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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
MATTHEWS, N.C. – Washburn University soccer finished the 2023 season as the NCAA Division II runnerup after a 1-0 loss to Point Loma in the national championship match on Saturday afternoon.
Washburn soccer coach Davy Phillips and his Ichabods salute their fans after Saturday's 1-0 loss to Point Loma in the national championship game in Matthews, N.C. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
The Ichabods finished their record-breaking season with a 21-4-1 record.
"Point Loma's really good,'' Washburn coach Davy Phillips said. "I thought we made it hard on them at times. It game down to a set piece. I'm super proud of my team, but credit to Point Loma, theyre a really good team.''
Washburn and Point Loma (17-3-1) were locked in a scoreless tie through the first half, but the Sea Lions were able to find the back of the net in the 53rd minute of the match and hold on through the rest of the half to claim the national title.
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By CHARLES SPURLOCK
TopSports.news
LENEXA -- The Seaman Lady Vikings, ranked No. 4 in Class 5A by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Associaion went on the road Friday to face St. James Academy, ranked No. 3 in 5A in a rematch of last year’s state quarterfinal, where St. James ended the Vikings season.
Sophomore Maddie Gragg led the way with 14 points as Seaman avenged a state tournament loss with a 50-37 road win at St. James Academy Friday night. [File photo/TSN]
Seaman was able to avenge last season's state loss in impressive fashion, taking a 50-37 win over the Thunder.
“They (the girls) are probably tired of me talking about St. James in every practice,'' Seaman coach Matt Tinsley said. "I’m just so proud of the girls, they’re tough.”
The Vikings jumped out to a 16-4 lead at the end of the first quarter with seven points from sophomore Maddie Gragg and five points from senior Taylin Stallbaumer.
Their tough, focused play continued into the second quarter and Seaman went into halftime leading 31-12. Seaman struggled with executing on the offensive end in the third quarter and St. James cut into the lead and trailed 40-27 going into the fourth quarter.
“We kind of went off-script offensively in the third quarter and couldn’t make a layup,” Tinsley said.
St. James began the first three minutes of the fourth quarter on an 8-0 run, leading to a Seaman timeout. Ava Esser had a big, offensive rebound and stick back, followed by two tough layups by junior Jaida Stallbaumer that quieted the rally.
Seaman had three players in double figures, led by Gragg with 14, Jaida Stallbaumer with 12 and Taylin Stallbaumer with 10. Gragg and Kinley Wilhelm both grabbed nine rebounds.
St. James was led by Riley Kerwin with 10 points and Reese Messer scored eight points.Seaman will be back in action at home on Tuesday (5:45 p.m.) for a United Kansas Conference clash with Piper.
SEAMAN GIRLS 50, ST. JAMES ACADEMY 37
Seaman 16 15 9 10 -- 50
St. James 4 8 15 10 -- 37
Seaman (3-0) -- J. Stallbaumer 4-8 3-4 12, Miller 0-0 0-0 0, E. Stallbaumer 0-1 0-0 0, T. Stallbaumer 3-10 3-5 10, A. Becker 3-8 2-4 8, Wilhelm 1-4 0-0 2, Gragg 5-12 3-3 14, Moulden 1-2 0-0 2, Esser 1-3 0-1 2. Totals 18-48 11-17 50.
St. James (0-1) -- Kerwin 4-8 0-0 10, Messer 4-15 0-0 8, Douglas 0-0 0-0 0, Ianello 0-0 0-0 0, Irsik 1-2 0-0 3, Robinson 1-7 2-4 4, K. Menghini 2-8 0-1 5, Tauscher 0-0 0-2 0, R. Becker 3-11 0-0 7. Totals 15-51 2-7 37.
3 point goals -- Seaman 3 (J. Stallbaumer, T. Stallbaumer, Gragg), St. James 5 (Kerwin 2, Irsik, K. Menghini, Becker). Total Fouls -- Seaman 11, St. James 21. -- Fouled out -- R. Becker.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Shawnee Heights still has some work to do offensively, but defense continues to be a T-Bird strength and paved the way for Friday's come-from-behind 47-42 home United Kansas Conference win over Topeka West.
Shawnee Heights junior Jaret Sanchez scored 22 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in the T-Birds' 47-42 UKC win over Topeka West Friday night. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
"I think our team takes pride in defense this year,'' said Heights junior standout Jaret Sanchez, who recorded a double-double with 22 points and 11 rebounds. "I think we're a way better defensive team than last year.
