photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Eudora senior Kenzie Yoder makes a layup against Bishop Miege Friday, March 1, 2024, in Roeland Park.

Roeland Park – A strong third quarter by Shawnee Mission-Bishop Miege sophomore Mary Grant, en route to a game-high 16 points, proved to be the fatal blow for the Eudora High girls basketball team in a 48-25 season-ending loss in Friday’s substate title round.

The Stags (18-3), while finishing the night on 20-of-43 shooting, outshot the Cardinals enough for a comfortable first-half lead before capitalizing on Eudora’s 10 second-half turnovers to put the game away.

The Cardinals, ending their campaign 14-8 and just short of the state tournament, say goodbye to six seniors – Jayla Erpelding, Kenzie Yoder (13 points), Lainey Orr (two points), Parker Long (two points) and Lucy Griffin – after one final postseason trip to the metro.

As her team looked an 18-point hole in the eye with three minutes to go, Yoder recalled the emotions flowing freely as she walked off the court for the final time.

“Not many people get that opportunity to have such a special team,” Yoder said. “Getting able to walk off in front of my town meant a lot.”

“Losing all of our seniors is tough,” Eudora coach Brandon Parker added. “They’ve given us everything over the four years and they’ve had some incredible moments – and I would put tonight because they battled, no one gave them a chance, and they battled.”

photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Eudora head coach Brandon Parker instructs his players during the game against Bishop Miege Friday, March 1, 2024, in Roeland Park.

Miege fed off five first-quarter turnovers by the Cardinals, racing to a double-digit lead quickly behind early 3-point shooting from Grant, junior Kirston Verhulst (15 points), and sophomore Faith McCallop (five points).

Junior Hanna Keltner (three points) and freshman Brynn Deterding (five points) provided some pushback behind the arc, but Eudora still found itself trailing 18-8 with five turnovers when the first quarter wrapped.

photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Eudora senior Parker Long calls out a play against Bishop Miege Friday, March 1, 2024, in Roeland Park.

Cutting within seven points of the Stags, Eudora caught a much-needed break when Miege opened the second quarter with back-to-back turnovers. However, the Cardinals still couldn’t find an answer for their ball security troubles, coughing up five more turnovers before the break.

Yoder said the Stags tested Eudora heavily on both ends.

“Coming in here, I think we knew we were going to have to work really hard on the defensive side,” Yoder said. “I feel pretty good about that.”

Eudora, down 24-13 at halftime, suffered an unpleasant return to the floor with Grant adding seven more points to her performance and six more points by Verhulst and freshman Finley LeMay (six points).

Holding Yoder to just five third-quarter points, Miege then allowed just two field goals in the fourth quarter as the Stags ascended to a 23-point victory.

photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Eudora senior Kenzie Yoder tries to find an open look against Bishop Miege Friday, March 1, 2024, in Roeland Park.

Parker said this year’s team can walk away from the loss knowing they put on a strong defensive effort against a Miege team entering the night winning by a margin of 9.55 points.

“(Miege) is a very talented offensive team and I thought we did a really nice job of defending them,” Parker said. “The ones they made in the first half, they made with a hand in their face. They made a good basketball play, and it wasn’t because of us not busting our tail.”

Box score

EHS 8 5 7 5 – 25

Miege 18 6 14 10 – 48

Eudora High (25) Jayla Erpelding 0-4 0-0 -; Brynn Deterding 2-5 0-0 5; Kenzie Yoder 4-9 4-5 13; Lainey Orr 1-2 0-0 2; Hanna Keltner 1-2 0-2 3. Totals: 9-26 4-7 25.

Shawnee Mission-Bishop Miege (48) Carly Kurt 1-1 0-0 3; Mary Grant 6-8 1-2 16; Faith McCallop 2-4 0-0 5; Kirston Verhulst 7-14 0-0 15; Livi Shull 0-1 0-0 -. Totals: 20-43 2-4 48.

3-point goals: EHS: 3-11 (); Miege: 6-19 (). Turnovers: EHS 20, Miege 11. Fouled Out: None.

Other area scores

4A Girls: Baldwin 28, Ottawa 45. The No. 6 Bulldogs end their campaign 14-8.

1A DI Boys: Seabury 57, Burlingame 55 (OT). The No. 2 Seahawks will face off with No. 1 Centralia in the substate championship on Saturday at Highland-Doniphan West. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m.

photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Eudora senior Kenzie Yoder lines up a free throw against Bishop Miege Friday, March 1, 2024, in Roeland Park.

photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Eudora senior Kenzie Yoder puts up a one-handed shot against Bishop Miege Friday, March 1, 2024, in Roeland Park.

photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Eudora senior Kenzie Yoder is heavily guarded by Bishop Miege’s Kirston Verhulst while going up for a shot Friday March 1, 2024, in Roeland Park.

photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Eudora freshman Brynn Deterding drives to the basket against Bishop Miege Friday, March 1, 2024, in Roeland Park.

photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Eudora junior Hanna Keltner drives to the basket against Bishop Miege Friday, March 1, 2024, in Roeland Park.

photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Eudora senior Lainey Orr passes the ball to a teammate against Bishop Miege Friday, March 1, 2024, in Roeland Park.