Centennial League Highlights – Jan 14, 15
In this article:
A somewhat light schedule in the Centennial League wasn’t without some exciting finishes and highlight performances: Corey Powell Corey Powell 6'4" | PF Highland Park | 2021 State KS , senior, Highland Park (pictured): The game of the night was…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingA somewhat light schedule in the Centennial League wasn’t without some exciting finishes and highlight performances:
Corey Powell Corey Powell 6'4" | PF Highland Park | 2021 State KS , senior, Highland Park (pictured):
The game of the night was a memorable upset by struggling Highland Park over streaking Topeka West. The undefeated Chargers were climbing the ranks of 5A teams and had hardly been challenged all season. The Scots were coming off a heartbreaking loss to Junction City. But Powell, potentially the most dominant player in the Centennial League, was starting to come around. He finally broke out with a monster game against the Chargers. He hit 9-15, 7-8 from the line, and finished with 26 in the 57-54 overtime victory.
Jahmir Kingcannon, sophomore, Highland Park
With super scorer Juan’Tario Roberts Juan’Tario Roberts 5'10" | CG Highland Park | 2022 State KS out for an undisclosed reason, the 6-foot-3 sophomore was called into duty. He had just played a majority of the JV game, but the long and versatile Kingcannon wasn’t phased by the moment. He drilled five 3-pointers, four in the second half, to lead the Scots to an upset of one of the top teams in 5A, the Topeka West Chargers.
Tre Alexander Tre Alexander 6'3" | CG Topeka West | 2021 State KS , senior, Topeka West:
Alexander was one of the most dominant players in the state prior to the holiday break, averaging 28.5 points per game. With his co-star Elijah Brooks Elijah Brooks 6'3" | CG Topeka West | 2022 State KS healthy, Alexander backed off a bit in the first two games of the semester. But when Brooks went to the bend with an injury Friday, Alexander was once again his unstoppable self. He poured in 23, although his Chargers couldn’t avert the upset to Highland Park.
Marque Wilkerson, senior, Topeka West:
Like Alexander, Wilkerson had also slowed a bit in the new semester. He had emerged as one of the top players in the league, before scoring just 2 against Hayden and 7 against Emporia. But Friday, he made a couple of the most impressive plays of the night, including a posterizing two-hand slam in overtime. He finished with 19 in the loss to the Scots.
Joe Berry Joe Berry 6'4" | CG Washburn Rural | 2021 State KS , senior, Washburn Rural:
Washburn Rural played Thursday and Friday, earning two wins to improve to 5-1. Berry hadn’t shown much enthusiasm for the outside shot early in the season, but he must have put up some shots over the break. He hit three 3-pointers against Topeka High and two more against Junction City. After scoring 19 against the Trojans, Berry exploded for 29 against the Blue Jays, including 7-8 from the line.
Jack Hutchinson Jack Hutchinson 6'1" | CG Washburn Rural | 2021 State KS , senior, Washburn Rural:
The deadeye 6-foot senior connected on three 3-pointers against the Trojans, then two more against Junction City, giving him 14 on the season. Hutchinson is a steady influence and calm leader for the Junior Blues, who are on the rise, with just one loss on the year.
Howard Johnson Howard Johnson 6'0" | SG Junction City | 2022 State KS , junior, Junction City:
After working some buzzer-beating magic against Highland Park on Tuesday, Johnson couldn’t pull off another thriller against the Junior Blues on Friday. But he gave the Blue Jays 19 points, including 9-10 from the foul line.
Jayden Leesman, senior, Topeka High:
Leesman demonstrated over the summer that he is ready for prime time in the Centennial League. Finally inserted in the starting lineup, he has been one of the few bright spots for the depleted Trojans. He waited out the departure of a collection of star players, but now the smooth and versatile 6-foot-1 guard is showing what he can do – 14 against Washburn Rural, and 13 against Seaman.