Kansas University men’s basketball staffer Danny Manning mixed business with pleasure during the Saturday finals of the Metro Prep Classic in Bonner Springs.

Manning watched his daughter, Taylor, a 6-foot-0 sophomore, score a team-high 11 points for Free State High in the Firebirds’ 44-39 loss to Junction City.

Then Manning stayed to watch the boys title game between Roeland Park Miege and Topeka Seaman.

Miege’s Travis Releford, a highly recruited junior, scored 21 points as the Stags buried Seaman, 86-60. Releford was the unanimous tourney MVP in a vote of coaches.

Make-up call?: Last year when Lauren Kimball sparked Free State to a win over Junction City in the girls Metro Prep Classic title game, the Bluejays’ Alex Hoover was named tourney MVP. This year, when Hoover outshone Kimball in the championship contest, Kimball was the coaches’ pick for MVP.

Weber shines: During Lawrence High’s home wrestling double dual against Blue Valley West and Olathe North on Tuesday night, senior Cody Weber had one of his best performances to date, pinning North’s Brad Yeenaudel in 14 seconds and defeating West’s Brandon Abbott, 18-9.

Stepping up the D: The Free State High boys basketball team increased the amount of turnovers it caused during each game of the Citizens National Bank Tournament in Leavenworth. The Firebirds caused only 11 turnovers against Nixa (Mo.) High, but followed up with 19 against Kansas City (Mo.) Washington and 25 against Kansas City (Mo.) Hogan Prep.

However, the Firebirds also saw their own miscues increase each game, committing 16 in the first game, 18 in the second, and 19 in the third.

Lack of charity: In its two losses, the Lawrence High boys basketball team has attempted 28 fewer free throws than its opponents have made. Part of the reason has been a reliance on the outside shot while facing teams that have opted to play zone defense.