Eudora senior Mitchell Ballock launches a 3-pointer in the first half of the Cardinals' 58-51 win over Wamego in the Tonganoxie Invitational championship game on Saturday. Ballock finished with a game-high 36 points, and earned tournament MVP honors.

Tonganoxie ? Senior Mitchell Ballock scored 17 of his game-high 36 points in the first quarter to lead the Eudora boys basketball team to a 58-51 win over Wamego in the Tonganoxie Invitational championship game on Saturday.

The Creighton signee drilled five 3-pointers in the first five minutes, and earned tournament MVP honors after shooting 12-for-23 from the field in the title game.

“Once I hit the first one, it just gave me confidence and I just shot with no hesitation,” Ballock said. “My teammates just kept giving me the ball, and I had open looks so I shot it with confidence and knocked it down.”

The Cardinals have won four straight Tonganoxie Invitational tournaments, which is meaningful to Ballock, but he’s hungry for more hardware.

“It means a lot. Obviously it’s just one little milestone in the season,” said Ballock, who also had eight rebounds, four blocks and three assists. “We’re trying to get back to a state championship. Playing with the guys in the past and the guys this year is just a surreal opportunity. It’s just been really fun.”

Ballock cooled down after his hot start in the first quarter, but his teammates helped to pick up the slack before he heated up again late in the third. David Hornberger scored seven of his nine points in the third quarter, and Rock Jerome and Ryan Verbanic added six and five, respectively.

“I went into a little shooting slump, then Dave (Hornberger) and Jayden (Pierce) and Ryan were getting rebounds and they were making shots at the other end and making put-backs,” Ballock said. “It just loosened the defense up, and we expanded the lead.”

Verbanic joined Ballock on the all-tournament team.

Eudora 17 7 17 17 — 58

Wamego 11 13 12 15 — 51

Eudora — Ballock 36, Hornberger 9, Jerome 6, Verbanic 5, Katzenmeier 2.

Wamego — Blain 17, Nordberg 10, Ebert 9, Ebert 8, Keller 7.