Junior Julian Margrave pulls up for two of his 15 points Friday during Louisburg’s homecoming game against Ottawa.

Since 2004, the Louisburg boys basketball team had always been on the wrong side of the scoreboard against Ottawa.

Trialing midway through the fourth quarter against Cyclones, the Wildcats were looking for anything that could give them a spark.

They found that spark in their defense.

Louisburg turned in four strong possessions late that led to eight straight points from Weston Guetterman and the Wildcats picked up their second consecutive win in a 53-44 victory over Ottawa at Louisburg High School.

Defense came to the rescue in the second half as the Wildcats were able to overcome a six-point halftime deficit and held Ottawa to just 16 second half points.

It was the first win against Ottawa for Louisburg in at least 17 years since the Cyclones joined the Frontier League.

“Our defense was big, especially in the fourth quarter there,” Louisburg coach Ty Pfannenstiel said. “ I think it gave us a lot of energy and made us more effective offensively.”

The Wildcats (10-5), who were down 28-22 at halftime, didn’t have the opportunity to get out in transition as much as they would have liked. Ottawa worked the ball around on offense and limited Louisburg’s opportunities to get out and run.

It all changed in the second half – more specifically – the fourth quarter. Louisburg pressured the Ottawa ball handlers and the Wildcats were able to force 10 turnovers, many of which came in the second half.

The defensive pressure, that was led by senior Konnor Vohs, allowed the Wildcats to get out and run. In fact, it was Vohs, Weston Guetterman and Ben Guetterman that helped speed up the game. 

Down 44-42 midway through the fourth, Weston Guetterman scored eight straight points thanks to some Ottawa mistakes and the Wildcats ended the game on an 11-0 run.

“That was a combination of our three guards up top with our press and getting deflections and traps that led to steals,” Pfannenstiel said. “That is where Weston is at his best is in transition and he had a lot of transition points. He can really make our offense go cause he is so fast with the ball.

“Ottawa was tough and really slowed the game down running their offense. We were in zone, they were playing zone and that just goes to show that every possession is important. We were good in the second half and it paid off.”

Weston Guetterman ran the team well from the point guard spot as he finished with a game-high 19 points to go along with six rebounds, six assists and two steals.

Junior Julian Margrave also had a big night with a double-double. Margrave recorded 15 points and had 14 rebounds and three blocks. Senior Ben Guetterman also had 15 points, five rebounds and a team-high three steals.

The Wildcats also had to play without junior Michael Seuferling, who is one of the team’s best defenders, after he had to sit out with an injury. Vohs got the start in his place and stepped up it on defense.

It also meant more minutes for junior guard Maverick Rockers, along with forwards Andy Hupp and Dawson Barnes.

“Konnor was really good defensively,” Pfannenstiel said. “Not having Michael was huge for us, but some other guys had to step up and some guys had more extended minutes than what they would have in our normal rotation. 

“We had guys really play well and it doesn’t show up in the stat sheets. There are a lot of guys that played to their role tonight and did a nice job.”

Louisburg will play its third consecutive sub-state opponent in a row Tuesday when it travels to Fort Scott, as the Wildcats try for their third straight win. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.

LOU 12 10 12 19 — 53

OTT 12 16 8 8 — 44

LOUISBURG (10-5): Weston Guetterman 9-15 1-2 19; Ben Guetterman 5-16 2-2 15; Julian Margrave 7-14 1-2 15; Maverick Rockers 1-2 0-0 3; Andy Hupp 0-1 1-2 1. Totals: 22-50 5-8 53. 3-point field goals: 4, (B. Guetterman 3, Rockers)

Louisburg senior Konnor Vohs drives to the basket and was fouled during Tuesday’s game at Paola. Vohs was one of three Wildcats to score in double figures.

PAOLA — The third quarter hasn’t always been kind to the Louisburg boys basketball team, but on Tuesday against Paola, the Wildcats thrived.

Louisburg held Paola to just two points in the third quarter, which eventually led to a running clock in the fourth, and was good for a 70-38 blowout win for the Wildcats at Paola High School. 

On a night where the Wildcats shot the ball well, and the defense was on the top of its game, it was a recipe for the win they were hoping for to help break their 3-game losing streak.

