WU senior Andrew Orr & teammates celebrate their NCAA D-II Central Region championship.

[Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

Seaman coach Matt Tinsley name UKC girls' basketball Coach of the Year.

[File Photo/TSN]

Washburn Rural senior Amare Jones named Centennial League Boys' Player of the Year.

[Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]

Rossville junior Rylee Dick named to All-Big East First Team.

[file photo/TSN]

WU Coach Brett Ballard’s jubilation as the Ichabod’s won the NCAA D-II Central Regional championship.

[Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

Junior Kailyn Hanni, Silver Lake, named to All-Big East First Team.

[File Photo/TSN]

A1 Lock Key Logo

Key Performers of the Week

Rising Stars Intro 002AA

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Washburn Rural's girls, who have advanced to the Class 6A championship game three straight seasons, put themselves in position to earn another trip to state with a 72-26 semifinal victory over Lawrence Free State Wednesday night at Rural.

GracieHayes2025FS2 1Washburn Rural sophomore Gracie Hayes scored 18 points on six 3-pointers in Wednesday's 72-26 Class 6A sub-state semifinal win over Free State. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]

The Junior Blues, now 15-6, took control with a 20-5 first quarter and opened up a 45-12 advantage over the Firebirds (3-18). Rural led 63-21 at the start of the fourth quarter, forcing a running clock over the final eight minutes.

Sophomore Gracie Hayes had a big night for Rural, hitting six 3-pointers to lead the Junior Blues with 18 points.

KateHinck2025FS2 2Senior Kate Hinck scored 10 points in Wednesday's 72-26 Washburn Rural sub-state semifinal win over Free State. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]

MaddieVickery2025FS2 2Washburn Rural sophomore Maddie Vickery scored 10 points in Wednesday's 72-26 sub-state win over Free State. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]

Senior Kate Hinck and sophomores Brooklyn Rutherford and Maddie Vickery added 10 points apiece while junior Ella Hirschi added nine points.

With Wednesday's win the Junior Blues advanced to Saturday's 3:30 p.m. sub-state championship game to host Centennial League rival Manhattan, a 51-27 winner over Maize.

The Junior Blues and Indians will be playing for the third time this season, with Rural winning the first two meetings.

Undefeated Hi Park boys take 72-51 win over Bears

Highland Park, the top Class 5A East boys seed, improved to 21-0 on the season with a 72-51 home semifinal win over No. 16 Kansas City-Turner Wednesday night.

The Scots, third in 5A the past two seasons, will host Basehor-Linwood on Saturday in a 5 p.m. sub-state final at Highland Park.

The Bobcats advanced to the championship game with a 44-37 win over Spring Hill.

Silver Lake boys survive Osage City rally, 64-62

Silver Lake's boys built a double-digit advantage over Osage City Wednesday night and needed every bit of it, holding on for a 64-62 home sub-state semifinal decision over the Indians.

The Eagles led 15-11 at the end of the opening quarter and led 31-25 at the half and 50-38 at the start of the fourth quarter before Osage City rallied behind a 24-14 fourth-quarter rally.

Junior Dayne Johnson led Silver Lake with 18 points while Jared Johnson added 16 points and Brody Deiter 14.

No. 4 sub-state seed Silver Lake will play for a Class 3A sub-state title on Saturday, facing No. 8 Sabetha in a 6:30 p.m. game at Hiawatha.

Sabetha advanced to the final with a 77-75 overtime win over No. 1 seed St. Marys. 

Rossville upset bid falls short, 49-45

Rossville's girls pushed top seed Wabaunsee throughout Wednesday's Class 2A sub-state semifinal, dropping a 49-45 nail-bite at Wabaunsee. 

Wabaunsee jumped out to a 19-6 first-quarter advantage, but the Bulldawgs answered with a 15-5 second quarter to cut their halftime deficit to 24-21.

Rossville cut the Chargers' lead to 36-35 at the start of the fourth quarter before Wabaunsee held off the Bulldawgs with a 13-10 fourth quarter.

Junior Rylee Dick led Rossville with 19 points, including with three 3-pointers, while sophomore Nora Burdiek added 15 points. 

 

Gold Partners

Community Partners

Gold Partners