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By Todd Fertig
TopSports.news
The Washburn Rural girls took advantage of a lopsided match with Junction City to develop depth and experience among their reserves.
The Junior Blues rolled over Junction City 49-11 Tuesday at Washburn Rural as coach Kevin Bordewick subbed liberally, going deep into his bench within the first five minutes of the contest.
By the end of the night, Washburn Rural had given extended minutes to 12 players. Nine players scored for the Junior Blues.
One of the lone returners from last year’s Class 6A state runnerup team understands how important those minutes can be to a developing player.
“I think it’s really important because getting that experience at a young age really helps in the future when they have to step up and play their role,” said senior Destiny Ochs.
“I can remember how it helped me gain confidence getting to play (in varsity games) at a young age and just build up from there. Watching my teammates tonight, I know they are going to play confident in the future.”
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By Rick Peterson
TopSports.news
Shawnee Heights' boys basketball team was solid on offense Tuesday night at Topeka West, but spectacular on defense as the T-Birds rolled to a 58-30 United Kansas Conference victory, their 12th win over their past 13 games.
The ninth-ranked (Class 5A) T-Birds limited Topeka West to single-digit scoring in each of the first three quarters and a total of just 19 points over that span and led by as many as 36 points in the final period while forcing a running clock.
"You know what defense means to me and that's big-time defense,'' Shawnee Heights coach Ken Darting said. "There wasn't an open shot all night and sometimes it was the third rotation that had it covered. We covered the gaps and got to the ball and we did what we wanted.
"We wanted to come out and not let them get comfortable. If they come out and hit three 3s in the first quarter it would be turned around. It would be the other way around.''
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By Rick Peterson
TopSports.news
Topeka West played much better Tuesday night than it had in a 35-point early-season loss to Shawnee Heights.
But that wasn't enough for the Chargers to keep pace with the T-Birds, who went wire-to-wire for a 65-48 United Kansas Conference win at West after scoring the first 13 points of the game.
"They are much-improved,'' Shawnee Heights coach Bob Wells said of the Chargers. "Just their on-the-court awareness and the things they're doing on offensively kind of fits the players that they have.
"We knew that they had some girls that just can shoot the lights out. They're definitely doing a good job over here and told the grls, 'You can throw out the scouting report from last time because they've improved that much.''
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NOTE: Mideason statistics for city girls basketball teams were compiled by Seaman girls coach Matt Tinsley. Topeka High did not report midseason stats. The following stats are the second of three statistical reports which will be released during the 2023-2024 season, capped by the season-ending stats.
SCORING
Name, school Gms. Pts. Avg
Carter, Highland Park 9 144 16.0
Ramsey, Hayden 9 140 15.6
Canfield, Washburn Rural 8 124 15.5
Vickery, Washburn Rural 11 166 15.1
Becker, Seaman 13 194 14.9
Meier, Hayden 13 183 14.1
Gowan-Britt, Highland Park 6 80 13.3
I. McGlory, Topeka West 15 198 13.2
Emmot, Shawnee Heights 12 147 12.3
Gragg, Seaman 13 152 12.3
T. Stallbaumer, Seaman 13 151 11.6
Sandstrom, Hayden 13 149 11.5
Broils, Highland Park 9 87 9.7
Clark, Topeka West 15 138 9.2
Vega, Shawnee Heights 12 107 8.9
REBOUNDING
Name, school Gms. Total Avg.
Carter, Highland Park 9 94 10.4
Ramsey, Hayden 9 88 9.8
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NOTE: Midseason statistics for city boys basketball teams were compiled by Seaman girls coach Matt Tinsley. The following stats are the second of three statistical reports which will be released during the 2023-2024 season, capped by the season-ending stats.
SCORING
Name, school Gms. Pts. Avg
Robinson, Highland Park 10 211 21.1
J. Sanchez, Shawnee Heights 10 182 18.2
Anderson, Highland Park 8 132 16.5
Bonner, Seaman 10 161 16.1
Dodge, Shawnee Heights 12 184 15.3
Williams, Highland Park 10 153 15.3
Everhart, Cair Paravel 12 183 15.3
Ballard, Washburn Rural -- --- 12.8
Finley, Seaman 10 124 12.4
Hales, Topeka High 12 148 12.3
Durst, Washburn Rural -- --- 12.3
Foy, Topeka West 11 135 12.3
Pavlik, Cair Paravel 12 140 11.7
Colboch, Hayden 11 117 10.6
Lyons, Topeka High 9 93 10.3
REBOUNDING
Name, school Gms. Total Avg.
Robinson, Highland Park 10 140 14.0
J. Sanchez, Shawnee Heights 10 83 8.3