“We needed to put both sides of the ball together and the last couple of games we haven’t been good on the defensive side, which most of the season we have been pretty good at,” Louisburg coach Ty Pfannenstiel said “We haven’t been that great offensively, so when you don’t put both sides of the ball together you are going to struggle.

“For us to come out and play well, both offensively and defensively, shows what we are capable of, but we played well and that was important for us.”

The two teams matched each other basket for basket in the first quarter and the Wildcats were able to get out to a slim 5-point lead at halftime.

It all changed in the third quarter as the Wildcats went on a 21-2 run to begin the second half and took all of the air out of the Panthers’ sails.

Julian Margrave set the tone offensively for Louisburg as he finished with a game-high 26 points to go along with five rebounds and two steals. Seniors Ben Guetterman and Konnor Vohs were also active for the Wildcats as they finished with 14 and 12 points, respectively.

Senior Weston Guetterman added seven points and a team-high five assists, while senior Dawson Barnes also added seven points. It was the Wildcats’ ability to attack the basket that gave them the spark they needed, which led to eight 3-point makes.

“We didn’t settle for jumpers and we attacked the lane and kicked it out to get our feet set,” Pfannenstiel said. “We stressed that early. I wanted Weston and Ben to attack the rim a little bit more before they look to shoot from the outside. We shot it well and things always look a lot better when the ball goes through the hoop.

“I think almost everyone got on the scoreboard for us, except for Andy Hupp, but he contributes in so many other ways and that is the type of player Andy is. It is a great team win. It reminded me a lot of the Bonner Springs win earlier in the season. We were just very unselfish and played confident the entire game.”

The Wildcats also took care of the ball and committed just four turnovers on the night and forced 15. Louisburg scored 20 points off those turnovers, and also had success scoring inside.

Louisburg will try to make it two straight wins tonight when it hosts Ottawa for homecoming. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.

LOU 17 15 19 19 — 70

PAO 17 10 2 9 — 38

LOUISBURG (9-5): Julian Margrave 11-15 1-1 26; Ben Guetterman 6-10 0-1 14; Konnor Vohs 5-6 1-1 12; Weston Guetterman 3-8 0-0 7; Dawson Barnes 3-4 0-0 7; Michael Seuferling 1-2 0-0 2; Maverick Rockers 1-2 0-0 2. Totals: 30-50 2-3 70. 3-point field goals: 8, (Margrave 3, B. Guetterman 2, W. Guetterman, Vohs, Barnes)

This year’s 2021 Louisburg High School winter homecoming candidates are (from left) Sydney Thornton, Alec Younggren, Olivia Barber, Luke Faulkner, Brooklyn Diederich, Dawson Barnes, Madilyn Melton and Ben Guetterman.

Homecoming week at Louisburg High School kicked off Monday and events are in full swing. With something going on every day this week, it will be a busy time for students. All of it is, of course, centered around the crowning of the 2021 winter king and queen. Eight students were selected as nominees and here are their names and profiles.

The crowning will take place on Friday during halftime of the Wildcat boys’ basketball game with Ottawa. Tipoff for that game is set for approximately 7:30 p.m. Good luck to all the participants and make sure to come out on Friday to support both the Wildcat girls and boys basketball teams if you can get your hands on tickets.

Olivia Barber

Olivia is the daughter of Adam and Angie Barber. Olivia has participated in soccer for four years, National Honor Society, Interact Club and forensics for two years and FBLA, cheerleading and FCCLA for one year. After graduation, Olivia plans to attend the University of Kansas and major in biology.

Luke Faulkner

Luke is the son of Brad Faulkner and Cindy Faulkner. Luke has participated in track for four years, soccer and yearbook for three years, FBLA for two years, and cross country and Interact Club for one year. Following graduation, Luke plans to attend Cowley Community College and pursue his track career.

Sydney Thornton

Sydney is the daughter of Shawn and Megan Thornton. Sydney has participated in choir and FFA for four years, been the boys basketball manager for three years, softball for two years and student council for one year. Following graduation, Sydney plans to attend the University of Central Missouri to major in nursing and then plans to attend medical school to become an OB/GYN.

