Topeka High girls, boys rout Emporia on road

The Topeka High girls jumped out to a 22-7 halftime lead and never looked back Tuesday night, taking down Centennial League nemesis Emporia 62-33 to remain tied atop the league standings.

Topeka High (16-2, 11-1 Centennial League) outscored Emporia 22-14 in the third quarter and kept the pressure on through the end, going on a 16-12 fourth-quarter run to finish off the Spartans (7-10, 4-7).

NiJaree Canady posted a double-double with a game-high 30 points and 15 rebounds to lead her Trojans to victory, hitting 13 of 18 shots including a 3-pointer. High's Jaryn Benning added 14 points.

The Trojans outrebounded the Spartans 32-21 and hit 55.3 percent of their shots from the field in the rout. The Spartans especially struggled from the free-throw line, hitting just 5 of 21 shots from the charity stripe.

Taylor Milleson led the Spartans with 13 points, hitting 5 of 7 from the field and 3 of 7 from the free-throw line. Mya Chapman had 8 points and Gracie Gilpin chipped in 6 points on a pair of 3-point makes.

After the win, the High girls remain in a tie for first place in the league with Washburn Rural (16-2, 11-1), which won Tuesday against Manhattan. The Trojans beat the Junior Blues last Friday to move into the split for first.

The Trojans will next be on the road to face Manhattan at 6 p.m. Friday.

TOPEKA HIGH BOYS 75, EMPORIA 66

Da'Vonshai Harden hit 7 of 8 3-pointers on the night for 25 points Tuesday as the Topeka High boys took down Emporia 75-66.

Harden was 8-of-11 shooting in addition to his 87.5 percent mark from long range but had five turnovers in the win. King Sutton scored 17 points on 8-for-13 shooting and Carlos Esquibel added 10 with a pair of 3-pointers.

The Trojans took an early lead, entering the second quarter up 24-9 and finishing the half ahead 41-21. The Spartans regained their composure in the second half, outscoring the Trojans 22-20 in the third quarter and 23-14 in the fourth, but it was too little, too late.

Beau Baumgardner and Kyler McCullough scored 16 points apiece to lead the Spartans, combining for a 5-for-11 mark from 3-point range. Spencer Stewart added 11 in the losing effort.

TOPEKA HIGH GIRLS 62, EMPORIA 33

Topeka High;16;8;22;16;—;62

Emporia;6;1;14;12;—;33

Topeka High (16-2, 11-1) — Smith 1 0-2 2, Murray 1 0-0 3, Thomas 2 1-2 5, Benning 6 1-2 14, Hendrickson 3 2-3 8, Canady 13 3-4 30. Totals 26 7-13 62.

Emporia (7-10, 4-7) — Gilpin 2 0-3 6, Christensen 2 0-0 4, Chapman 3 2-3 8, Breshears 0 0-2 0, Tovar 2 0-6 4, Milleson 5 3-7 13. Totals 14 5-21 35.

3-Point Goals — THS 3 (Murray 1, Benning 1, Canady 1); EHS 2 (Gilpin 2).

TOPEKA HIGH BOYS 75, EMPORIA 66

Topeka High;24;17;20;14;—;75

Emporia;9;12;22;23;—;66

Topeka High — Thomas 2 4-5 8, Harden 8 2-2 25, Sutton 8 1-2 17, C. Esquibel 3 2-2 10; K. Smith 3 3-4 9, J. Smith 1 0-0 2. Totals 27 12-15 75.

Emporia — S. Stewart 5 1-3 11, Hoyt 2 0-0 6, J. Stewart 3 0-0 6, Baumgardner 6 2-2 16, Kienholz 0 1-2 1, McCullough 6 1-2 16, Douglas 2 2-2 6, Pauls 2 0-0 4. Totals 26 7-11 66.

3-Point Goals — THS 9 (Harden 7, C. Esquibel 2); EHS 7 (McCullough 3; Hoyt 2; Baumgardner 2).