Regular-season invitational or sub-state championship?

Tonganoxie and Silver Lake needed overtime to decide this year’s Tonganoxie Invitational girls basketball tournament Saturday in a game that had the feel of postseason play.

After trailing much of the game, Silver Lake pulled ahead in the extra period for a 61-56 victory.

THS junior Ali Pistora went on a scoring spree in the fourth quarter that padded Tonganoxie’s lead at 47-40. With her team leading, 41-40, Pistora went up for a shot, but it was blocked. She grabbed her own rebound and put the Chieftains up by three. After four successful free throws, Pistora put her team up by seven in the closing minutes.

But Silver Lake had an answer. Stephanie Bryant scored five straight points and pulled Silver Lake to within two at 47-45. Tonganoxie’s Elizabeth Baska’s bucket boosted the Chieftains’ lead to 49-45. But another Bryant field goal, coupled with a teammate’s basket after her missed free throw, tied the game at 49.

In overtime, Tonganoxie (11-1) jumped ahead by two, but Bryant, who finished with 32 points, eventually put the Eagles ahead with a free throw. With a 54-53 advantage, Silver Lake (9-3) led for the first time – and then held on.

“Games like this build character,” THS coach Randy Kraft said.

Last year, Tongie edged Silver Lake, 34-33, for its first crown at its home tourney.

“I’ve been in some wars through the years,” Silver Lake coach Loren Ziegler said. “But this is one of the best I’ve been in. Nobody plays defense like Tonganoxie.”