Alec Younggren

Alec is the son of Jason and Monica Younggren. Alec has participated in football for four years and wrestling for four years. Following graduation, Alec will attend Fort Hays State University on a football scholarship and major in construction management.

Madilyn Melton

Madilyn is the daughter of Andy and Meghan Melton. Madilyn has participated in basketball for four years, volleyball for one year and band for one year. Following graduation, Madilyn will attend Benedictine College on a basketball scholarship with the goal of becoming a dermatologist.

Ben Guetterman

Ben is the son of Ted and Lisa Guetterman. Ben has played basketball for four years, been a member of FFA for four years and played football for two years. Ben is currently undecided on his post-high school plans.

Brooklyn Diederich

Brooklyn is the daughter of Derek and Jenny Diederich. Brooklyn has participated in basketball and softball for four years, FBLA for three years and Interact Club and FFA for one year. Following graduation, Brooklyn will attend Neosho County Community College on a basketball scholarship and major in occupational therapy.

Dawson Barnes

Dawson is the son of Rick and Cindy Barnes. Dawson has participated in basketball for four years, been a part of the football, volleyball and soccer student section for four years, baseball for one year and cross country for one year. Following graduation, Dawson plans to attend the University of Kansas and study psychology.

Junior Julian Margrave goes up for two of his 21 points Friday during Louisburg’s home contest against Spring Hill.

For three quarters, the Louisburg boys basketball team stayed right with Spring Hill and the Wildcats even built a six-point halftime advantage.

However, one quarter had the Wildcats playing catch up.

Louisburg scored just seven points in the third quarter, while Spring Hill took advantage of the Wildcat mistakes and eventually handed the Wildcats a 58-53 loss – their third in a row.

“In the first half we were very competitive,” Louisburg coach Ty Pfannenstiel said. “We built a good lead in the second quarter, but we weren’t able to maintain it. We’ve got to find ways to be more consistent offensively.

“Obviously, the third quarter was not good for us. We struggled to get the ball to go in the hoop. That’s a pretty important part of the game. If shots aren’t falling, it puts a lot of pressure on your defense.”

Although the Wildcats shot 44 percent for the game, they struggled to get into a rhythm offensively and Spring Hill was able to take advantage of Wildcat mistakes. Louisburg turned the ball over 18 times and the Broncos scored 17 points off those mistakes.

Spring Hill was also able to make a living at the free-throw line as the Broncos converted 18 of their 25 chances, while the Wildcats went to the line just five times.

“We turned it over too much,” Pfannenstiel said. “It’s going to be hard to win games against good teams when you turn it over 18 times. I’d say the biggest difference was our inability to get to the free throw line. We’ve got to attack the rim a little more. We are settling for too many jump shots.”

A pair of juniors led the Wildcats in scoring. Julian Margrave led the Wildcats with 21 points and had nine rebounds, while Michael Seuferling finished with 12 points.

Senior point guard Weston Guetterman also had a solid line with eight points, five rebounds, four assists and two blocks.

It was a close game into the fourth quarter as Margrave scored five straight points to cut the Spring Hill lead to two, but the Broncos eventually extended their advantage to nine points midway through the final period.

Louisburg cut the lead to two again on a 3-pointer from Margrave, along with an offensive rebound and putback from Seuferling.

Guetterman hit a 3-pointer to tie the game at 53-all with 1 minute and 20 seconds left, but the Broncos were able to convert from the free-throw line and the Wildcats couldn’t get many good looks.

Louisburg has an important week of games coming up as they travel to Paola on Tuesday and then host Ottawa on Friday for homecoming. 

Then next week Louisburg will also face off with Fort Scott. All three of those teams will be in the Wildcats’ sub-state later this month.

“This is a huge week for us,” Pfannenstiel said. “Our next three games are against teams in our sub-state. Our kids will be ready to get back on the court and get the bad taste out of our mouths.”

LOU 17 13 7 16 – 53

SH 17 7 17 17 – 58

LOUISBURG (8-5): Julian Margrave 9-20 1-2 21; Michael Seuferling 6-7 0-0 12; Weston Guetterman 3-8 1-1 8; Andy Hupp 1-1 2-2 4; Konnor Vohs 1-3 0-0 3; Maverick Rockers 1-3 0-0 3; Ben Guetterman 1-6 0-0 2. Totals: 22-50 4-5 53. 3-point field goals: 5, (Margrave 2, W. Guetterman, Vohs, Rockers)

Louisburg senior Andy Hupp puts up a shot over a Piper defender Monday in Louisburg.

