Eudora ? Kansas City Piper might have had the best post player on the floor Thursday night in Kansas University recruit Leo Criswell.

But it was the home team’s down-low duo of Chris Gabriel and Jesse Montgomery that got the better of Criswell and the Pirates in Eudora’s 52-39 victory.

“It was just a huge victory for us at this point in the season,” said Gabriel, who topped Criswell for game-high honors with 17 points, while the 6-foot-9 junior from Piper tallied 13.

The victory gave Eudora third place in the Cardinals Invitational and helped put a smile on EHS coach Scott Stein’s face a day after the Cardinals lost to Highland Park by 22. The Scots won the tourney title by defeating Belton (Mo.), 52-41.

“What a game,” Stein said of his Cardinals. “Jesse had one heck of a game defensively. He did a really good job against their 6-9 guy.

“And Gabriel is a good offensive player. Sometimes he tries to do too many Kobe Bryant-type moves, but he’s got a really good shot when he’s near the basket.”

Gabriel got plenty of close, open looks early because Criswell — whom some recruiting services have listed as a top-20 player — picked up his second foul just two minutes into the first quarter.

Criswell, who still seemed to be bothered by the flu symptoms that forced him to miss Wednesday’s game, didn’t play the rest of the half.

Gabriel and the Cardinals took advantage.

Eudora High's Jeremie Bryant puts up a shot in the Cardinals' victory over Kansas City Piper. Eudora won the third-place game of the Cardinals Invitational Thursday at EHS.

Eudora (3-1) got going with a couple of long shots, and then Gabriel took over, scoring 10 of his 17 in the first quarter to help Eudora build a 17-9 lead.

Eudora stretched that advantage to 29-17 by the half.

When Criswell did return in the second half, Montgomery — who is six inches shorter — denied him the ball.

Criswell scored all 13 of his points in the second half, but even when the Pirates threatened to get back into the game, the Cardinals easily broke the full-court press.

If Baldwin would have had one more minute, the Bulldogs also might have left EHS with a victory Thursday.

Instead, an 8-0 run by Paola to start the fifth-place game helped the Panthers overcome the Bulldogs’ amazing 12-2 run in the final 1:09, and Paola won, 59-56.

6Sports video: Eudora runs over KC Piper

“That was the difference in the game,” said Baldwin coach Jeff Haas, whose 2-2 team has started slow in all four of its games.

“I think the guys learned tonight that our slow starts are directly affecting us.”

Nothing seemed to affect BHS senior Andy Hannon, who tallied a game-high 30 points and helped lead the Bulldogs’ last-second charge.

Hannon’s drive at 1:09 cut Baldwin’s deficit to 57-46.

Paola hit a free throw, but Baldwin answered with a drive by Hannon followed by a three-pointer by Jeremy Wright to pull within seven.

The Panthers hit just one of their next six free throws, while Baldwin had a putback and another three to close the gap to three with 1.5 seconds left.

Paola, however, successfully inbounded the ball to run the time off.

“We just have to learn how to play with the same energy that we’re playing with late in games, at the beginning,” Hannon said.

Third Place

Eudora 52,

Kansas City Piper 39

Eudora 17 12 15 8 — 52

K.C. Piper 9 8 10 12 — 39

Eudora: Aaron Westerhouse 2, Tyler Cleveland 5, Mark Abel 5, Josh Lauer 8, Jeremie Bryant 13, Chris Gabriel 17, Jesse Montgomery 2. Totals 20 7-8 52.

K.C. Piper: Josh Wille 2, Damian Young 7, Matt Smith 9, Mike Simmons 6, Doug Zimmerman 2, Leo Criswell 13. Totals 15 5-7 39.

Fifth Place

Paola 59, Baldwin 56

Baldwin 6 20 10 20 — 56

Paola 15 18 13 13 — 59

Baldwin: Brad Ikenberry 2, Ryan Jorgensen 4, Brian Turk 3, Jeremy Wright 13, Micah Mason 2, Andy Hannon 30, Austin Inzer 2. Totals 23 6-11 56.

Paola: Jeff Theis 9, Baker Hallstrom 4, Jon Vohs 3, Anthony Onofrio 12, Noah Dumpert 25, Dane Lickteig 4, Jordan Karr 2. Totals 21 11-25 59.