Nail-biters highlight Tonganoxie Invitational
This year’s Tonganoxie Invitational provided plenty of excitement to spectators.
The tournament had three overtime games and nine matchups decided by five points or less, including three that were won by a point.
All-tournament teams
BOYS
Trey Tanking, Holton; Garrett Beecher, Holton; Dillon Blain, Wamego; Jason Johnson, De Soto; Alex Goertz, Metro Academy; Eli Miller, Wamego; Rashawn Chambers, Atchison; Jerel Rawls, Atchison; Jomain Rouser, Eudora; Austin Downing, Eudora.
MOST INSPIRATIONAL
Wykeen Gill III, Atchison
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
Mitchell Ballock, Eudora
GIRLS
Taylor White, Silver Lake; Lexi Gifford, Silver Lake; Olivia Brees, Jeff West; Megan Bonar, De Soto; Julia Johnson, De Soto; Jordan Schoenbarger, Chanute; Madi Rollins, Chanute; Anna Bagshaw, Chanute; Tessa Seeberger, Wamego; Caitlyn Claussen, Wamego.
MOST INSPIRATIONAL
Allison Seufert, Wamego
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
Lanie Page, Wamego
Many of those games took place in the boys bracket, but the girls tournament had some drama as well, including Chanute’s 50-45 victory in overtime against Jeff West in the quarterfinals and Wamego’s 41-40 win against De Soto in the semifinals.
In the girls championship, which pitted two of the top teams in the state against each other, Wamego led by as many as 18 before nabbing the 14-point victory against Chanute, 48-34. Wamego is No. 3 in Class 4A-Division I, while Chanute is No. 4. Holton is No. 6 in 4A-II and Silver Lake No. 4 in 3A.
In the boys championship, Eudora had to erase an early eight-point deficit against Atchison.
The Cardinals were down early, 9-1, but roared back and tied the game at 10 heading into the second quarter. EHS took a 28-25 lead into halftime. The teams were tied at 36 heading into the fourth quarter, but EHS was able to pull away in the fourth. The game had seven ties and 11 lead changes.
The Eudora boys are the defending Class 4A Division II champions. Atchison is ranked No. 8 in 4A-II in the latest poll.
Tonganoxie Invitational results
BOYS BRACKET
Quarterfinals
Eudora 64, Tonganoxie 44
Holton 48, Metro Academy 47 (OT)
Wamego 70, De Soto 57
Atchison 59, Jeff West 44
Semifinals
Eudora 51, Holton 48
Atchison 50, Wamego 49 (OT)
Consolation semifinals
Tonganoxie 65, Metro Academy 60
De Soto 53, Jeff West 45
Seventh place
Metro Academy 72, Jeff West 64
Fifth place
De Soto 45, Tonganoxie 41
Third place
Wamego 55, Holton 54
Championship
Eudora 50, Atchison 45
GIRLS BRACKET
Quarterfinals
Wamego 47, Tonganoxie 9
De Soto 48, Atchison 11
Silver Lake 48, Eudora 18
Chanute 50, Jeff West 45 (OT)
Semifinals
Wamego 41, De Soto 40
Chanute 55, Silver Lake 40
Consolation semifinals
Tonganoxie 46, Atchison 38
Jeff West 36, Eudora 20
Seventh place
Eudora 54, Atchison 32
Fifth place
Jeff West 42, Tonganoxie 29
Third place
Silver Lake 55, De Soto 42
Championship
Wamego 48, Chanute 34