Topeka ? Chad Stieben scored 28 points, and Veritas Christian’s boys basketball team built a big lead early Tuesday night in a 62-45 victory over Topeka Heritage.

The Eagles led 28-12 after one quarter and 42-18 at halftime.

“We came out strong, but we’ve got to learn to finish games,” Veritas coach Blake Mudd said. “We let them back in it in the second half. We had a great first quarter. We played hard, we played good defense and were scoring. We just kind of relaxed after that.”

Winston Wiebe scored eight points, and Drake Napier, Mark Weinhold and Miles Dressler scored six apiece for the Eagles.

Veritas (9-8) will play St. Mary’s Academy on Saturday in Eudora.

Veritas 28 14 10 10 — 62

Heritage 12 6 11 16 — 45

Veritas: Chad Stieben 28, Micah Edmondson 2, Drake Napier 6, Michael Rask 3, Winston Wiebe 8, Mark Weinhold 6, Miles Dressler 6, Seth Hale 2, Peyton Donohoe 1.

Heritage: McElroy 4, Keen 3, Cogswell 4, Doss 22, Wineinger 8, Moore 4.

Topeka Heritage 58, Veritas girls 44

Veritas Christian’s girls basketball team could not overcome a slow start as the Eagles lost to Topeka Heritage on Tuesday.

Tori Huslig led Veritas with 22 points, and Alyssa Krestan joined the standout freshman in double figures with 13.

Veritas, 8-8, cut Heritage’s lead to four late in the fourth quarter, but two turnovers kept the Eagles from getting any closer.

Veritas head coach Kevin Shelton said that limiting turnovers and tightened up things on the defensive end will be important going forward.

“We didn’t guard well right off the bat,” Shelton said about his team against Heritage.

The Eagles will return home to play Christ Prep Academy Saturday at the Eudora Recreation Center.

Heritage 14 15 11 18 — 58

Veritas 7 10 11 16 — 44

Heritage: McElroy 28, Ward 8, T. Mingus 7, Cowert 7, Maher 6, Halstead 2.

Veritas: Huslig 22, Krestan 13, Dressler 7, Birmingham 2.