By TYLER HENRY
Little Apple Post contributor
Following a 55-39 victory over Coffeyville in the sub-state semifinal on Wednesday, the Wamego boys basketball team will host Topeka-Hayden in the championship game on Saturday.
The Red Raiders, still ranked #9 in Class 4A, will enter this game with an overall record of 14-7 while the Wildcats come in at 8-13.
Wamego struggled from the field on Wednesday but played solid defense to take home an expected victory over the Golden Tornado.
“We took care of the ball against Coffeyville and won the rebounding battle,” Red Raider head coach Troy Hemphill said. “That really allowed us to survive a subpar shooting night.”
Wamego will need to step up their game against a frisky Wildcat team that upset 4-seeded Holton 53-43 in their semifinal on Wednesday.
“Hayden has a solid team,” Hemphill said. “They have a really impressive inside presence and their guards make good decisions.”
The Wildcats have been led all season by a trio of Jake Muller, Trent Duffey, and Joe Otting.
Otting and Duffey have been able to use their size to give opposing defenses fits this season and the Raiders will need to pack the lane to prevent big nights from the Hayden posts.
While the records tell the story of a wild upset earlier this week, a closer examination of the Topeka-Hayden schedule tells the story of a team that has prepared for this very moment by scheduling teams others in their league wouldn’t go near.
“Hayden winning the first-round game is in no way an upset,” Hemphill said. “They bang heads with 5A and 6A teams all year and have beaten some of them. Their record is not relevant in the post-season. They are as experienced and talented as any team in 4A.”
That schedule includes wins over 6A schools like Manhattan and Topeka, and 5A teams like Emporia, as well as several close losses to larger opponents that have prepared the Wildcats for March.
While Topeka-Hayden is no normal 12-seed, Wamego has prepared for this moment all season as well, and is still the favorite on paper to survive and advance to the state tournament for the first time since 2018.
“We are excited for the opportunity to earn a state tournament berth, it is definitely one of our team goals and we fell one game short last year,” he said. We are hungry for the opportunity and we have to stay focused and forget about the consequences of the game and be ready to put our best selves on the floor when it's time to play.”
Tip-off between the Red Raiders and Wildcats is set for 3 pm at Wamego High School with the winner punching one of eight tickets to the state tournament in Salina next week.
For continuing coverage of both Wamego teams this postseason, stay tuned to the Little Apple Post.