Seven area schools are competing in state tournaments this week

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Seven area schools in Shawnee Co. will be competing in state tournaments. The hoops in Topeka/Shawnee Co. were incredible this year. Here is a thread of the seven games from the area teams that will be taking place this week:


6A Girls: No. 3 Topeka High (20-2) vs. No. 6 Blue Valley (19-3):

4PM Wednesday – Koch Arena, Wichita State

In the last two seasons, Topeka High finished second in the Class 6A state tournament. This is the fourth straight time T-High has made the state tournament. Kiki Smith and Tay Thomas have been catalysts for the success of the 2022 squad. Production in the paint from Dayshauna Wiley, Adisyn Caryl and Faith Shields make this team a nightmare of a matchup.


6A Girls: No. 4 Washburn Rural (20-2) vs. No. 5 Dodge City (19-3)

8PM Wednesday –  Koch Arena, Wichita State

Rural’s two losses this year have come at the hands of Topeka High. Rural has six wins against high-quality state-ranked opponents this year. Rural defeated No. 2 Derby and No. 7 Shawnee Mission West on back-to-back nights. Rural’s starting five has it all. 3-Point shooting from Zoe Canfield & MaRyah Lutz, smooth paint operating by Brooklyn DeLeye & stellar defense from Emma Krueger & Jada Ingram. The last time Rural was in this tournament, they won it all back in 2019.


5A Boys: No. 2 Topeka West (21-1) vs. No. St. James Academy (15-7)

6PM Wednesday – Emporia State University

The Chargers are currently on a 20-game winning streak dating all the way back to Dec. 10th. West’s starting five has been on top of the basketball world in the 2022 campaign. Leading the Chargers is Elijah Brooks. Brooks is averaging 25.8 PPG, 7.8 RPG and is forcing the opponents to turn the ball over 3.7 times a game. Sincere Austin, Xavier Alexander and Malachi Berg can match up against anyone in the state giving the Chargers a frightening lineup. Topeka West earned the runner-up spot in last year’s state tournament.


5A Boys: No. 5 Highland Park (18-4) vs. No. 4 Maize (18-4)

4PM Wednesday – Emporia State University

Highland Park is playing as well as anyone in the state currently. The Scots’ will have a tough matchup with the defending 5A state champions in the first round. Highland Park is coming off of two blowout sub-state wins over Piper & St. Thomas Aquinas. The big three of Tre Richardson, Scrap Roberts and Bo Aldridge have been nearly impossible to guard lately due to the overall feel & court awareness. Highland Park is indeed a matchup problem.


5A Boys: No. 8 Seaman (15-7) vs. No. 1 Kapaun Mt. Carmel (21-1)

2PM Wednesday – Emporia State University

Seaman has been a great surprise for fans of the Vikings. The Vikings defeated two extremely tough teams in Maize South and Hays in sub-state. Seaman is currently riding an eight game winning streak. Seaman has the ability to have any player on any given night score 20+. Mateo Hyman, Ty Henry and Kaeden Bonner have made opponents pay the price all season long. They will need to play their best basketball against the No. 1 seed. Signs are showing they can.


Class 4A Boys: No. 8 Hayden (9-13) vs. No. 1 Eudora (18-3)

6PM Thursday – Tony’s Pizza Events Center

Records are thrown in the trash at this point of the season. It’s been quite the journey for Hayden this year. So many close losses against the Centennial League’s finest. Hayden has won five out of the last six and deserves to be fighting for a state title. Joe Otting, Jake Muller and Trent Duffey are all playing A+ basketball as of late. Hayden’s toughness and gritty playing style should translate well to the hardwood on Thursday night.


Class 3A Girls: No. 1 Silver Lake (22-1) vs. No. 8 Cherryvale (15-8)

2PM Thursday – Hutchinson CC Arena

Silver Lake was meant for this situation. The starting five of Makenzie McDaniel, McKinley Kruger, Kaibryn Kruger, Mariah Farmer and Taylor Ross have been a thorn in opponents' gameplans all year. M. Kruger’s awareness, McDaniel’s length in the paint, K. Kruger’s 3-point range and the physical toughness of Farmer & Ross have put the Eagles in the No. 1 seed. Cherryvale will have their hands full dealing with this deep lineup on Thursday.


Highland Park celebrated the 89-52 win over KC Piper last Friday. Photo/Isaac K. Deer


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