"Everybody contributed this game and the bench players came in and everybody did their role.''
Heights, which had opened its season with UKC losses to De Soto and Piper, appeared as if it might be looking at a third straight loss when 2-0 Topeka West doubled up the T-Birds at 24-12 with 6:58 left in the first half.
But the T-Birds stepped up their defensive pressure, forcing a rash of West turnovers, and cut their deficit to just two points (26-24) at the half while allowing just five Charger points in the second quarter.
West continued to struggle offensively in the third period, with another five-point quarter, as Shawnee Heights opened up a 39-31 lead at the start of the fourth quarter.
Shawnee Heights took a 10-point lead on two Deacon Pomeroy free throws with 7:18 left in the game, but this time it was Topeka West's turn to mount a comeback.
The Chargers scored eight straight points to get within two points (41-39) with 4:03 remaining on a Jalen Foy bucket and West missed two shots on its next possession with a chance to forge a tie or take the lead before Sanchez went six of six at the free throw line over the final 2:15 as Heights held on for the win.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
After graduating seven seniors off last year's team, Shawnee Heights girls basketball coach Bob Wells had numerous holes to fill in the T-Bird rotation entering the 2023-2024 season and has done that with multiple players who saw spot or no varsity duty a year ago.
Three games into the new year the veteran coach has been been very pleased with the results, including a home 58-23 United Kansas Conference romp past Topeka West Friday night.
Shawnee Heights coach Bob Wells talks to his team during Friday's 58-23 UKC win over Topeka West. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Shawnee Heights senior Breezy Canady scored 13 points, with three 3-pointers, in the T-Birds' 58-23 win over Topeka West Friday night. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
One of those varsity newcomers, junior Haley Bowers came off the bench to score a game-high 14 points against West while senior Breezy Canady, the T-Birds' most experienced player, added 13 points with three 3-pointers.
Shawnee Heights junior Kaydence Torrez (20) had eight points and six rebounds in Friday's 58-23 win over Topeka West while senior Zoe Clark (35) led the Chargers with 10 points and 10 rebounds. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Shawnee Heights, which had nine players crack the scoring column, also got eight points and six rebounds from junior Kaydence Torrez, seven points from senior Audrey Schulte and six points and nine rebounds from senior Rachel Swift.
"We've been seeing this building and we saw it building last year because that's how those kids played on the JV team,'' Wells said. "They're just very unselfish, they play hard and they play together and they play for each other.
"I was very, very pleased with how even when the game got to be where the score was divided they kept executing and they kept doing what we're working on in practice.''
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By JUSTIN BURKHARDT
TopSports.news
Highland Park's girls, ranked No. 10 in Class 5A by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association, blanked Kansas City-Southeast, Mo. on the road Thursday night, taking a 63-0 decision.
Highland Park junior Amelia Ramsey scored 17 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in Thursday's 63-0 road win over KC-Southeast, Mo. [File photo/TSN]
The Scots, who improved to 2-0, got another big night from junior Amelia Ramsey, who had 17 points and 12 rebounds against Southeast after scoring 21 points and grabbing 23 rebounds in Tuesday's season-opening win at Bonner Springs.
Tahtionna Broils
DeAsia Sanders
Ramsey got some huge help from junior Tahtionna Broils, who had 13 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and seven steals while junior DeAsia Sanders had 11 points, nine steals and six rebounds..
"I was pleased how the ladies stayed disciplined and kept playing basketball the correct way in our large win,'' Highland Park coach Rob Brown said. "They executed sets we've drawn up, made extra passes, and shot the correct shots.
"Our three juniors in Ameila Ramsey, DeAsia Sanders, Tahtionna Broils are doing a great job leading and getting our young ones more comfortable with the high school season.''
Freshman Pearmella Carter has also shown up huge for the Scots and is showing she will be a good asset to go with Ramsey. Carter scored 10 points and grabbed 12 rebounds Thursday night.
"We have a special freshman in Pearmella Carter,'' Brown said. "She scratched the surface a little last night, getting her first double- double. But her best ball is still coming.
"Ameila has done a great job taking her under her wing. Millie (Ramsey) and Pearmella have a chance to be special together, especially inside the paint. They both have a great feel for the game and are rebound machines.''
The Lady Scots will be in action again on Dec. 15, playing their home and Meadowlark Conference opener against KC-Wyandotte. Highland Park is the defending Meadowlark Conference champion.
