For the first time since 2017, Manhattan High boys’ basketball is back on top of the Centennial League.

The Indians knocked off 5A No. 7 Emporia 71-60 on Tuesday night, avenging an earlier loss to the Spartans and snapping a three-game skid in the matchup — including back-to-back overtime heartbreakers. This time, Manhattan made sure there would be no late drama.

With the win, the Indians improved to 14-7 overall and 6-3 in league play, clinching at minimum a share of the Centennial League title and earning a chance to claim it outright Friday at Washburn Rural.

“We first celebrated the win, because that’s a heck of a win,” head coach Benji George said. “A lot of credit to Emporia. This place, this building, has been a house of horrors for us. So that was number one — it just felt good to win here, and I thought we played great.

“After all that, we found out some of the other results and started doing the math. We have to confirm everything. Obviously the players want to celebrate it, but we’re going to get greedy — we want that sucker to ourselves, too.”

How it happened

It was chaos early.

The first half featured nine lead changes and four ties, with neither team able to create separation. Manhattan led 13-10 after the first quarter, but Emporia rallied to tie it 24-24 at halftime.

Sawyer Newton carried the Indians offensively early, scoring 13 of his 19 points in the first half.

Then, then tone changed immediately out of the break.

Manhattan opened the third quarter on a 7-0 run, erupting for 16 points in the first 4 minutes and 20 seconds of the half. The Indians outscored Emporia 23-17 in the third, taking a 47-41 lead into the final period — and they never trailed again.

Vince Doering ignited the stretch, scoring all 11 of his points in the second half.

“It was insane,” George said. “He completely put us on his shoulders to start the second half. I think it was four out of five possessions where he got his hands on the ball. That’s what he does for us.

“Even in the locker room, he was the one talking. He probably talked more than I did at halftime. He’s a man of few words, but when he speaks, everybody listens. That’s the kind of respect he commands.”

Henry Witt provided the dagger.

After Emporia trimmed the lead to one with just over a minute remaining, Witt stepped into a no-hesitation corner 3 to push the advantage back to four. On the next sequence, he followed a miss for an offensive rebound and finish, stretching the margin to six.

Witt finished with 10 points, all in the second half.

“This isn’t to put pressure on Henry, but when he scores, we’re just a completely different team,” George said. “It gives us a fourth scorer and an X factor.”

Will Carpenter carded a game-high 20 points, with 15 coming in the second half.

After falling in overtime earlier this season, the Indians executed down the stretch. No last-second heartbreak, just jubilation. As the final buzzer sounded, the Indians’ visiting crowd erupted behind them.

“We only have so much time left with these seniors,” George said. “Basketball is a metaphor for life — you have to play with urgency and purpose. I thought we did that tonight. They really responded.

“A season is going to ebb and flow. It’s going to have its ups and downs, and last week was a down week for us. But I think we showed our true colors tonight and earned ourselves a chance to get the league title to ourselves Friday.

“I’m so excited for these seniors, but we’ve got to be ready to go again on the road Friday night.”

MANHATTAN 71,

EMPORIA 60

Manhattan (14-7, 6-3) — 13; 11; 23; 23 — 71

Emporia (15-7, 4-5) — 10; 14; 17; 20 — 60

INDIVIDUAL SCORING

Manhattan — Carpenter 20, Sawyer Newton 19, Doering 11, Witt 10, Washington 9, Duff 2

Emporia — Crowl 19, Trelc 15, Shivley 7, Franklin 6, Bloomquist 5, Sidel 3