Representatives from each team participating in this year’s tournament competed in an ongoing free throw and three-point competition.

In addition to Wilson winning the three-point championship, Wamego’s Emery Wolf won the free-throw championship.

On the girls side, Wamego swept the competition, with WHS’ Mya Gallagher winning the free-throw contest and Wamego’s Sam Springer winning the three-point champion.

The THS boys finished the tournament in fourth place after losing a heartbreaker, 43-40, Saturday to Wamego in the consolation bracket.

THS boys take 4th

Tonganoxie defeated Holton, 36-29, in the quarterfinals on Jan. 16, but didn’t have any answers for Eudora for the second time this season on Friday. Tonganoxie lost, 49-17.

Eudora went 5-for-7 from three-point land in the first half, three of which came on consecutive offensive series. The Cardinals cooled off after the break, going 0-for-6 in the second half, but the team still finished the game shooting nearly 53% from the field. Logan Sullivan had a game-high 25 points, while Cole Parker and Errol Siemon each had 7.

“Game 1 we played extremely well,” THS coach Phil Jones said of the quarterfinal victory. “We were locked in defensively and followed the scout very well. I thought the atmosphere was wonderful and the crowd did a great job of keeping the guys energy up. It was great to see the stands full.

“Eudora game, we came out extremely flat. Unlike Monday, didn’t follow the scout. Left guys unmarked and got caught in no man’s land on the drive and kick. Eudora is a very talented team for their size. They move the ball very well and guard as a unit. They got us to play on our heels all night.”

Alex Crowley led Tonganoxie scorers with 5 against the Cardinals. Caleb Clark had 4, Owen Schmidt and Lachlan McRae each 3 and Kyle Johnson 2. THS shot just under 17% or the game.

But the Chieftains bounced back and played better Saturday in the third-place game.

THS led Wamego, 28-22, at halftime. The team made 6-of-10 three-pointers in the first half and was 3-for-5 in the second half.

A sluggish third quarter for THS helped Wamego erase the deficit, as the Red Raiders outscored the Chieftains, 13-3. Wamego eventually won, 43-40.

Alex Crowley scored a team-high 17, while Brandon Wilson also was in double figures with 11. Talon Langford had 5, Caleb Clark 4 and Lachlan McRae 3.

“I thought the Saturday third-place game started extremely well,”Jones said. “I was disappointed in the atmosphere as the gym was dead.

“We had 7 minutes of bad basketball. 13-3 in the third quarter and half our turnovers coming in that quarter alone. We can’t keep playing against ourselves and the other team. That loss hurt the most.”

Jones said it was the toughest because it was a bounce-back game and a rematch from when Wamego won by a point earlier in the season.

Tonganoxie dropped to 2-9 on the year. THS played at Blue Valley Southwest on Tuesday after The Mirror’s print deadline, but is back home Friday against Turner and then on the road Tuesday at Heritage Christian Academy in Olathe. Games start around 7:30 p.m.

THS girls swept at home invitational

The Tonganoxie High girls held their own against Wamego in Thursday’s consulation semifinals in the first half, but the Red Raiders then outscored THS, 33-4, in the second half.

Macey Lynne led THS with 6, while Sierra Innis had 4, Alyssa Schoeneck 3 and Mariah Herrera 2.

In Saturday’s seventh-place game, THS wasn’t able to win a rematch with Eudora from earlier in the season. The Cardinals prevailed, 57-36.

the losses dropped THS to 1-10 on the season, but Mitch Loomis’ team gained some good experience.

“Tournament week was so exciting for our kids because of great community support, Loomis said. “I thought our girls played with a ton of effort in a tournament loaded with really good teams.

“I thought our first half against No. 2 ranked Wamego was as well as we’ve played defensively this year and we continue to look for those bright spots we can build on.”

He also saw other improvements against Eudora.

“Freshman Emerson Maslak exploded for 22 points on Saturday against Eudora to lead a much better scoring attack, but we didn’t guard very well that game. Still building to try and put it all together on the right night.”