Eudora ? Veritas Christian’s girls basketball team held off as long as it could.

Throughout the first half and into the third quarter of Friday’s game against Olathe Christian, the Eagles kept the streaking Warriors within striking distance. But eight turnovers by Veritas and a 10-point Warrior run late in the third did the Eagles in as they fell to the visitors, 61-45.

“Our girls played well,” Veritas coach Kevin Shelton said. “We withstood their pressure pretty well for the most part. But we got a little sloppy in the third quarter.”

Veritas (7-2) kept pace in the opening half with stingy defense that forced the transition-minded Warriors into a half-court offense. The Eagles managed to build a 7-4 lead before the Warriors finally broke out with a 9-0 run.

Also key in keeping the Eagles close was a dominating performance on the glass. Veritas outrebounded the Warriors 21-5 in the first half, including seven offensive boards that led to 10 points.

“We really pride ourselves on how we rebound,” Shelton said. “That was one of our goals, because they’re such good shooters that we had to limit the second-chance opportunities.”

Olathe Christian tried to pull away once again at the end of the second with a six-point run that put it up by 11. Veritas came up with three baskets as time wound down, including a buzzer-beater by junior Kirsten Bennett to cut the lead to 33-27 at the half.

Credit for the close margin at halftime was given to the Eagles’ backcourt.

“Our guards worked really hard tonight,” Veritas senior Kristie Tiegreen said. “They were getting back on defense and not letting them get the kind of fast-break points that they usually get.”

Veritas continued to stay close in the opening minutes of the second half as Tiegreen’s three-pointer with six minutes to go in the third pulled the Eagles within three at 42-39. But the Warriors’ Leah Cotton reeled off six of her game-high 27 points in a 30-second span that propelled the visitors to the deciding 10-0 run.

Tiegreen led the Eagles with 21 points and 13 rebounds, while senior Marteka Carlton added 10 points with 10 rebounds.

Olathe Christian boys 65, Veritas 35

The Eagles (4-7) went 2-of-11 in the opening minutes of the game, allowing Olathe Christian to build a double-digit lead it wouldn’t relinquish.

“They are a good, athletic team,” coach Doug Bennett said of the Warriors. “Their defense is strong, and it was hard to get looks at the basket.”

Senior Michael Kay led the Eagles with 13 points, with Isaiah Dover adding 11. Jeremiah Johnson scored 6.