Veritas' Melissa Hardee (2) drives the ball up the court during a fast break during the game against Tri-City Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2009, at the Eudora Community Learning Center in Eudora, Kan.

Eudora ? If it’s gotta be the shoes, Ethan Kay prefers them old and used.

Kay, the last Veritas Christian big man standing during Tuesday night’s 65-61, double-overtime boys basketball marathon loss against Tri-City Christian, nearly stole the show with his play while wearing a pair of “borrowed” Nike Shox from his dad.

“My brother stole his shoes, and then I didn’t like my shoes, so I switched,” Kay said. “I think I’m going to stay with these shoes.”

In the end, his team-high 19 points and nine rebounds were not enough. Neither was his stellar defensive play in the closing seconds of the game’s first overtime.

Kay, tasked with guarding the Crusaders’ top big man, 6-foot-6 Luke Thomas, stuck to Thomas’ shorts, forcing a contested one-on-one shot from inside the top of the key that fell off the rim and prompted a second OT.

Not bad for a kid who typically enters games off the bench as a third or fourth option. The Eagles’ regular fifth starter, Nate Scott, sat out because of illness.

The shuffle did wonders for Kay.

“Tonight the switch kind of went on, and he played like a man possessed,” Veritas coach Doug Bennett said. “Any time we do 3-on-3 drills, he’s the one who dominates the whole team. … Tonight, he stepped up and really attacked the basket.”

And when Veritas’ two other big men, John Hicks and Taylor Zook, fouled out of the contest, that left Kay as the go-to player for the Eagles. He nearly helped pull out the victory in the first overtime, converting a three-point play with 1:09 left to put Veritas ahead, 56-54.

But Tri-City tied it soon after and scored eight of the first 10 points in the second OT to pull away.

Veritas takes on inner-city rival Seabury Academy for the first time ever in boys basketball on the road Friday night at 7:30 p.m.

Veritas Christian girls 49, Tri-City Christian 43

The Eagles seized control early in the second quarter and hung on late thanks to a full-court press that obliterated the Crusaders’ offense Tuesday night.

Tri-City Christian actually committed four more turnovers (47) than points scored.

Fittingly, the contest ended on a Crusaders traveling call at mid-court as the final buzzer sounded.

Guard Melissa Hardee led the Eagles with 12 points. Kirsten Bennett had 10, while center Becky Finger added six points and 15 rebounds.