By Todd Fertig
TopSports.news
Having lost twice this season to the Washburn Rural girls – by an average of 18.5 points – the Topeka High Trojans shocked the Dungeon crowd by racing past the Junior Blues 54-45 at Topeka High Tuesday.
Topeka High sophomore Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton (right) scored 21 points in Tuesday's 54-45 Centennial League win over Washburn Rural. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
The Trojans frustrated the visitors by dominating on the glass and throwing different defensive looks at the Junior Blues’ Maddie Vickery. The sophomore finished with 23 points, but hit just eight of 26 attempts.
Vickery shot 1-8 in the first period and Topeka High grabbed a 10-5 advantage. Vickery got hot in the second period, hitting five consecutive shots. But the rest of the Junior Blues struggled to get untracked. Vickery scored 17 of Washburn Rural’s 18 points in the first half. The Trojans clung to a 21-18 advantage.
“We planned to play man defense until just moments before the game,” Topeka High coach Ron Slaymaker said. “When we saw how they came out, we changed right before the tip to a two-three zone. (Vickery) got hot in the second quarter. We played a little different defense in the second half and slowed her down.”
Topeka High senior Jo’Mhara Benning and freshman Hailey Caryl relentlessly pounded the glass and got hands in Vickery’s face while sophomore Ahsieryrhuajh Rayton chased Vickery in the second half.
“We started in the zone, had our bigs keep their hands up where (Vickery) usually likes to shoot,” Rayton said. “Then we went to a box-and-one with me face guarding her. I like playing defense, so that was fun. I love playing against Maddie. She just makes me better.”
Vickery’s teammates finally caught fire late in the third period. Ella Hirshi hit three 3-pointers and scored 11 points late to fire the comeback. Gracie Hayes knocked down two 3-pointers as well. The Junior Blues pulled to within four points with four minutes remaining.
“We could have folded our tent when that happened. But we didn’t. We answered,” Slaymaker said. “Tonight, we made shots. We played pretty good defense most of the time, but tonight the difference was, we made shots.”
Freshman Hailey Caryl scored 12 points in Topeka High's 54-45 win over Topeka High Tuesday night. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Junior Keimara Marshall (12) scored 11 points in Topeka High's 54-45 win over Washburn Rural. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Rayton raced to 13 second-half points and buried two 3-pointers in the fourth period to keep the Trojans in the lead. She finished with 21 points. Caryl scored 12 points and Keimara Marshall added 11.
“We’ve been losing to them for two years now, so to finally come together and do what we’ve wanted to do to them, it just feels good,” Rayton said.
The Topeka High girls finished the regular season with a 13-7 record, 6-4 in the Centennial League. Slaymaker recalled the two losses to Washburn Rural specifically.
“I think we only played poorly in two games out of 20. I give Washburn Rural credit on those two,” Slaymaker said. “This win gives us momentum going into the postseason. I’ve been at this for a long time – since 1960. You just never know what can happen in postseason. Hopefully we take it from here.”
TOPEKA HIGH GIRLS 54, WASHBURN RURAL 45
Washburn Rural 5 13 10 17 -- 45
Topeka High 10 11 14 19 -- 54
Washburn Rural (13-6, 6-3) – Hinck 0-6 0-0 0, Rutherford 0-1 1-2 1, Hirschi 4-8 0-0 11, Vickery 8 26 6-7 23, Bunck 0-5 3-4 3, Carlgren 0-1 0-0 0, Hayes 2-8 1-2 7, Petersen 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 14-55 11-15 45.
Topeka High (13-7, 6-4) – Simpson 0-0 0-0 0, Marshall 5-14 1-4 11, Rayton 7-20 3-4 21, Caryl 4-8 4-6 12, Benning 2-5 0-0 4, Short 2-2 1-4 6, Gotru 0-0 0-0 0, Triplett 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 20-49 9-18 54.
3-point goals – Washburn Rural 6 (Hirschi 3, Hayes 2, Vickery 1), Topeka High 5 (Rayton 4, Short 1). Total fouls – Washburn Rural 15, Topeka High 10. Fouled out – None. Technical fouls – None.
