By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
After dropping a disappointing 16-point decision to Seaman on its home floor in the final round of the Capital City Classic Topeka High girls basketball bounced back with a solid win at Emporia on Tuesday and followed that up with its best performance of the season Friday night, going wire to wire for a 45-26 Centennial League win over Washburn Rural.
Junior Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton scored a game-high 19 points for Topeka High in Friday's 45-26 victory over Washburn Rural. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
"No question that we played really well from beginning to end, that's what was nice,'' Topeka High coach Ron Slaymaker said. "That's what I just told them, 'It wasn't the win, the win was wonderful, but the way you got the win was pretty good because it was good defense from beginning to end.' ''
The Trojans jumped out to a 9-2 first-quarter lead over the No. 10-ranked (Class 6A) Junior Blues and pushed their advantage to 15 points (19-4) late in the first half before taking a 12-point (19-7) cushion to the locker room at halftime.
Topeka High continued to roll in the second half, opening up a 34-15 advantage and led by as many as 22 points down the stretch en route to the decisive 19-point victory.
Sophomore Hailey Caryl scored 12 points for Topeka High in Friday's 45-26 victory over Washburn Rural. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Junior Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton led the Trojans with a game-high 19 points while sophomore Hailey Caryl added 12 points and senior Keimara Marshall nine for Topeka High.
Washburn Rural freshman Brynn Anderson scored all seven of the Junior Blues' points in the first half and finished with 10 points while senior Hallie Walker added six points and not other Rural players scored more than four.
With Friday's win Topeka High improved to 8-8 overall and 3-2 in the league, reaching .500 for the first time this season after beginning the campaign 0-4.
"The 0-4 we dug a hole, and it was what it was, and we've been digging out ever since,'' Slaymaker said. "And I think we're a team that not many people want to play late in the year.
"If we play like that we can be in every game.''
The Trojans will also be at home Tuesday, hosting Hayden in a league contest.
Washburn Rural, now 11-5, 2-2, will be on the road Tuesday to face league foe Manhattan.
TOPEKA HIGH GIRLS 45, WASHBURN RURAL GIRLS 26
Washburn Rural 2 5 8 11 -- 26
Topeka High 9 10 15 11 -- 45
Washburn Rural (11-5, 2-2) – Rutherford 0-4 2-2 2, Hirschi 2-9 0-0 0, Walker 2-5 2-3 6, Anderson 4-17 0-0 10, Carlgren 1-6 0-0 2, Smith 1-3 0-2 2, Hinck 0-0 0-0 0, Petersen 0-0 0-0 0, Munson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 10-44 4-7 26.
Topeka High (8-8, 3-2) – Short 1-2 2-4 5, Marshall 4-8 0-0 9, Rayton 8-15 1-2 19, Caryl 5-7 2-4 12, Gotru 0-5 0-0 0, Triplett 0-0 0-0 0, Whayne 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 18-38 5-10 45.
3-point goals – Washburn Rural 2 (Anderson 2), Topeka High 4 (Rayton 2, Marshall, Short). Total fouls – Washburn Rural 6, Topeka High 9. Fouled out – none. Technical fouls -- none.
