Wildcats have revenge on their minds in state semifinal

By Andy Brown
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Updated: March 11, 2021

Andy Brown / Louisburg Sports Zone

The Louisburg boys basketball team hopes to celebrating some more following tonight’s state semifinal game against Augusta.

If playing for the right to go the school’s first state championship game wasn’t enough, the Louisburg boys basketball team has a little extra motivation in its back pocket.

The Wildcats, which faces off with Augusta in the Class 4A state semifinals at 7 p.m. tonight in Salina, will have revenge on their minds.

Back in late January, Augusta defeated Louisburg in the championship game of the Baldwin Invitational. Not only did the Orioles defeat the Wildcats, but they did it in dramatic fashion.

Augusta’s Brendan Parker hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Orioles a 43-40 win and left Louisburg with a sour taste in its mouth.

“We haven’t forgot it and that is only fueling the fire,” senior Konnor Vohs said. “We are ready to play some basketball. The team has developed quite a bit since that game. With the Augusta loss, we began a 3-game losing streak and we were in an offensive slump. Since then our offense has been rolling and our defensive intensity has increased tremendously.”

So when Louisburg found out it would be playing the Orioles in the state semifinals following the Wildcats’ 62-30 quarterfinal win over Parsons on Monday, they were more than ready to face the Orioles.

It would be the second stop on the revenge tour for Louisburg. Last Friday, the Wildcats avenged a season-ending loss a year ago to Iola as they rolled the Fillies in the sub-state championship game.

“To be honest, you couldn’t right the narrative any better,” senior Weston Guetterman said. “We already got our shot at Iola from last year’s postseason loss and now we get the opportunity to play a team that we have already played this season, and in a close game at that. It will be a fun, exciting game and hopefully the outcome is different than earlier this season.”

In that game in Baldwin City, Louisburg actually took a 20-15 lead at halftime in what was a defensive battle.

Augusta would eventually build a 10-point fourth quarter lead, only to see Louisburg rally back to tie the game on a Guetterman free throw with 35 seconds left.

The Orioles would hold for one shot and knocked down the 3-pointer at the buzzer.

“I’m really looking forward to playing Augusta again,” junior Julian Margrave said. “They got us last time we played them with a buzzer beater and it left a very sour taste in our mouths. We know who we are and are ready to leave in all on the court this weekend.”

Louisburg (17-6) has been on a tear as of late as the Wildcats have won nine of their last 10 games and have been dominant in the postseason. The have won by an average of 21 points per game.

The Wildcats know it will be a lot harder from here on out with Augusta, and possibly Class 4A state power Bishop Miege looming on the other side of the bracket.

Still, the Wildcats have developed an identity over the past month – one that plays tough defense and will never quit.

“It will be different out in Salina, obviously, but our kids are playing with a lot of confidence right now,” Louisburg coach Ty Pfannenstiel said. “We have a strong mentality on defense. We’ve always said we are going to have a shot in any game if we can continue with that, I like our chances.”