Eudora ? At least Eudora High coach Cara Kimberlin chose to look at the bright side after the Cardinals’ 33-28 loss to Topeka Highland Park on Tuesday during the semifinals of the Cardinal Invitational at EHS.

“We held them to 33 points. We’re going to win our fair share of games this year if we can do that,” she said.

Eudora's Michelle Deluna, left, fights off Topeka Highland Park's Chanel Bean. The Cardinals lost to the Scots, 33-28, in the semifinals of the Cardinal Invitational on Tuesday at EHS. Eudora will play Baldwin -- a 58-33 loser Tuesday against Paola -- Thursday in the third-place game.

To do so, Eudora probably would have to score more than one point in two quarters — something the Cards couldn’t do against the Scots.

Eudora (1-1) went scoreless through the first eight minutes, allowing Highland Park to gain an 11-0 advantage.

But EHS responded with its own 18-4 run during the second stanza to close the deficit to 18-15 at halftime.

While the Cardinals were able to at least maintain some scoring success in the third quarter with a nine-point effort, Eudora again went blank in the fourth.

“It’s kind of amazing that we even had a chance to win considering the way we played during those two quarters,” said EHS forward Carrie Lister, who led Eudora with 12 points.

“It just seemed like no matter what we did, the ball wasn’t going to fall in the hoop.”

Indeed both Lister and Eudora sophomore Erin Kracl, who added 10 points, seemed to miss a handful of point-blank shots that spun around the rim, but always plopped out.

Eudora High's Erin Kracl, right, shoots over Topeka Highland Park's Ashley Middleton. The Scots beat the Cardinals, 33-28, Tuesday at the Eudora Invitational.

The loss sets up an all-area match-up in Thursday’s third-place game because Baldwin also tumbled Tuesday, falling to top-seeded Paola, 58-33. The two will play at 7 p.m., with the championship game to follow at 8:30 p.m.

Paola 58, Baldwin 33

Baldwin (2-1) also had a rough scoreless stretch, managing just a pair of free throws during the second quarter of its setback.

The 7 1/2 minute drought allowed Paola to go on an 18-0 spurt, and the Panthers never looked back.

“Going through stretches like that is going to be one of our weaknesses,” said Baldwin coach Eric Toot, whose team also struggled during the second quarter of its win Monday against Maranatha when the Bulldogs scored just four points.

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“But I’m proud of the way we battled through it and kept playing with a great deal of intensity. That team also is a very good team. If they’re not the best in our league, I’ll be surprised.”

Baldwin was led by Denise Orloff, who scored 14 points.