Manhattan High boys’ basketball opened Centennial League play Friday night with another statement performance, rallying past Topeka High 70-63 on the road to extend its winning streak to seven games — the program’s longest since the 2016-17 season.

The win pushed Manhattan to 7-1, a remarkable turnaround for a group that won just six games all of last season. According to head coach Benji George, Friday’s result proved this team can win in a multitude of ways.

“We’ve won the grindy-type games like Hugoton and Hays were,” George said. “But tonight was a completely different game than Tuesday night. This one was fast-paced, perimeter-oriented, and we showed that we can excel in all styles.”

Manhattan got double-figure scoring from Sawyer Newton (20 points), Will Carpenter (19) and Tim Washington (12), with Washington delivering the most productive scoring night of his season.

“All year long, Tim has battled,” George said. “He plays extremely hard, he’s a great teammate, and he does a lot of things for us that don’t show up on the box score. He’s reliable.”

The Indians led 18-15 after the first quarter, opening on a 12-2 run before Topeka High chipped away using five different scorers in the frame. The Trojans carried that momentum into the second quarter, outscoring Manhattan 19-12 to take a 34-30 halftime lead — notable against a Manhattan defense that entered the night allowing just 53 points per game.

That momentum flipped decisively after the break.

Manhattan opened the third quarter on an 11-0 run, retaking control at 41-34 behind five points from Carpenter and six from Washington. Carpenter buried his fourth 3-pointer of the game during the surge, while Washington attacked the paint.

“The confidence it gives you as a coach when we made it very clear what needed to be fixed coming out in the second half to have success, and they did it,” George said. “That doesn’t always happen. I told the guys I have a lot of respect for a group willing to do that. They weren’t stubborn about it — they were selfless about it.”

The Indians outscored Topeka High 24-10 in the third quarter, building a 54-44 lead entering the final frame. Washington reached double figures during the stretch, scoring 10 of his 12 points in the second half after entering the night with a season high of six.

Topeka High made one final push in the fourth, trimming the deficit to five inside the final minute, but Manhattan’s seniors closed the door. Sawyer Newton, who posted a career-high night, converted a key and-one to restore breathing room, while Vince Doering steadied the Indians on defense.

“I thought Tim and Sawyer in the second half — especially in the third quarter — kind of put us on their backs and said, ‘We’re going to turn this game around, and we’re not going to go home with a loss,’” George said.

The game was sealed when Easton Duff swatted a late shot in his second game of the season, capping another strong defensive finish for Manhattan.

For Topeka High, Mar’saun Redmond scored 16, Jalen Aldridge and Bryson McComas each added 14, and Ajalon Ross finished with 11, but the Trojans couldn’t overcome Manhattan’s third-quarter surge.

The Indians continue league play next week with a rivalry matchup Tuesday at Junction City, carrying momentum and a growing belief that this season’s start is no fluke.

“They’re bought into the process,” George said. “They’re doing the things that good teams and winning teams do, and it’s brought them success. Now they’re kind of feeding the monster — continuing to do it because they’re getting that positive feedback and really buying in and believing in the process.”

MANHATTAN 70,

TOPEKA HIGH 63

Manhattan (7-1) — 18; 12; 24; 16 — 70

Topeka High (4-4) — 15; 19; 10; 19 — 63

INDIVIDUAL SCORING

Manhattan — Carpenter 19, Sawyer Newton 20, Washington 12, Doering 8, Witt 8, Duff 2, Asher Newton 1

Topeka High — Redmond 16, Aldridge 14, McComas 14, Ross 11, Guest 2, McFadden 2, Carter 2, Luarks 2