Looking to secure consecutive home wins in league play, Manhattan High boys’ basketball rallied from behind to defeat Topeka High 58-55 on Friday night, fueled by a career performance from senior Vince Doering.

Doering set the school’s single-season steals record with his 64th of the year and poured in a career-high 24 points, delivering a night to remember on winter homecoming.

“He’s the kind of player — and only special players can do this — who can control both ends of the floor,” Manhattan head coach Benji George said. “He controlled their offense with the way he can get his hand on the ball, and then he controls our offense.”

Fellow senior and homecoming king Will Carpenter added 12 points, including 10 in the second half.

Despite trailing by as many as 15 points, the Indians improved to 13-5 overall and 5-1 in Centennial League play.

“There’s not a 15-point shot out there, and we just had to keep chipping away,” George said. “We had the toughness and the real resiliency to do it, and it just came down to being tougher for longer.”

How it happened

Doering tied the single-season steals mark with back-to-back takeaways in the first quarter, converting both into buckets to give Manhattan an early 9-3 lead. But Topeka High responded behind four 3-pointers in the quarter, storming back to take a 17-12 lead after one.

The Trojans extended the advantage to as many as 15 points before Manhattan trimmed the deficit to 29-22 at halftime. Doering led the Indians on both ends in the first half, scoring eight points. Elisha Guest paced Topeka High with 13 points, drilling three of the Trojans’ six first-half 3-pointers. Manhattan, meanwhile, did not connect from beyond the arc in the opening half.

“Down 29-14 against just a phenomenal offensive team, at that point you’re just searching, how are we gonna figure out a way,” George said. “I thought the biggest key probably was the way we ended the first half. Because you go into the locker room single digits, you feel pretty good about yourself.”

In the third quarter, Doering broke the steals record outright with another pair of takeaways that led to scores. He poured in 10 points in the period, helping Manhattan close within 40-37 entering the final eight minutes.

Still without a 3-pointer, Manhattan leaned on Carpenter’s ability to score inside. The senior opened the fourth quarter with six points before Doering knocked down his 22nd point of the night to give the Indians a 49-47 lead with three minutes remaining.

“What a game for Vince,” George said. “I could go on and on, but he had a heck of a game, and he’s wanted that record, and he has a chance to get the career one as well. He’s as good as I’ve ever coached defensively, and he’s just the engine of everything we do. I’m so proud of him.”

From there, Manhattan maintained its intensity, converted free throws late and prevented Topeka High from regaining control. Doering finished with 16 second-half points, while Carpenter added 10 after the break.

Up next, Manhattan will look to complete the season sweep of Hayden on Tuesday after edging the Wildcats in a previous league thriller earlier this season.

MANHATTAN 58,

TOPEKA HIGH 55

MHS (13-5, 5-1) — 12; 10; 15; 21 — 58

Topeka High (10-9, 3-4) — 17; 12; 11; 15; — 55

INDIVIDUAL SCORING

Manhattan — Carpenter 12, Asher Newton 3, Doering 24, Sawyer Newton 11, Washington 3, Hattrup 2

Topeka High — Aldridge 16, Guest 16, McComas 3, Ross 4, McFadden 11, Campbell 3, Redmond 2