The Manhattan boys basketball team started off their season 2-1 losing to Olathe West 74-71 and winning their next two games against Life Prep 51-40 and Thomas More Prep-Marian 53-39 in placing fourth in the Hays Tournament over the weekend.

MHS came out slow during the first half while Olathe West went down 31-39 heading into the half. To start the second half Manhattan outscored OW 21-13 tying the game at 52 heading into the fourth quarter. Sophomore Landon Knopp led the team with 19 points in his first-ever Varsity start. MHS held on in the fourth staying within three the whole quarter but could not get push away as Olathe came out on top 74-71.

“I feel like we should’ve won but we put up a tough fight and finished out the tournament strong,” Knopp said.

During Manhattan’s second game they struggled to score during the first quarter getting outscored 5-10. In the second Manhattan showed up on both sides of the court scoring 16 points and giving up 7 to take the lead 21-17 at the half. MHS came out strong to start the third scoring 20 points while only allowing 11 as they look for their first win as they head into the fourth leading 28-41. Manhattan closed out the game scoring 10 more as they secured their first win of the season 51-40 over Life Prep.

Manhattan went on to play for fourth place in the Hays tournament and beat TMPM in a 53-39 win to take fourth in the tournament to start on a good note to start the season.

“We played really well for our first three games but there is a lot of things we need to work on for Tuesday,” coach Benjamin George said.

Manhattan’s next game is on Tuesday at home vs. Hays.