By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Topeka High's girls basketball team posted its fourth straight win on Saturday, taking the tournament championship in the Hardwood Classic at De Soto with a 55-39 romp past the host school.
Ayana Leesman led Topeka High with 14 points, while Kiki Smith had 12 points, 10 rebounds and four steals and Ladaysha Baird added 10 points.
The Trojans are now 4-1 on the season.
Topeka High, which has made four straight trips to the Class 6A state tournament with a pair of runner-up finishes, will open Centennial League play on Tuesday at Manhattan.
The Trojans are the defending league champions.
ROSSVILLE GIRLS 56, CHAPMAN 47 -- Rossville topped tournament host Chapman 56-47 on Saturday to win the championship in the Irish Classic.
Junior Emma Mitchell led the 4-0 Bulldawgs with 20 points, followed by junior Kinsey Perine with 12 points and sophomore Shyanne Haehn with 10 points.
Mitchell was named the tournament most valuable player and was joined on the all-tournament team by freshman Rylee Dick and Haehn.
Rossville jumped out to a 23-9 first-quarter lead and led 37-18 at the half.
The Irish outscored the Bulldawgs 29-19 in the second half but were unable to overcome the early deficit.
Rossville will return to action next Friday, hosting Kansas City Christian in its final game before the holiday break.
HAYDEN GIRLS 46, WICHITA TRINITY 26 -- Junior Lauren Sandstrom and sophomore Brylee Meier combined for 31 points as Hayden completed a 2-1 weekend in the Paul Terry Classic at Emporia.
Sandstrom scored 18 points to lead the Wildcats while Meier added 13, including four 3-pointers.
Hayden will return to action on Friday at home against Kansas City-Bishop Ward in the Wildcats' final game of 2022.
HAYDEN BOYS 59, SPRING HILL 45 -- Hayden rolled to a 59-45 win over Spring Hill in Saturday's final round of the Paul Terry Classic at Emporia.
Hayden, which improved to 2-1, opened up a 21-6 lead over the Broncos early in the second quarter and led 30-20 at the half.
Hayden will play its home-opener against Kansas City-Bishop Ward next Friday, with the Wildcats closing out the 2022 portion of their schedule.