Topeka West boys basketball wins rematch against Highland Park. 3 takeaways from the win

A highly anticipated rematch between two of the top teams in the Centennial League, and 5A, took place on Friday night and did not disappoint as No. 2 Topeka West, 18-1 (14-1) overcame No. 6 Highland Park, 15-4 (12-3) for the 55-50 win.

A fast-paced first quarter saw Highland Park take a 17-14 lead and they would keep a three-point lead going into the half, 30-27.

More: 3 takeaways from Topeka West's boys basketball upset over Highland Park: 'It was a statement win'

A defensive adjustment for Topeka West saw them fight back to take a 41-40 lead at the end of three quarters before pulling away.

Here are three takeaways from Topeka West's win.

Shooters shoot

Topeka West senior guard Zander Putthoff has been in a shooting slump for past few weeks dating back to a 67-66 overtime win at home against Junction City.

Puttoff didn't record a point.

"I kind of had a bad game and let it get to me," said Putthoff. "I wasn’t getting up shots really, it was a mental thing."

But shooters shoot and Putthoff has kept shooting.

That paid off against Highland Park.

Putthoff recorded a team-high 17-points, 15 of them coming from behind the arc, with star guard Elijah Brooks limited to just 12 points and the only other Topeka West player in double digits.

Putthoff hit his first three early after an offensive rebound and kick out from senior forward Nathan Bearman to give Topeka West a 5-2 lead.

Then, Putthoff had three big offensive possessions to end the first half after Highland Park had taken 17-14 lead after the first quarter and stretched it to 28-18 late in the second quarter.

Brooks found Putthoff for a corner three. 28-21, Highland Park.

After a Highland Park Jumper, Topeka West junior guard Sincere Austin found Putthoff the next time down the floor for another three and forced a timeout with 2:29. 30-24, Highland Park.

Putthoff would get a steal coming out of that timeout and junior guard Carmelo Foy found Putthoff again from deep before halftime. 30-27, Highland Park.

"Once the first one went in I knew (my shot) was feeling good," said Puthoff. "It was feeling good in warm ups. I missed two there but it didn't get me down one bit. My mindset was, 'keep letting it go,'"

Putthoff would nail a three-pointer on the first possession coming out of the locker toom to tie the game at 30 and Topeka West would fight back to take a 42-41 lead after three quarters.

Down the stretch, Putthoff scored his only point inside the arc, two free throws with 11.9 seconds to go to make it a two possession game and secure the 55-50 win.

"Zander's been struggling a little bit the past couple weeks. Ive left him alone, hes a great shooter," said Topeka West coach Rick Bloomquist. "Great shooters always come out of their own slump. I told him last night, 'I just want you to understand something, I still believe in you. Youre doubting yourself a little bit but you keep shooting. Youre good.' He was good tonight."

Highland Park pushes pace early, Topeka West adjusts

In the first matchup between these two teams on Jan. 14, Topeka West's trademark amoeba 2-3 zone and a 3-2 zone stymied Highland Park by eliminating transition opportunities.

On Tuesday night, both teams were in man to man early and Highland Park got the defensive stops it didnt seem to get against Topeka West the first time around that allowed them to push the pace early.

"We wanted to get off to a better start this game, which we did. The biggest part of us getting out and running was making sure we got stops," said Highland Park coach Mike Williams. "The first time, in January, they attacked us really well, got a lot of stuff at the rim, got downhill and made it tough on us defensively.

"We wanted to make sure we gave a lot better effort (defensively) to open things up for us on the offensive end."

Highland Park got five players into the scoring column early as they took a 17-14 first quarter lead.

An 11-4 spurt to start the second quarter gave Highland Park it's biggest lead, 28-18.

A 9-2 Topeka West run cut their lead to 30-27 at halftime.

"(Highland Park) did what they're supposed to do and were very fortunate we answered the run they made," said Bloomquist. "Im very proud of our kids with how they kept their poise, didnt hurry, didnt panic."

In the second half, Topeka West went back to what worked, using a 3-2 zone to force Highland Park into a halfcourt offense.

Highland Park saw more success against the zone than their first meeting, but the game was now being played at Topeka West's pace.

"We had to do something," said Bloomquist. "The most important thing I tell the kids all the time, 'we can make changes but you have to play the change. It doesn’t work unless you play the change.'

"They did a great job of playing the change tonight, taking the rhythm away from Highland Park. If not, they would’ve scored 100 points on us."

Topeka West responded to a 7-0 Highland Park run early in the third with a 9-2 run of their own to tie the game at 39.

"We knew that was coming and they would do those things, the bigger thing for us was to respond when it happened," said Williams. "If they did make a run, stay together as a group, respond the right way and don't fall apart collectively. I thought our kids did that, competed well and fought."

In the first four minutes of the fourth quarter, both teams traded baskets but a Putthoff offensive rebound and assist to junior forward Malachi Berg for two inside put them up 49-48 for good as they came away with the 55-50 win.

After beating Highland Park in January, Bloomquist called it a statement win.

"We have to play against teams that are gonna make us play hard and not make us coast," said Bloomquist Tuesday night. "Just winning in this environment, big for the kids, big for the program. Its hard to explain in words.

'Our goals are still in front of us'

Highland Park showed growth from the first meeting between these two teams.

Senior guard Juan'Tario had 35 points in that game but didnt have a lot of support until late.

That wasn't the case Tuesday night as five different players scored with three ending the night with double digits.

Roberts had 18 points, junior forward Ketraleus Aldridge scored 13 and junior forward Jahmir Kingcannon added 10 more as a second half effort to keep up with Topeka West game up short.

A Kingcannon three-pointer, an Aldridge steal and dunk and a layup by juinior guard Tre Richardson put Highland Park up 37-30 early in the third. Topeka West answered.

Highland Park had to work for their baskets after Topeka West shifted to a zone, something that hampered them in their first matchup and did so again on Tuesday.

But Highland Park showed their growth in attacking a zone defense with better shooting and finding the gaps this time around. It just came up short in the end.

"I thought we did a better job throughout this game of playing through some of those spots and getting certain guys touches in the zone offensively," said Williams.

After the January loss, Williams said the silver lining was that it would get the teams attention. After Tuesday night's the loss, the silver lining was knowing they have a good team.

"Our goals are still in front of us," said Williams. "Ultimately, we want to be in Emporia in a couple weeks for the state tournament. The goal is still actively in front of us, we can attain that and get it done. We know we got a good group here, just gotta figure that thing out."

Contact Seth Kinker at skinker@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @SethKinker

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Topeka West boys basketball comes away with win against Highland Park