Slow start ends in fast finish for Chargers Nowhere to run

--- Philip Carlson/The Capital-Journal

By KEN CLARK

The Capital-Journal

After struggling through two and a half quarters Thursday night, Topeka West took control midway through the third quarter and rolled past Topeka High 62-38 at Topeka High.

Both teams were sluggish in the first half, unable to control the ball and unable to put up consistant shooting. That is until the third quarter when Charger gaurd Tisharria Huggins created some quick turnovers resulting in scores which gave West the momentum and control of the game.

"I think the kids wanted to play in the first half, but wanting to and getting it done are two different things," said Charger Coach Mike Goehring. "Topeka High came out and played really hard, and we were really scrapping for everything we got."

"We discussed some of the things we needed to do to get back to our style of ball at the half and we came out in the second half and saw a little difference. We outscored them 41-20 in the second half. We had three or four steals that were key in the second half, converting them into layups, and we had some crucial rebounds and stick backs," Goehring added. "We did the things in the second half that we normally do for four quarters."

Both Huggins and Ariana Scales led the Charger scoring attack with 17 points each.

Topeka High was led in scoring by Bre Huff with 11 points and Chrystal Kemp with 10.

"We just ran out of steam and we couldn't get our offensive going. The shots we took just wouldn't fall and for a five or six minute stretch we couldn't buy a basket to save our life," High coach Brenda Soldani said.

Topeka West 10 11 26 32 ---62Topeka High 9 9 8 12 ---38Topeka West (6-1) --- Huggins 8 1-2 17, Scales 7 3-4 17, Manns 4 0-0 8, Davis 1 2-2 5, Michelle Molander 2 0- 0 4, Swanson 1 2-2 4, Bahner 1 3-4 5, Wood 0 0-0 0, Smith 0 0-0 0, Litfin 0 0-0 0, Malmstrom 0 0-0 0, West 0 0-0 0, Velez 0 0-0 0, Pierce 0 0-0 0, McCoy 0 0-0 0, Megan Molander 0 0-0 0, Adams 0 0-0 0, Sayler 1 0-0 2, Gleason 0 0-0 0, Ault 0 0-0 0, Yasue 0 0-0 0, Hane 0 0-0 0.

Topeka High --- Huff 4 4-5 11, Kemp 4 2-4 10, Gibbs 3 0-0 6, Gregory 2 0-0 4, McMurray 1 0-0 2, Wilson 2 1-2 5.

Three point goals --- Topeka West 1 (Davis)

Total Fouls --- Topeka West 14, Topeka High 19.

Fouled out --- Topeka High 1 (Gregory)

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