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By KEVIN HASKIN
TopSports.news
Musings at the mid-month:
• Isiah Pacheco. Hand it. Pitch it. Screen it. Wheel it. Kansas City, please. Try any of those options inside the 10-yard line.
• Do it for four downs if you must. In compacted goal-to-go space, coupled with wideouts limited by separation anxiety, Pacheco is your dude.
• Everyone marvels at how hard he runs. He could walk in spike-less golf shoes and still make greenskeepers shutter.
• No trickery needed near the goal line, Andy, except for a dash of misdirection. Pacheco should find the end zone.
• Please, try that. Rob Harrison Butker from becoming Super Bowl MVP.
• Remember when red zone confidence seemed limitless?
• The Chiefs would ring around their rosy huddle.
• Or, steal Rose Bowl relics coach Reid unearthed from grainy film reels.
• Compare that to today when they seem content to find a good angle for Butker to chip from.
• Even Travis Kelce sputters and backfires like a junkyard Maauto.
• Wait a second. Super Bowl? Yes, I raise that possibility, largely because of the impressive work of a young KC defense.
• Is George Karlaftis coming into his own? Is L’Jarius Sneed sufficiently miffed over being overlooked for honors? Is Chris Jones capable of thwarting opponents with his menacing presence?
• If so, Steve Spagnuolo’s schemes could be the solution to the Chiefs’ scoring issues.
• Or, the de-icer for Andy Reid’s mustache.
• Granted, it’s one thing to maul the frozen fish of Miami into submission.
• It’s another thing to stiffen defensively throughout the postseason.
• However, I think most of us would take Patrick Mahomes over the remainder of the many talented AFC quarterbacks.
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By Rick Peterson
TopSports.news
Highland Park and Lawrence ended the 2023 Topeka Invitational Tournament facing off against each other in the championship game and opened the 2024 version of 62nd annual event on Thursday in a first-round rematch.
And like it did in the '23 final, Highland Park got the best of its Class 6A foe, rolling to Friday's semifinals with a 75-44 romp past the Lions at the Bueltel Activity Center.
Junior Ja'Corey Robinson recorded game-high totals of 21 points and 13 rebounds in Highland Park's 75-44 Topeka Invitational win over Lawrence at Hayden. [File photo/TSN]
"I knew better than to overlook them, and it was also, too, just trying to sell the mindset to our kids that we can't overlook anybody,'' Highland Park coach Mike Williams said. "I think we're pretty good. I think we've got a chance to be really good, but we're not there yet and we've got to make sure that we approach the game the right way.
"So we're still scouting them, we're still going over stuff. We knew (Zaxton) King was a really, really good player and we knew they did a good job finding him and getting him the ball so he could get his shots up.''
Highland Park, which improved to 5-0, will play a 5:30 p.m. semifinal against Shawnee Mission North on Friday, with the Bison advancing with a 49-47 win over Topeka West.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
EDITOR'S NOTE: There are likely to be changes to tournament schedules early in the week due to inclement weather. TopSports.news will attempt to update the schedules as changes are announced.
BOYS
Monday
CAIR PARAVEL LATIN vs. McLOUTH
At McLouth Invitational
Cair Paravel Latin (4-3) was scheduled to play a 5 p.m. first-round game against tournament host McLouth on Monday, weather permitting The Lions have been idle since a 68-52 win over Maranatha Academy. The Cair Paravel-McLouth winner will advance to a 5 p.m. semifinal on Thursday to face the winner of the first-round game between Horton and Riverside. The first-round losers will play consolation games on Thursday. All place games will be played on Saturday, beginning with the seventh-place game at 10 a.m. and ending with the championship game at 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday
SILVER LAKE vs. OTTAWA
At Burlington Invitational
Silver Lake (5-2) is scheduled to open its bid in the Burlington Invitational with an 8:15 p.m. first-round game against Ottawa. The Eagles are coming off a 53-38 win over Riley County. The Silver Lake-Ottawa winner will advance to a Friday semifinal (time to be announced) to take on the first-round winner between Sabetha and Labette County. Consolation games will be played on Friday (times to be announced). All place games will be played on Saturday, starting with the seventh-place game at 1:35 p.m. and culminating in the championship game at 4:45 p.m.
