By Todd Fertig
TopSports.news
The Topeka West Chargers cruised by Lansing 76-56 Thursday in the first round of the Topeka Invitational Tournament at Topeka High.
The Chargers improved to 6-2 on the season with their fourth straight win and will face Olathe East in the tournament semifinals at 8 p.m. Friday.
Sophomore Prince Lassiter came off the bench to score 16 points in Topeka West's 76-56 first-round Topeka Invitational win over Lansing Thursday. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
The Chargers were able to play their reserves a significant number of minutes, resting their starters and creating a very balanced statistical line. Ten players scored for Topeka West, with four breaking double figures.
Charger coach Christian Ulsaker was pleased to rotate so many players in the opening-round game.
“It’s good for our coaching staff, because we are evaluating throughout the entire year, and it’s hard sometimes in practice to evaluate because you’re going against the same guys over and over,” Ulsaker said. “So, getting 11 guys on the court is very beneficial for the program.”
Playing big schools from around the state will help the Chargers, currently ranked seventh in Class 5A by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association, prepare for bigger challenges ahead.
“This is going to get us ready for sub-state, for sure,” Ulsaker said. “Three games in three days. No shot clock. We’ve played with a shot clock all year and now we don’t have a shot clock. This is really getting us ready for postseason play.”
Junior Malakyah Duncan (12) scored 10 points in Topeka West's 76-56 Topeka Invitational win over Lansing Thursday night. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Starters Kamoni Ford tallied 11 points and Malakyah Duncan and Javian Chambers added 10 apiece. But the leading scorer for the Chargers was reserve big man Prince Lassiter, who came off the bench to score 16. A big-bodied post, Lassiter may develop into a different weapon for the Chargers.
“Prince is tough, man. He has the toughness that you want,” Ulsaker said. “He’s tenacious and he’s very coachable. That kid wants to learn, has a soft touch around the rim, nimble feet. A guy like Prince can really create mismatches in the post and make a defense have to dig hard. That’s just going to give shooters the inside-out looks that they’re dreaming of.”
TOPEKA WEST BOYS 76, LANSING 56
Lansing 7 10 11 28 -- 56
Topeka West 24 11 21 20 -- 76
Lansing (1-7) – Stephens 4-12 0-0 8, Heim 0-3 0-0 0, Zimmerman 5-13 0-0 11, Mattingly 3-10 8-10 14, Boden 2-5 0-0 6, Wilson 1-5 1-3 5, Anderson 4-8 0-0 10, Wade 2-4 0-1 4. Totals: 21-60 9-14 56.
Topeka West (6-2) – Ford 4-7 0-2 11, Duncan 4-6 1-2 10, Paul 1-5 3-4 5, Chambers 5-7 0-0 10, Foy 2-10 0-0 4, Traylor 4-6 0-2 8, Munganga 2-5 0-2 4, Lassiter 8-13 0-2 16, Dillahunt 1-4 0-0 3, Webb 2-3 0-0 5, Davis 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 33-66 4-14 76.
3-point goals – Lansing 5 (Boden 2, Anderson 2, Zimmerman 1), Topeka West 6 (Ford 3, Duncan 1, Dillahunt 1, Webb 1). Total fouls – Lansing 7, Topeka West 10. Fouled out – None. Technical fouls – Topeka West bench.
TOPEKA INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT
RESULTS THURSDAY
Highland Park 62, SM North 50
Lawrence 72, Wichita SE 67
Topeka West 76, Lansing 56
Olathe East 77, Topeka High 70 (OT)
GAMES FRIDAY
3:30 p.m. -- SM North vs. Wichita SE.
5 -- Lansing vs. Topeka High.
6:30 -- Highland Park vs. Lawrence.
8 -- Topeka West vs. Olathe East.
