By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Obviously Washburn Rural's girls basketball team was happy to earn a trip back to the Class 6A state tournament for the first time since winning the state title in 2019.
But the initial reaction after Rural's 47-27 win over Centennial League rival Manhattan in Friday's sub-state final at Rural was more of concern than celebration after a late-game injury to junior standout Brooklyn DeLeye.
DeLeye, Rural's 6-foot-2 frontliner, led the 20-2 Junior Blues with 13 points, but went down with an injury to her right knee with 55.9 seconds remaining and had to be helped from the floor.
The severity of DeLeye's injury was not immediately known, with Washburn Rural coach Kevin Bordewick hoping for the best.
"We're hoping and praying for the best,'' Bordewick said. "She's obviously an integral part of who we are as a team, and aside from her playing ability and athleticism, she's just a great kid, a great teammate.''
Washburn Rural's girls basketball team earned a spot in next week's Class 6A state tournament with a 47-27 win over Manhattan Friday night. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Washburn Rural beat Manhattan for the third time Friday night, but the 9-13 Indians remained within striking distance through the first half before Rural put the game away with a 20-9 third quarter.
Bordewick was not surprised that Manhattan gave a tougher battle the third time around.
"We didn't overlook them at all, but they came in with nothing to lose and they had a little swag about them and they kind of punched us in the face once or twice before we kind of got things situated,'' Bordewick said.
DeLeye was one of three players in double figures for Washburn Rural, with sophomore Zoe Canfield adding 11 points with three 3-pointers and senior Emma Krueger adding 10 with a pair of 3-points. Junior MaRyah Lutz also had a pair of 3s, finishing with eight points.
Junior Avery Larson scored a game-high 17 points to lead Manhattan.
Bordewick said he was "very happy'' for this year's team to be able to earn its way back to state, which will get under way next Wednesday at Koch Arena with first-round games.
"We kind of had some bad luck last year with the way things were situated in the postseason (due to COVID-19), but regardless we had a chance to do some things this year and maybe we can make some noise,'' Bordewick said. "It's survive and advance.
"This was not pretty tonight and we'll see what happens, but we're pretty excited to be going.''
State tournament pairings will be announced after the conclusion of all sub-state tournaments.
WASHBURN RURAL GIRLS 47, MANHATTAN 27
Manhattan 8 7 9 3 -- 27
Washburn Rural 13 9 20 5 -- 47
Manhattan (9-13) -- Yates 3 0-0 6, Larson 7 1-1 17, Doering 0 0-0 0, Ruliffson 0 0-0 0, Dixon 1 2-2 4, Salmans 0 0-0 0, Ingram 0 0-0 0. Totals 11 3-3 27.
Washburn Riral (20-2) -- Lutz 2 2-2 8, Krueger 4 0-0 10, Canfield 4 0-0 11, Ingram 0 0-0 0, DeLeye 3 7-11 13, Bagshaw 0 3-4 3, Carlgren 0 2-2 2, Brogan 0 0-0 0. Totals 13 14-19 47.
3-point goals -- Manhattan 2 (Larson 2), Washburn Rural 7 (Canfield 3, Lutz 2, Krueger 2). Total fouls -- Manhattan 14, Washburn Rural 5. Fouled out – none. Technical fouls -- none.
