Schultz scores 30 as Wildcats snap losing skid in win over Wyandotte

SHAWNEE MISSION — Going into the seventh-place game of the Viking Classic on Saturday, the Louisburg boys basketball team was in desperate need of a win.

Injuries and a tough schedule have hampered the Wildcats, but Saturday provided some relief. Louisburg snapped a seven-game losing skid as the Wildcats downed Wyandotte, 67-38, and ended with win in what was a talented tournament field at Shawnee Mission West.

“We knew it was going to be a tough tournament for us and it was,” Louisburg coach Ben Doll said. “We knew we were going to be the smallest school in the tournament, but I am hoping the competition makes us better with our 4A schedule down the road.”

Senior Luke Schultz provided the Wildcats with a much-needed boost at the right time. Schultz finished with a double-double, which included a game-high 30 points to go along with 11 rebounds.

The Wildcats, who had a 27-19 lead at halftime, exploded for 24 points in the third quarter, with a lot of those coming from Schultz.

“We played much better against Wyandotte on Saturday,” Doll said. “First, our pressure caused them to cough it up in the open floor for some easy layups and we ran more zone than usual, which was effective since they are not a good shooting team. 

“Luke stepped up a lot in that game as well. He was more aggressive getting to the basket and hit three 3s to go with that. Luke has been a steady guy for us all year and it was nice to see him have a breakout game.”

Louisburg’s defense came up big as the Wildcats forced 28 Wyandotte turnovers and turned those into 30 points. The Wildcats also had 17 offensive rebounds, which led to 13 second chance points.

Senior Myles Vohs also finished in double figures for the Wildcats as he had 10 points to go along with a team-high five assists. Sophomore Lance Callahan had seven points and a team-high three steals, tied with Schultz and junior Owen Marsh.

The Wildcats will try and build on this momentum as they travel to Eudora on Tuesday as they get back into league play. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.

LOU 14 13 24 16 — 67

WYA 8 11 11 8 — 38

LOUISBURG (3-8): Luke Schultz 11-18 5-8 30; Myles Vohs 4-11 1-3 10; Lance Callahan 2-9 1-2 7; Ethan Kush 3-4 0-0 6; Owen Marsh 2-4 1-2 5; Aiden Kennedy 2-3 0-0 4; Herschel Strumberger 1-2 1-2 3; Derek Frederick 0-5 2-2 2. Totals: 25-61 11-19 67. 3-point field goals: 6, (Schultz 3, Callahan 2, Vohs)

Wildcats open tournament with losses to Ozark, Shawnee Mission West

Louisburg opened the Viking Classic with its first of three games in three days Thursday when the No. 6 seed Wildcats squared off with No. 3 Ozark (Mo.)

The bigger Ozark program got out to a big lead early and never looked back as it handed Louisburg a 63-32 loss. 

“Ozark had a ton of size, which gave us issues with their 1-3-1 zone and our guards seeing over all that size,” Doll said. “They are a solid team that played very hard against us.”

Derek Frederick led the Wildcats in scoring with 10 points, while Herschel Strumberger had a team-high five rebounds and Myles Vohs led Louisburg with three assists. Owen Marsh also had a team-high three steals.

The Wildcats had much of the same trouble in the consolation semifinals on Friday against Shawnee Mission West. The Vikings held Louisburg to 11 first half points and handed the Wildcats a 56-29 setback.

“The Shawnee Mission West game was a rough one for us as well,” Doll said. “Their pressure and scrappy play caused us to turn it over too much and we don’t usually score enough to overcome losing the turnover battle so badly.”

Marsh led Louisburg in scoring with seven points and Strumberger added six in the loss. Luke Schultz had five points and a team-high seven rebounds.

LOU 7 7 12 6 — 32

OZA 21 18 13 11 — 63

LOUISBURG: Derek Frederick 3-11 1-2 10; Owen Marsh 4-11 0–0 8; Myles Vohs 2-11 2-3 6; Billy Vohs 1-4 0-0 3; Luke Schultz 1-7 0-0 2; Lance Callahan 1-3 0-0 2; Herschel Strumberger 0-4 1-2 1. Totals: 12-51 4-7 32. 3-point field goals: 4, (Frederick 3, B. Vohs)

LOU 7 4 10 8 — 29

SMW 17 12 10 17 — 56

LOUISBURG: Owen Marsh 3-11 1-2 7; Herschel Strumberger 2-2 2-3 6; Billy Vohs 1-4 3-4 5; Myles Vohs 2-10 0-0 5; Luke Schultz 1-7 2-4 5; Derek Frederick 0-4 1-2 1. Totals: 11-46 9-15 29. 3-point field goals: 2, (M. Vohs, Schultz)

Wildcats can’t overcome big second half from Harrisonville

In what was the first of four games in six days for Louisburg, the Wildcats traveled to Harrisonvile on Jan. 20 in hopes sneaking out with a road win.

The Wildcats had the lead after one quarter of play, but Harrisonville held Louisburg to just 25 points in the final three quarters and downed the Wildcats, 60-38.

Louisburg was without a pair of post players in Gavin Lohse — the team’s leading scorer and rebounder — along with Herschel Strumberger. 

Senior Luke Schultz did his best to keep the team in it with a double-double. Schultz pulled down a season-high 18 rebounds to go along with 10 points. Senior Myles Vohs also scored in double figures with 10 and sophomore Lance Callahan added eight. 

Harrisonville shot 46 percent for the game, with much of that damage coming in the second half. Louisburg shot just 19 percent and struggled to get going offensively.

“We started out well, but we shot so bad that when they got hot in the third quarter, we couldn’t keep up,” Doll said. “Luke was a warrior though with his 18 rebounds. He didn’t have much help with Gavin and Herschel both out.”

LOU 13 2 12 11 — 38

HAR 9 12 20 19 — 60

LOUISBURG: Myles Vohs 3-13 2-5 10; Luke Schultz 2-12 6-9 10; Lance Callahan 2-3 2-2 8; Owen Marsh 1-8 3-4 5; Parker Stanfield 1-1 0-0 3; Billy Vohs 1-3 0-0 2. Totals: 10-54 13-20 38. 3-point field goals: 5, (M. Vohs 2, Callahan 2, Stanfield)

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