@ HaYden

The Emporia High School boys basketball team put an end to its two-game losing streak with a 58-42 victory over Hayden in Topeka on Tuesday night.

The game was back and forth early with each team trading the first five buckets before the Spartans closed the opening quarter on a 10-3 run to take a 14-9 lead. The game was close early in the second quarter at 20-16 before Emporia ripped off an 11-1 run and went into the half up by 10. 

With the Spartans up by four points late in the third quarter, Harrison Trelc converted a three-point play that sparked a 21-5 run that lasted the majority of the fourth quarter.

Head coach Lee Baldwin said the team was able to execute its gameplan of taking away Hayden’s best player, while also getting more guys into the game as the team was able to get healthier over the break. “The gameplan going in was to take away [Cooper] Colboch, their best player,” Baldwin said. “We took turns with different guys guarding him and then offensively, we tried to make a real conscious effort of throwing the ball in the post. We worked a lot on our offensive over the break and were able to do some really good things. We also got to play 11 guys which is really fun for them because they all had an impact on us winning.”

River Peters led the Spartans with 21 points. Sheldon Stewart added 11 in the win, while Trelc (eight) and Nolan Jacob (seven) notched career-highs.

Baldwin was glad to get Jacob back into the starting lineup, and he is more prepared for game action after getting some practice reps in over the break. “It’s great to get Nolan back,” Baldwin said. “He played against Great Bend but that was his first day getting cleared, so now he’s been able to practice more and he started tonight. He’s a tough, competitive kid and a great communicator, and it’s no secret that having him on the floor impacts us significantly."

Emporia (5-2) will host Topeka High on Friday night, Jan. 5 at 7:30 p.m.

Emporia JV 41

Hayden JV 47

JV Tournament

Emporia JV 41

Bishop Caroll JV 52

Emporia JV 54

Topeka JV 32

JV Record: 3-3

Emporia C 43

Hayden C 48

C Record: 1-2