by junior Imani McGlory with 1:37 remaining in the quarter.
Seaman outscored Topeka West 6-0 to end the first quarter, taking a 17-13 lead to the second stanza.
The Lady Vikes extended their run to 15-0 over the first four minutes of the second quarter to double-up the Chargers, 26-13. With a little over four minutes left in the first half, hit a 3-pointer to finally stop the run. The defensive pressure applied by Seaman was the difference as the Vikings held Topeka West to only two field goals in the quarter and led 30-18 at halftime.
“Their zone had us standing and we need to get better ball movement and player movement. We were just settling, one pass and a shot, and when you’re not hitting, it doesn’t look very good,” Tinsley said about the first half.
The Lady Vikes came out of the locker room and executed better on offense. They hit four 3-pointers -- one by junior Maddie Gragg, one by senior Kinley Wilhelm and two by senior Anna Becker plus a free throw from senior Ava Esser -- outscoring the Chargers 13-4 over the first four minutes of the third quarter. The Vikings took a commanding 53-30 lead into the final quarter.
Tinsley commented about their aggressiveness coming out of the locker room after the halftime break, “Our third quarter offense was good against their man and zone defenses. But credit Topeka West, they played hard and hit some shots.”