The Louisburg boys basketball team had one of its most difficult challenges to date as the Wildcats hosted Piper on Monday in Louisburg.

It was easy to see why early on.

Piper used its athleticism and shooting from the outside to get out to a good start and the Wildcats weren’t able to recover in a 65-47 home loss to the Class 5A school. It is the second straight loss for Louisburg.

“Piper played really well,” Louisburg coach Ty Pfannenstiel said. “Their athleticism made it tough for us on the offensive end. We got some good looks, but we didn’t string enough good possessions together to ever get comfortable. 

“They really are good at attacking off the dribble, so our plan was to work hard to keep them out of the paint and make them settle for perimeter shots. Unfortunately, it came on a night where they shot it well from the outside. We got into a little foul trouble in the first half so we went zone against them in hopes of slowing them down. They had success against both of our defensive looks.”

The Pirates, who connected on nine 3-pointers on the night, jumped out to a quick 19–9 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Early in the second quarter, Ben Guetterman and Julian Margrave hit back-to-back 3-pointers to cut the Piper lead to seven, but it was as close as the Wildcats could get.

Piper took a 12-point lead into halftime, but the Wildcats cut it to seven again early in the third quarter on five straight points from Michael Seuferling. The Pirates responded again with a 10-4 run to end the quarter and put the game out of reach.

Margrave led the Wildcats with 17 points, six rebounds and two blocks, while Guetterman added 13 points. Seuferling also scored in double figures with 12.

Louisburg (8-4) will try and get back on track tonight when it hosts Spring Hill as the Wildcats try to break their two-game losing streak. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.

“Basketball is like that sometimes,” Pfannenstiel said. “You’re going to have some off nights. When you have one of those nights, you hope that you can play well defensively. Unfortunately, Piper was clicking on both ends. 

“We’re going to be just fine. We’re going to get a few things squared away in practice and look forward to getting back out there tonight.”

LOU 9 14 11 13 – 47

PIP 19 16 12 18 – 65

LOUISBURG (8-4): Julian Margrave 5-10 5-6 17; Ben Guetterman 5-15 1-2 13; Michael Seuferling 3-8 6-7 12; Konnor Vohs 1-3 1-2 3; Weston Guetterman 0-8 2-2 2. Totals: 14-50 15-20 47. 3-point field goals: 4, (B. Guetterman 2, Margrave 2)

Here is the Louisburg Sports Zone Athlete of the Week for week six of the winter sports season, sponsored by Landmark National Bank of Louisburg.

Michael Seuferling, Junior, Boys Basketball

Louisburg junior Michael Seuferling played a big role in the Wildcats’ second place finish last week at the Baldwin Invitational. Seuferling, along with being assigned to guard the best player on the floor for each of the three games, averaged more than 10 points a game for the Wildcats, including a 17-point performance against Bishop Seabury in the semifinals.

Seuferling was also named to the all-tournament team after recording seven rebounds and nine assists over those three games. Seuferling and the rest of the Wildcats have played well to start 2021 as they are currently ranked No. 5 in Class 4A, despite a buzzer-beating loss to No. 4 Augusta in the championship game.

The athlete of the week award is announced every Wednesday morning during the winter season and the winner is selected by Louisburg Sports Zone with the help of nominations from coaches.

Previous winners:

Week 1: Jordan Mynsted

Week 2: Julian Margrave

Week 3: Alec Younggren

Week 4: Megan Foote

Week 5: Madilyn Melton

Louisburg senior Ben Guetterman pulls up for a shot in the lane Saturday in the championship game of the Baldwin Invitational against Augusta.

BALDWIN CITY – Louisburg left the Baldwin Invitational on Saturday with its highest regular-season tournament finish in recent memory.

No. 5 Louisburg squared off with No. 4 Augusta in the championship game of what was a battle of two of the top five teams in Class 4A. 

The Wildcats were in no mood for celebrating thanks to Augusta’s Brendan Parker.

