[ Hayden boys basketball coach Jeff Dishman isn't necessarily

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Feb 10, 2004 by Rick Peterson Capital-Journal

Hayden boys basketball coach Jeff Dishman isn't necessarily thrilled with the Wildcats' 6-9 record --- few coaches would be --- but he has no complaints with how his team is playing.

"We're playing the best basketball we have played since I've been here," Dishman said. "The chemistry's very good, the kids are working harder, they know what's expected of them and we just need to get over the hump a little bit. Because of our schedule, that's kind of hard to do."

The Wildcats, who host Topeka High in a 7:30 game tonight, have won four of their last seven games, with their three losses coming against teams that were included in the state rankings (Burlington, Highland Park and Washburn Rural).

Overall, Hayden has faced nine teams that are or have been state- ranked this season.

While that schedule is not conducive to a glossy record, Dishman just wants to make sure his team keeps its eyes on the big picture -- - Class 4A postseason competition.

"We talk about that every day and we've been talking about it since Christmas break," Dishman said. "We're going to work at trying to get as many wins as we possibly can down the stretch here and then we're going to try to make some noise in the sub-state.

"We have to keep our kids' heads up, make sure that they know that they're working toward a goal at the end of the year and try to pick some (teams) off along the way."

Senior point guard Adam Head leads the Wildcats with a 15.3 scoring average, fourth in the city, and has averaged 19.5 points over his last eight games.

The Wildcats will be facing a Topeka High team that has won its last two games to improve to 6-8 on the year.

The Trojans are led by senior Robert Brown, who is third in the city scoring race at 15.4 points a game.

Tonight's other city games

SHAWNEE HEIGHTS BOYS (4-10) at TOPEKA WEST (14-1) --- Shawnee Heights, which has lost four straight games, faces a tough task tonight against second-ranked (Class 5A) Topeka West, which has won seven straight games. Heights dropped a 67-51 decision to Emporia on Friday, while Topeka West posted a 65-55 win over Salina South. Seniors Matt Mills and Ben Martin lead Heights at 14.4 and 11.4 points a game, while Topeka West junior Jay Tunnell is the city's second-leading scorer at 15.9 points a game. Game time: 7:30 p.m.

SALINA CENTRAL GIRLS (4-11, 0-6) at TOPEKA HIGH (8-7, 3-3) --- Topeka High split a pair of overtime I-70 League decisions last week, beating Junction City 69-67 and dropping a 71-64 decision to league- leader Manhattan. The Trojans, who have won six of their last eight games, are led by junior point guard Andrea Barber, who is averaging 18.5 points a game. Freshman Jackie Hoyt averages 14.1 points and senior Randee Babb 10.1 points for the Trojans. Game time: 7:30 p.m.

MANHATTAN BOYS (5-10) at WASHBURN RURAL (11-3) --- Washburn Rural stretched its winning streak to eight games Friday night with a 66- 59 win over Hayden, while Manhattan dropped a 68-54 decision to Topeka High. Washburn Rural, which is ranked fifth in 6A, is led by 6- foot-8 senior Brady Sisk, who is averaging a city-best 22.9 points a game. Game time: 7 p.m.

WASHBURN RURAL GIRLS (12-3) at JUNCTION CITY (6-8) --- Rural will be trying to snap a brief two-game losing streak after dropping games to Hayden (54-42) and Notre Dame-de Sion- Mo. (61-57) on Saturday. The Junior Blues are led by senior Sarah White, who averages a city- best 21.1 points a game. Junction City is coming off a 65-51 win over Salina Central on Friday. Game time: 7 p.m.

HIGHLAND PARK GIRLS (9-7) at FREE STATE (4-8) --- Highland Park posted a 48-34 win over Seaman on Friday night and the Scots have won four of their last six games. The Scots will be facing Free State for the second time this season, taking a 63-56 win over the Firebirds on Jan. 23. Senior Nettie Hunt leads Highland Park with a 13.6 scoring average, but went down with an injury late in Friday night's game. Game time: 7 p.m.

High school standings

CENTENNIAL LEAGUE

Boys

League OverallEmporia 6-0 13-1Washburn Rural 5-1 11- 3Highland Park 4-3 11-5Shawnee Heights 2-3 4-10Seaman 1- 5 5-10Hayden 0-6 6-9Girls

League OverallShawnee Heights 4-1 13-1Hayden 4-2 14- 2Washburn Rural 4-2 12-3Emporia 4-2 10-6Highland Park 2- 5 9-7Seaman 0-6 4-11I-70 LEAGUE

Boys

League OverallTopeka West 5-1 14-1Junction City 5-1 11-5Salina South 4-2 11-4Topeka High 3-4 6-8Manhattan 1- 5 5-10Salina Central 1-6 6-10Girls

League OverallManhattan 6-0 12-4Salina South 4-2 11- 4Topeka High 3-3 8-7Topeka West 3-3 7-8Junction City 2-4 6-8Salina Central 0-6 4-11