Manhattan High girls’ basketball snapped a long losing streak to league rival Washburn Rural in decisive fashion Tuesday night, rolling to a 67-45 victory.

Manhattan entered the matchup ranked No. 6 in Class 6A, while Washburn Rural was ranked No. 10. The last time the Indians defeated the Junior Blues was during the 2017-18 season, and Manhattan had dropped 19 straight meetings entering Tuesday’s contest.

“It’s a big win for us this season,” head coach Scott Mall said. “The girls have worked really hard, and we know Washburn Rural is always tough.”

As the postseason approaches, the Indians remain in the top four of the 6A West sub-state standings, which is a position that would secure two home games in the playoffs. Manhattan also protected its perfect 5-0 start to league play.

“It’s hard to believe there are only five regular-season games left,” Mall said. “Every one of them is important for us in the league, but especially for postseason seeding. It’s really important for us to get wins so we can get as many games at home as we can.”

Manhattan was led by Evie Banks’ 25 points, while Delaney Larson added 15. Ansley Becket scored 10, Kat Ball had 7, and Jelena Depusoir finished with 6. Jorryn Hall and Tess Henry each added 2.

“They did a super job,” Mall said. “We were a little short-handed, and Ansley Becket came in and did a great job defending guards and forwards. Everybody out there did a super job.”

Mall also credited Banks for capitalizing on mismatches as the sophomore scored at will against the Junior Blues.

“Evie did a good job,” he said. “We identified some mismatches early where they were guarding her with somebody smaller inside. She hit some outside shots, too.”

Washburn Rural entered the season without Maddie Vickery, the Kansas State Class of 2027 commit who tore her ACL last July. Freshman standout Brynn Anderson, who came in averaging 15 points per game, was held without a field goal until the fourth quarter and finished with six points.

“(Anderson) can shoot threes really well, and she can drive to the basket,” Mall said. “I thought our girls did a good job of not giving her good looks outside. When she went inside, we tried to help a lot with her. And they have other good shooters who have hurt us in the past — I thought we did a really good job of not letting them get going either.”

Defense set the tone from the opening tip. Washburn Rural did not score its first field goal until more than five minutes into the first quarter, and Manhattan turned stops into transition opportunities to build a 13-5 lead after one.

The Indians extended the margin in the second quarter despite being without junior Avery Ingram, who missed the game with the flu. Washburn Rural’s size forced adjustments, but Becket (5-foot-10) and Banks (5-foot-9) combined for 18 first-half points as Manhattan took a 33-19 lead into halftime.

Washburn Rural showed fight early in the third quarter, but an 11-0 Manhattan run midway through the period pushed the lead to 51-28 entering the fourth. From there, reserves closed out the win as the Indians secured another strong league performance.

Up next, Manhattan hosts Topeka High on Friday.

MANHATTAN 67,

WASHBURN RURAL 45

MHS (15-3, 5-0) — 13; 20; 18; 16; — 67

Washburn Rural (11-6, 2-3) — 5; 14; 9; 17; — 45

INDIVIDUAL SCORING

MHS — Larson 15, Becket 10, Depusoir 6, Jorryn Hall 2, Henry 2, Ball 7, Banks 25

Washburn Rural — Smith 5, Rutherford 10, Hirschi 5, Walker 8, Hinck, Anderson 6, Carlgren 7, Peterson 2