With the game tied and time running out in the fourth quarter, Parker pulled up from behind the arch and nailed a 3-pointer at the buzzer to hand the Wildcats a 43-40 loss in the championship game of the Baldwin Invitational.

It was a sour ending to what had been positive tournament experience for Louisburg, up to that point.

“Yeah, our guys were hurting,” Pfannenstiel said. “A buzzer beater always makes it a little bit tougher to swallow, but I think that ending was just a sign of how hard fought the game was on both sides. I think there is always something to learn or gain from a loss. 

“We always stress the value of each possession in a game, be it on offense or defense, first quarter or last quarter. Each possession has equal value and it’s easier to understand that lesson when you lose a game on the last possession like we did. The last few possessions get magnified, but in reality, we had many opportunities to win that game within the full 32 minutes.”

In what was a low-scoring affair, the Wildcats took a 20-15 lead at halftime in what was a defensive battle.

Augusta hit a 3-pointer at the end of the third quarter to take a three points advantage, and the Orioles then built that lead to 10, before the Wildcats rallied back.

Julian Margrave knocked down a basket and then Weston Guetterman had a steal and a score to knock it down to six. Ben Guetterman scored seven straight points to bring Louisburg within one with under a minute to go

Weston Guetterman drew a foul with 35 seconds left and made 1 of 2 free throws to tie it. Augusta then held the ball for one final shot, which set up Parker’s heroics.

Defense also played a big factor in the contest as both teams were forced to be patient on offense and had limited second chance opportunities. 

“Augusta plays a pack line defense so they do a good job of closing down lanes and make you be patient on offense,” Pfannenstiel said. “We were a bit out of rhythm offensively, but our defense was great again. If you hold a team to 43, you’d always say that’s a pretty good performance. Unfortunately, Augusta made one more play than us”

When it was all over, it was announced that three Wildcats made the all-tournament team. Ben Guetterman, Julian Margrave and Michael Seuferling received the honors after a strong 3-game performance.

On Saturday, Ben Guetterman led Louisburg in scoring with 10 points and Margrave finished with nine points and six rebounds. Weston Guetterman had seven points to go along with eight rebounds and four steals.

“I think this game was a measuring stick for us,” Pfannenstiel said. “Augusta is one of the top teams in the state. For us to go toe to toe with one of the state’s best should give us confidence moving forward. Obviously we aren’t into moral victories, but I think this game will give us the motivation and focus we need to improve and grow as a team.”

Louisburg will try and bounce back tonight when it hosts Piper. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.

LOU 10 10 8 12 – 40

AUG 8 7 16 12 – 43 

LOUISBURG (8-3): Ben Guetterman 4-10 0-0 10; Julian Margrave 4-8 0-0 9; Weston Guetterman 2-10 3-4 7; Michael Seuferling 3-9 0-0 6; Andy Hupp 2-2 0-0 5; Konnor Vohs 1-3 0-0 3. Totals: 16-43 3-4 40. 3-point field goals: 5, (B. Guetterman 2, Vohs, Hupp, Margrave)

Louisburg senior Andy Hupp drives to the basket Wednesday against Bishop Seabury in the second round of the Baldwin Invitational.

BALDWIN CITY – Coming off one of its roughest shooting performances of the season the night before against Wellsville, the Louisburg boys basketball team quickly turned it around.

On Wednesday in the second round of the Baldwin Invitational, the Wildcats put together one of their best shooting performances of the season as they rolled Bishop Seabury, 76-41, to advance to the championship game.

The Wildcats shot 62 percent for the game and connected on nine 3-pointers that allowed them to breeze past the Seahawks.

Louisburg (8-2) will meet Augusta in the title game at 3:30 p.m. at Baldwin Jr. High School.

“I don’t know if you could say it was our best, but it was definitely a good offensive performance for us,” Louisburg coach Ty Pfannenstiel said. “I thought we played well. We looked comfortable on the court and were able to work on some defensive looks that we haven’t used yet in games.”

The Wildcats had no problems scoring from the opening tip as they recorded 25 points in the first quarter and took a 46-23 halftime lead. Louisburg eventually built a big enough lead to force a running clock in the fourth quarter.

