Tonganoxie — Van Horn's Michael Lang carried the Tonganoxie Invitational's most valuable player award under one arm and his team on his back, but Lang didn't have room for the team trophy.
On the heels of a 38-point performance in the semifinals, Lang scored a game-high 22 points Saturday against Eudora in the tournament final, but four Cardinals scored in double figures as EHS won, 62-39. It was the Cardinals' second consecutive Tonganoxie tournament championship.
Eudora's Wes Hinman looks to pass under the bucket. The Cardinals beat Kansas City (Mo.) Van Horn, 62-39, to win the Tonganoxie Invitational title on Saturday in Tongie.
Eudora (7-5) also beat Van Horn (Independence, Mo.) in last year's title game.
Lang's lower offensive output surprised Eudora coach Scott Stein, but he thought his team followed its game plan.
"We did what we wanted to do stop their dribble penetration," Stein said.
Lang had six of the Falcons' eight points in the first quarter and Eudora led 9-8 going into the second quarter. The Cardinals outscored Van Horn 18-9 in the second period.
The Cardinals, meanwhile, didn't have too much trouble attacking the basket. Zac Tyler led the Cards with 19 points 14 in the paint and five from the free-throw line. Kaleb Niedens (16), Wes Hinman (13) and Lear Bowling (10) were also in double figures.
Tyler and Hinman were all-tourney selections.
Bowling's duties also included defending Lang.
"I thought Lear did a great job of guarding him," Stein said.
Van Horn coach Phillip Bullocks said his team came out flat after Friday's semifinal.
"Sometimes it's like a lake and sometimes it's like an eye of a needle," Bullocks said about his team's 31.9-percent shooting.
Eudora 62, Van Horn 39
Van Horn (39)
Michael Lang 8-19 5-6 22, Charles Davis 2-5 2-2 6, Lucas Hall 2-8 0-0 4,Victor Vasquez 1-5 0-0 3, Stan Ransom 1-6 0-0 2, Aaron McNealy 1-4 0-0 2. Totals 15-47 7-8 39.
Eudora (62)
Zac Tyler 7-12 5-5 19, Kaleb Niedens 5-9 3-4 16, Wes Hinman 5-9 3-7 13, Lear Bowling 3-9 2-2 10, Jason Burrous 1-1 0-0 2, Matt Clark 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 22-47 13-18 62.
Van Horn (4-8) 8 9 7 15 39
Eudora (7-5) 9 18 13 21 62
Three-point goals Van Horn 2-12 (Vasquez 1, Lang 1), Eudora 5-15 (Bowling 2, Niedens 3).
Bonner Springs 81, Tonganoxie 46
Tonganoxie didn't find much comfort in its consolation game.
Sean Birdsong scored 32 points, helping the Braves to an 81-46 rout in the tournament's third-place game. Tonganoxie (5-7) trailed by four after the first quarter, but the Chieftains were outscored 32-8 in the third quarter.
Brian Gurss, voted the tourney's most inspirational player, had 18 points for Tonganoxie (5-7).
Bonner Springs 81,
Tonganoxie 46
Tonganoxie 12 13 8 1346
Bonner Springs 16 23 32 1081
Tonganoxie Jacob Walker 7, Shane Howard 1, Jordan Glenn 2, Thomas Gilner 5, John Gripka 5, Matt Alexander 2, Brian Gurss 18, Brad Reischman 4, Joe Calovich 2.
Bonner Springs Sean Birdsong 32, Chris Cobbins 2, Aaron Weathers 7, Micheal Cook 16, Jeremy Krug 11, Romie Hall 10, Chris Stakely 3.
Olathe Christian 69, Oskaloosa 67, OT
Top-seeded Oskaloosa placed last with three close setbacks, including a two-point overtime loss to Olathe Christian. The Bears (7-4) lost three games by a total of nine points. Kyle Kelsay scored 20 points and Blake Reed added 18 to pace Oskaloosa.
Olathe Christain 69,
Oskaloosa 67
Oskaloosa 9 18 21 8 1167
Olathe Christian 16 11 20 9 1369
Oskaloosa Kyle Newell 3, Kyle Kelsay 20, Nate Yarnell 2, Travis Newell 8, Luke Hattemer 2, Geremy Norman 2, Blake Reed 18, Matt Browning 12.
Olathe Christian Evan Wright 13, Greg Allen 15, Josh Davis 2, Matthew Johansen 20, Steven Wilson 12, Matthew Branson 7.
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