Manhattan High boys’ basketball snapped a four-game skid in the rivalry Tuesday night, defeating Washburn Rural 63-54 at home.

The Indians improved to 12-5 overall and 4-1 in Centennial League play, while Rural fell to 9-8 and 2-3. As postseason play approaches, Manhattan remains in the top four of the 6A West sub-state standings — a position that would secure two home games in the postseason.

Manhattan was led by Will Carpenter’s 15 points, while Vince Doering added 13 and Henry Witt finished with a career-high of 13, including three 3-pointers in the third quarter.

Sawyer Newton scored nine, Tyson Hattrup added six, and Easton Duff, Graham Braxmeyer and Tim Washington each chipped in two. Asher Newton added one point.

Head coach Benji George, battling the flu, was unavailable for postgame comments.

The first quarter was long and gritty, ending with a layup at the buzzer that gave Manhattan a 13-9 lead. The uneven rhythm carried into the second quarter, though not necessarily at the fault of either team.

Fouls mounted quickly in the second period, including two technical fouls on Manhattan that energized the home crowd in the rivalry matchup. The surge in energy fueled a late run for the Indians, who built a 28-16 halftime lead.

Both teams appeared to reset during the break, as the offenses found better rhythm in the third quarter. Washburn Rural doubled its first-half point total in the period, but Manhattan answered each push. Behind a trio of 3-pointers from Henry Witt, the Indians stretched the lead to 48-33 entering the fourth quarter.

Manhattan’s lead surpassed 20 points at its highest, but the Junior Blues didn’t take kindly to “load the buses” chants from the crowd, fighting back and cutting its deficit down before the final buzzer.

Up next for the Indians is hosting Topeka High on Friday.

MANHATTAN 63,

WASHBURN RURAL 54

MHS (12-5, 4-1) — 13; 15; 20; 15; — 63

Washburn Rural (9-8, 2-3) — 9; 7; 17; 21; — 54

INDIVIDUAL SCORING

MHS — Carpenter 15, Asher Newton 1, Doering 13, Sawyer Newton 9, Braxmeyer 2, Washington 2, Hattrup 6, Witt 13, Duff 2

Washburn Rural — Rowley 4, Nimz 7, Ballard 13, O’Connor 12, Chooncharoen 2, Bradley 2, Schmidt 14