Eudora ? Free-throw shooting once again became the Achilles’ heel of Eudora High’s boys basketball team in a 59-52 loss to Osawatomie on Monday night at EHS.

Eudora (9-7 overall, 3-4 Frontier League) didn’t allow a single field goal during the fourth quarter until OHS senior Ryan Dalton’s basket with less than 30 seconds remaining. The Cardinals failed to capitalize on the Trojans’ turnovers, shooting a dismal 4-of-12 from the free-throw line.

“We didn’t do anything well, but we played hard for the last six minutes of the fourth quarter,” EHS coach Scott Stein said. “Up until then, I don’t know where they (the Cardinals) were.”

Osawatomie (6-11) won the game at the line, converting 20-of-24 free throws. OHS senior Clint Freeman made 12 of 13 free throws, including his final nine in the fourth quarter. Freeman finished with a game-high 19 points and six steals.

All six Osawatomie seniors played a key role in the victory as they combined for 51 of the team’s 59 points.

OHS senior center Mikah Antwine, who had eight rebounds, gave the Trojans a presence in the post while senior forward Garrett Peterson scored nine points off the bench.

Eudora received just six points from its reserves.

“Osawatomie is a good basketball team and they’ve played a lot of good people close,” Stein said. “They are peaking at the right time.”

After a lackluster start, the Cardinals found themselves in a 17 point hole at 28-11 halfway through the second quarter as Eudora’s top outside shooters, junior Kaleb Niedens and senior Lear Bowling, struggled.

Sophomore point guard Tyler Cleveland, who had seven assists, engineered a 9-2 Eudora run to the close the second quarter.

The Cardinals completed a bizarre five-point play with 10.5 seconds remaining in the game. Senior Lear Bowling knocked down his third three-pointer as Zac Tyler was fouled away from the ball. Tyler made both foul shots, but the amazing sequence wasn’t enough for Eudora.

“We came out thinking we’d show up and beat them,” Cleveland said. “They came ready to play and we didn’t.”

Eudora will travel to Class 3A Silver Lake (3-13) tonight.

Osawatomie 59, Eudora 52

Osawatomie 16 14 15 1 4 59

Eudora 9 11 14 18 52

Osawatomie (6-11) Mikah Antwine 12, Chris Cook 8, Ryan Dalton 6, Clint Freeman 19, Blane Kerr 2, Garrett Peterson 9, Chuck Troutman 3.

Eudora (9-7) Lear Bowling 11, Jason Burrous 5, Tyler Cleveland 11, Wes Hinman 8, Kaleb Niedens 3, Tommy Stein 1, Zac Tyler 13.