Alexander, Topeka High girls relishing impressive 3-0 start

Topeka High girls basketball coach Hannah Alexander is well aware of the fact that her team is only three games into the 2018-19 season, but there’s no doubt that life has been good for the Trojans thus far.

Topeka High, which won seven games a year ago, is off to a perfect 3-0 start this season, outscoring its opponents by more than 22 points a game after a 62-24 Centennial League win over Junction City last Friday.

The Trojans will be aiming to make it four wins in a row when they visit 0-2 Hayden Tuesday night for a girls/boys Centennial League doubleheader. The girls game will tip off at approximately 6:15 p.m., followed by the boys game at 7:45.

“It’s just been a total flip from last year,’’ Alexander said of the Trojans’ start. “This is a great group of girls. We’ve had fun in practice every day and it’s not a drag to practice. They’re excited about it, they like each other.

“The coaching staff is enjoying one another and working with the girls on and off the floor. We’ve got some great student-athletes and it’s been fun so far.’’

Perhaps the best thing about Topeka High’s quick start is that Alexander knows the Trojans still have plenty of room for improvement.

“Our worst game was probably Friday night because we just missed so many opportunities and shots right underneath the basket and didn’t execute very well,’’ Alexander said. “We took some poor shots and things like that, so we know there’s definitely room for improvement.’’

Topeka High has averaged 63 points per game, but Alexander has probably been most pleased with the Trojans’ effort on the defensive end, with High allowing just 40.7 points a game.

“Defensively they’ve been bringing it every game,’’ Alexander said. “We still could get better. We’re letting other teams get a few second chances, so we’ve got to be a little more disciplined on that, but overall we’ve been executing for the most part right now.’’

NeJaree Canady, a 6-foot-1 freshman, has averaged a city-high 23 points in her first three high school games, including 27 and 28-point games last week, while Jaryn Benning is averaging 10.7 points.

Topeka High will be facing a Hayden team that is coming off a 57-27 Centennial League loss to unbeaten Washburn Rural on Friday.

Wildcat junior Sophia Purcell is averaging a team-high 11 points for the Wildcats while sophomore Rhen Calhoon is averaging seven points and senior Brooklyn Hunter six.

“It’s always been a battle against them for several years now,’’ Alexander said about Hayden. “We know we have to bring it and we have to bring it right from the get go.

“They’ve got a nice starting five that are solid and they’re definitely going to be hungry being 0-2 so we’ve got to go in there and be disciplined and ready to go. It should be a good game.’’

Topeka High’s boys are also off to a 3-0 start after posting three straight wins in the Leavenworth tournament, capped by a 54-45 win over Blue Valley West on Saturday.

Junior Ky Thomas is averaging 12 points a game for Topeka High while juniors King Sutton and Da’Vonshai Harden are averaging 11.3 and 9.0 points.

Hayden played its season-opener Friday night, dropping a 60-52 decision to undefeated Washburn Rural.

Senior Levi Braun led Hayden with 15 points against Rural while junior Cade Pavlik added 14 points with four 3-pointers.

TUESDAY’S OTHER CITY GAMES

GIRLS

HIGHLAND PARK (4-0, 0-1) at SEAMAN (0-2, 0-1)

Highland Park capped a three-win week with a 63-33 Centennial League victory over Topeka West Friday night while Seaman dropped a 48-39 decision at Manhattan in its league opener. Juniors Ariyana Grassity and Cierra Sherman average 14.2 points for Highland Park while juniors Chloe Carter and Camryn Turner average 15 and 12 points for Seaman. Game time: 6 p.m.

LANSING (1-0, 0-0) at SHAWNEE HEIGHTS (1-2, 0-1)

Shawnee Heights picked up its first win of the year on Friday, a 39-35 non-league win against Ottawa, and will return to United Kansas Conference competition against Lansing, which is coming off a 50-33 loss to Spring Hill. Juniors Alie Fulks and Kam Wells average 9.7 points and 8.7 points for the T-Birds. Game time: 5:30 p.m.

TOPEKA WEST (0-1) at OTTAWA (0-3)

Topeka West opened its season with a 63-33 Centennial League loss at Highland Park Friday night and the Chargers will take a break from league play to visit Ottawa, which is coming off a 39-35 loss to Shawnee Heights. Topeka West junior Miyah Larson led the Chargers with 10 points against Highland Park while senior Gabby Rivera had seven points and 15 points. Game time: 6 p.m.

WASHBURN RURAL (3-0, 1-0) at EMPORIA (1-2, 0-0)

Washburn Rural rolled to a 57-27 Centennial League win at Hayden on Friday while Emporia went 1-2 in a season-opening tournament, dropping games to Nickerson and Hesston. Senior Carly Bachelor leads Washburn Rural with a 20.3 scoring average and had 24 points and 11 rebounds against Hayden while junior Kasey Hamilton averages 13 points. Game time: 6 p.m.

BOYS

HIGHLAND PARK (1-2, 1-0) at SEAMAN (1-1, 0-1)

Highland Park is coming off a 60-56 Centennial League win over Topeka West on Friday while Seaman dropped a 49-48 overtime heartbreaker at Manhattan. Senior Kammal Dowdell led Highland Park with 18 points against Highland Park while sophomore CJ Powell added 15 points and 10 rebounds. Senior Trey Duffey scored 24 points for Seaman against Manhattan and is averaging 19.5 points on the season, while senior Kobe Bonner is averaging 16.5 points. Game time: 7:30 p.m.

LANSING (1-1, 0-0) at SHAWNEE HEIGHTS (2-0, 1-0)

Shawnee Heights improved to 2-0 with a 73-59 non-league win over Ottawa as senior Isaiah Bonjour hit six 3-pointers en route to a 25-point night. Bonjour is averaging 19.5 points on the season while sophomore Harvey Davis Jr. is averaging 12 points. Lansing, coached by former Highland Park coach Jason Jones, picked up its first win on Friday, a 48-31 decision over Spring Hill. Game time: 7:15 p.m.

TOPEKA WEST (0-1) at OTTAWA (1-2)

Topeka West dropped a 60-56 Centennial League decision at Highland Park in the Chargers’ season-opener while Ottawa dropped a 73-59 decision to Shawnee Heights. Junior Dre Durall scored 18 points and sophomore Trevion Alexander added 13 for West against Hi Park. Kobe Johnson led Ottawa with 16 points against Shawnee Heights. Game time: 7:30 p.m.

WASHBURN RURAL (3-0, 1-0) at EMPORIA (3-0, 0-0)

Washburn Rural beat Hayden 60-52 on Friday while Emporia completed a 3-0 tournament performance with a 66-39 win over Nickerson. Senior Savian Edwards led Rural against Hayden with a 14-point effort while senior Jordan White added 11 points. Emporia won its three tournament games by a total of 93 points, also posting wins over Wichita Independent and Hesston. Game time: 7:30 p.m.