Topeka High goes back on the court for the fourth quarter Thursday night against Hayden after taking control in the third quarter. [Photo by Isaac Deer/TSN]
By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
The No. 4-ranked Topeka High girls continued their undefeated basketball season Thursday night with a 59-33 home victory over the Hayden Wildcats.
While the Lady Trojans were coming off of a 78-53 Centennial League victory over Manhattan on Tuesday, Hayden hasn’t played a game since January 7th’s 65-47 victory over Topeka West due to COVID-19 issues.
Entering Thursday night’s makeup game, the Trojans had outscored Centennial League opponents at home, 289-131, in the four home games they’ve played, with the most competitive game at home a five-point victory against Seaman on Jan. 7th, while the largest margin of defeat was a 70-point victory against Highland Park back on Dec. 17th.
“Every day we tell our team to stay hungry,” Topeka High coach Hannah Alexander said. “They’ve been hearing for the last two months that they can’t do this without Nija (Canady). That’s been a thing that’s motivated the team. Yes, we lost something huge, but there is still a lot here. They’ve felt like people have given up on them. They always feel like they’re the underdogs and are earning respect.''
It wasn’t all roses and confetti for the Lady Trojans in their latest contest.
The first quarter was abysmal for High. The shots were not falling while Hayden seemed to make every shot with ease. Hayden’s tough interior offense was able to send their best shooters to the free throw line in the first quarter. Freshman Brylee Meier went four of four from the free throw line, while senior Macy Smith went two of two.
Things were looking bleak for Topeka High going into the beginning of the second quarter.
After Hayden went up by 10 points, Alexander called an important time out that turned the game around.
Immediately after the time out, High became more aggressive behind the 3-point line. Two 3s by Ayana Leesman and one by Kiki Smith brought the Trojans within reach. High would fight their way back to a close game before the second quarter ended, trailing at the half, 26-22.
Hayden’s Carly Stuke and Smith combined for 15 points out of the 26 on the board.
“We came out a little timid. Defensively, we didn’t get after it like we normally do. Other things frustrated us along the way. I told our girls at the half that we needed to dig deep and play the best half they ever played when they step back on that court,” said Alexander.
The third quarter was all High. The Lady Trojans distributed the ball to everyone on the court more effectively than they did in the first half. As good as the ball distribution was, the press defense was even better.
High’s press defense held Hayden to just three points in the third quarter while the Wildcats turned the ball over 13 times.
High’s prolific offense scored 20 points in the third quarter as Smith, Tae Thomas and Leesman led the charge.
Topeka High held Hayden to seven points in the entire second half after the Wildcats put up 26 in the first half. Alexander said it was one of the best halves of basketball she had ever seen after High outscored Hayden 37-7 in the second half.
High was able to rest their key starters in the fourth quarter.
“We’re banged up. Getting some rest going into the tournament next Thursday will be nice. It’ll be difficult playing back-to-back-to-back, but this is something this team has done before. We’ll have to bear through it and ice up,” said Alexander.
Hayden (4-3, 4-3) will host Highland Park (1-9, 1-8) Friday night.
Topeka High (9-0, 9-0) will host Blue Valley Southwest (0-9, 0-7) next Thursday in the opening round of tournament play at Topeka High.
TOPEKA HIGH GIRLS 59, HAYDEN 33
Topeka High 9 13 20 17 – 59
Hayden 15 11 3 4 – 33
Topeka High (9-0, 9-0) – Smith 6 2-2 15, Leesman 5 0-0 12, Thomas 5 0-0 11, Caryl 2 3-4 7, Shields 2 0-0 5, Mwangi 1 0-0 3, Wiley 1 0-2 2, Benning 1 0-0 2, Verser 0 1-2 1, Fulton 0 1-2 1.
Hayden (4-3, 4-3) – Smith 3 4-6 10, Stuke 3 1-3 8, Meier 0 4-4 4, Huscher 1 0-0 3, Grunert 0 2-4 2, Lenherr 0 2-3 2, Sandstrom 1 0-0 2, Anguiano 1 0-0 2.
3-point goals – Topeka High 6, Hayden 2. Total fouls – Topeka High 19, Hayden 8.
