From wire-to-wire, the Emporia High basketball teams controlled their doubleheader Tuesday night against Topeka High at Spartan Gymnasium.
The Emporia High boys won their second consecutive game with a 56-37 victory over the Trojans. The game would be tied on two different occasions early before the Spartans took control and never looked back. Emporia High led 12-6 at the end of the first quarter and turned it into a 25-18 lead at halftime. Emporia High led 39-25 heading to the fourth quarter with the Trojans pulling within 10 but not any closer. Cooper Rech led Emporia High with a career-high 24 points while also grabbing 10 rebounds. River Peters added 17. Emporia High coach Lee Baldwin said the Spartans were efficient shooting 56% from the field.
Emporia High improved to 9-4 on the season and 3-1 in the Centennial League. The Spartans sit in first place in the Centennial League standings.
In the girls game, it was all Lady Spartans in a 63-30 victory over the Trojans. Emporia High started the game on a 7-0 run and never looked back. Emporia High led 27-7 at the end of the first quarter that turned into a 37-18 lead at halftime. The Lady Spartans led 55-26 heading into the fourth. An Addie Kirmer layup right away to start the fourth pushed the lead to 30 triggering a running clock. Kirmer led Emporia High tying a career-high with 30 points. Emporia High coach Carolyn Dorsey said the Lady Spartans did not have a letdown after winning the Glacier’s Edge Tournament last weekend.
Emporia High, the fifth-ranked team in Class 5A, improved to 11-1 on the season and 3-0 in the Centennial League. The Lady Spartans have won nine consecutive games. Emporia High will host Washburn Rural on Friday night for Winter Sports Night. The RV-Doc Pregame Show will begin at 5:40 p.m. with the girls game to tip at 6 p.m. with the boys to follow.