Wednesday
SHAWNEE HEIGHTS vs. SHAWNEE MISSION WEST
At Shawnee Mission West Invitational
Shawnee Heights (5-2) will put its five-game winning streak on the line in a 7 p.m. first-round game against tournament host Shawnee
Shawnee Heights junior Jaret Sanchez has helped the T-Birds post five straight wins, including a 54-51 UKC win at Seaman on Friday. [File photo/TSN]
Mission West (0-6) in the Shawnee Mission West Invitational. The T-Birds are coming off a 54-51 United Kansas Conference road win at Seaman last Friday. Junior Jaret Sanchez scored 15 points and senior Brennon Dodge 14 in Heights' win over Seaman. Shawnee Heights will play a second-round game against Ozark, Mo. at 7 p.m. on Thursday and will play a place game on Saturday (times to be announced).
Rossville sophomore Jack Donovan scored 20 points last Thursday night as the Bulldawgs rolled to a 75-43 win over Valley Heights. [File photo/TSN]
ROSSVILLE vs. OSKALOOSA
At Oskaloosa Invitational
The 4-4 Bulldawgs will face off against tournment host Oskaloosa in a 7:45 p.m. first-round game that was postponed from Tuesday. The Rossville-Oskaloosa winner will move on to a 6 p.m. semifinal game on Friday to face the winner of the first-round game between Jefferson County North and St. Mary's Academy. Consolation games between the first-round losers will also be played on Friday. The tournament championship game is set for 4:30 p.m. Saturday, following the other place games, which will start at 12 p.m.
Thursday
HIGHLAND PARK vs. LAWRENCE
At Topeka Invitational Tournament at Hayden
As it worked out, the 2024 Topeka Invitational Tournament will begin with the same matchup that ended the '23 event, matching last year's tournament champion Highland Park against runnerup Lawrence in Thursday's 2 p.m. first-round game. Highland Park, No. 3-ranked in Class 5A by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association, is 4-0 on the season after an 111-43 Meadowlark Conference win
Highland Park junior Ja'Corey Robinson slams down a dunk in Thursday's 111-43 Meadowlark Conference rout over KC-Sumner. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
over Kansas City-Turner while Lawrence is 1-7. Junior Ja'Corey Robinson scored 31 points with 12 rebounds and six dunks for the Scots against Sumner. With a win Thursday Highland Park will advance to Friday's 5:30 p.m. semifinal to face the winner of the first-round game between Shawnee Mission North and Topeka West. The consolation games will also be played on Friday. The Topeka Invitational championship game is scheduled for Saturday at 2:45 p.m., following the other place games.
SHAWNEE MISSION NORTH vs. TOPEKA WEST
At Topeka Invitational Tournament at Hayden
Topeka West, 4-3 on the season, will square off against Shawnee Mission North (2-6) in a 3:45 p.m. first-round game on Thursday. The Chargers will be looking to advance to a 5:30 p.m. semifinal game on Friday to meet the winner of the Highland Park-Lawrence tournament opener. Topeka West has been off since a 76-30 loss to De Soto on Jan. 5. Topeka West fell in the semifinals to Lawrence in the 2023 Topeka Invitational while Highland Park claimed the tournament title. The consolation games will also be played on Friday. The Topeka Invitational championship game is scheduled for Saturday at 2:45 p.m., following the other place games.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Juniors Easton Broxterman and Kristjan Marshall won individual titles on Saturday to key a strong performance for Washburn Rural's boys wrestling team in the 61st annual Newton Tournament of Champions.
Washburn Rural junior Easton Broxterman is 29-1 on the season after winning the 132-pound title in the Newton Tournament of Champions. [File photo/TSN]
Both Broxterman and Marshall went undefeated on the weekend, with Broxterman winning the 132-pound title and Marshall taking the 150-pound crown as Washburn Rural posted a third-place team finish in the 30-school field.
Broxterman, now 29-1 on the season, started his title run with a 17-0 technical fall and posted a 55-second pin and pins in 1 minute, 46 seconds and 1:40 before taking a pin at the 2:37 mark of the championship match over Rose Hill junior Johnny Leck.
Marshall (21-4) received a first-round bye before winning on an 8-6 decision, a 26-second pin and a pin in 3:32 before taking a 5-3 decision over Pratt junior Blake Winsor in the title match.
Both Broxterman and Marshall were top-ranked in Class 6A in their weight classes in the most recent KWCA state rankings.
The Junior Blues also got a third-place finish from 138-pound sophomore Landen Kocher-Munoz (21-3) and fourth-place finishes from freshman 144-pounder Brodye Kocher-Munoz (25-9) and 157-pound senior Brody Byrne (20-3).
Rose Hill won the team championship with 189 points, followed by Centennial League members Manhattan (180) and Washburn Rural (165).
