A big second quarter by St. Thomas Aquinas was too much for the Cougars as they fell in the opening round of the Warhawk Invitational, 38-33, Monday night at West Junior High.

Aquinas outscored the Cougars 17-5 in the second quarter to open up a close game. The Cougars made a game of it by cutting the lead to just three, 26-23, by the end of the third quarter, but South couldn’t stop Aquinas at the line. The Saints went 6-for-6 from the free-throw line down the stretch, and it proved to be enough to carry them to the second round winner’s bracket.

Marcus Ray led the Cougars with 13 points on the night. Michael McCabe added seven and Taylor Gentry had four.

South takes on Shawnee Mission South at 4:45 p.m. Wednesday.