Seaman senior Hunter Reno posted a third-place finish at 215 pounds, improving to 25-5 on the season.
Topeka High sophomore Rehabiah Williamson won the 150-pound title in Saturday's Topeka High Invitational. [File photo/TSN]
Highland Park junior Adrian Burney (top) won the 175-pound championship in Saturday's Topeka High Invitational. [File photo/TSN]
Host Trojan boys finish second in Topeka High Invitational
Tournament host Topeka High earned a second-place team finish in Saturday's boys wrestling tournament while city wrestlers combined to win three individual titles.
The Trojans finished second as a team to Council Grove (223-176) as sophomore Rehabiah Willson captured the 150-pound title and junior Nick Davis took the 165-pound championship while Highland Park junior Adrian Burney won the 175-pound title.
Williamson, who improved to 20-2 on the season, recorded a pin in 3 minutes, 13 seconds in the 150 final over senior Jacob Drone of Bishop Miege while Davis (18-3) pinned Aaron Colvon of Grandview, Mo. in the 165 title match in just 1:09 of the first period.
Highland Park's Burney (11-4) won the 175 title with a 3-2 decision over sophomore Dakota Cobb of Summit Christian, leading the Scots to a seventh-place team finish.
The Trojans also got second-place finishes from senior Elijah Elliot (120), sophomore Michael Weatherly (132) and sophomore Jordan Stiner (138) and third-place finishes from sophomore Zylas Shaeffer-Lopez (106), senior Raul Arriola (144) and junior Cooper Martin (190).
Highland Park junior Jaden Kelso finished second at 126 pounds.
Topeka West finished ninth as a team.
Topeka High girls fourth at Blue Valley West
Individual champion Ingrid Cabrera led the way as Topeka High's girls posted a fourth-place team finish in the Blue Valley West Girls Invitational.
Cabrera, a junior, improved to 11-5 on the season while winning the 100-pound title while the Trojans also got second-place finishes from freshman 105-pounder Abigail Culbertson (7-7) and junior 120-pounder Zoe Dawkins (11-6).
Carbrera clinched her title with a pin over Blue Valley Northwest junior Divya Subramoni in 2 minutes, 42 seconds of the 100 title match.
Topeka High finished with 98 points in the 11-school meet.
Rossville three-time state champion Kendra Hurla won the 120-pound title in Thursday's tournament at Wellsville. [File photo/TSN]
Rossville trio wins titles in Wellsville girls tournament
Rossville senior girls wrestling stars Keera Lacock, Kendra Hurla and Hailey Horton all earned individual championships in Thursday's Aaron Patton Memorial Tournament at Wellsville.
Lacock (22-0) won the 115-pound championship with an 11-1 major decision over Wellsville's Kynlie Stevenson while Hurla (20-0) clinched the 120 title with a second-period pin (3:21) over Sophie Waters of Jefferson West and Horton (18-3) won the 155 crown with first-period pin (1:22) over Burlington's Carlee Cole.
Both Lacock and Hurla are ranked No. 1 in Class 4A-1A by the KWCA in their weight classes while Horton is ranked No. 5.
The Bulldawgs, who were fourth as a team out of 19 schools, also got a second-place finish from freshman Madelyn Wonnell at 145 pounds.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Kaden Ballard
KADEN BALLARD, Washburn Rural
A 5-foot-10 junior guard, Ballard scored 20 points with four 3-pointers in Wednesday's 89-65 home Centennial League boys basketball victory over Topeka High, the Junior Blues' second straight win. Ballard scored 11 points, including three 3-pointers, in the first 4:19 of the game as the Junior Blues jumped out to an early 19-7 lead and he hit 8 of 9 shots from the field on the night.
Easton Broxterman
EASTON BROXTERMAN, Washburn Rural
A junior returning Class 6A state champion wrestler, Broxterman posted a perfect 5-0 record with four pins and a 17-0 technical fall to claim the 132-pound championship in the prestigious 61st annual Newton Tournament of Champions, which drew 30 teams. Broxterman (29-1) recorded three of his pins in the first period and pinned Rose Hill junior Johnny Leck at the 2:37 mark of the title match.
McKinley Kruger
McKINLEY KRUGER, Silver Lake
Kruger, a 5-foot-6 senior guard, reached the 1,000-point career scoring milestone in Silver Lake's 62-30 Mid-East League girls basketball win over Riley County on Thursday. Kruger scored 18 points for the undefeated and top-ranked (Class 3A) Eagles against the Falcons, with all of her points coming on 3-pointers.