Junior Julian Margrave was a problem for the Seahawks most of the night as he finished with a team-high 24 points. Another junior, Michael Seuferling, who is more known for his work on the defensive end, was second on the team with 17 points.

“Michael has the capability to really score,” Pfannenstiel said. “There will be times in practice where he just goes on runs. The energy that he plays with is so fun to watch. He literally never stops playing hard. He’s such a good defender and that carries over to his aggressiveness on offense. When he’s on, he can really have some big nights.”

Senior Ben Guetterman also finished in double figures with 11 and also had a team-high seven rebounds. 

Point guard Weston Guetterman ran the team well as he had nine points to go along with nine assists and five rebounds. Senior Andy Hupp finished with eight points and senior Dawson Barnes had six rebounds and four assists.

Louisburg now has won five straight since the Christmas break and are playing for a tournament championship for the first time in several years. The Wildcats hope to bring home the title.

“Our kids are excited,” Pfannenstiel said. “It’s hard to believe we are halfway through our regular season. What a way to start the second half of the season with a chance to win a tournament championship. We are definitely looking forward to the opportunity.”

For those wanting to watch today’s game against Augusta, click here.

LOU 25 21 23 7 – 76

SEA 13 10 13 5 – 41 

LOUISBURG (8-2): Julian Margrave 9-14 3-3 24; Michael Seuferling 7-10 2-2 17; Ben Guetterman 5-7 0-0 11; Weston Guetterman 3-5 0-0 9; Andy Hupp 4-6 0-0 8; Dawson Barnes 2-3 0-0 4; Maverick Rockers 1-3 0-0 3. Totals: 31-50 5-5 76. 3-point field goals: 9, (W. Guetterman 3, Margrave 3, Seuferling, Rockers, B. Guetterman)

Louisburg survives against Wellsville

Everything started well for Louisburg in the opener of the Baldwin Invitational on Tuesday against Wellsville.

The Wildcats took a 10-point lead going into the second quarter and held the Eagles to just three points in the opening frame.

Wellsville battled back to tie the game in the fourth quarter, but the Wildcats used an 11-0 run to pull away for a 58-47 victory.

“We struggled offensively,” Pfannenstiel said. “Give credit to Wellsville, they played tough defense, but we battled through a tough night from the field and still did enough to win. But our kids really executed our defensive game plan perfectly. 

“Wellsville really likes to shoot from the perimeter, so we worked hard to not give them any space and make them uncomfortable on offense all night. Our defense has been great. We know that if we play well defensively, we are always going to have a chance.”

Both teams struggled from the field as the Wildcats shot 36 percent, but Wellsville shot 32 percent on their own. The two teams combined to go just 2-for-32 from the 3-point line.

Defense carried the Wildcats as they forced 21 turnovers and turned those into 18 points. Louisburg was also 21 for 26 from the free-throw line, which was crucial down the stretch.

“The momentum was definitely trending toward Wellsville late,” Pfannenstiel said. “But I think that just shows what kind of character our team has. We kept our focus and made big plays down the stretch to seal the win.”

Senior Ben Guetterman led the way offensively for Louisburg with 17 points and a team-high nine rebounds. Junior Julian Margrave added 14 and eight rebounds.

LOU 13 10 14 21 – 58

WEL 3 14 15 15 – 47

LOUISBURG: Ben Guetterman 5-17 6-6 17; Julian Margrave 5-6 4-4 14; Michael Seuferling 2-7 5-6 9; Weston Guetterman 1-8 4-6 6; Andy Hupp 3-4 0-0 6; Dawson Barnes 1-2 1-2 3; Konnor Vohs 1-3 0-0 2; Maverick Rockers 0-2 1-2 1. Totals: 18-49 21-26 58. 3-point field goals: 1, (B. Guetterman)

Junior Julian Margrave looks to haul in a pass in front of the basket Friday against Baldwin.

BALDWIN CITY – January certainly has presented its fair share of challenges for the Louisburg boys basketball team.

The Wildcats started off their season with three games in a row on the road, including last Friday’s game at Baldwin. This week, Louisburg is also playing three games at the Baldwin Invitational and the Wildcats wont’t play their first home game of 2021 until late this month.

Louisburg didn’t look road weary against Baldwin on Friday as the Wildcats took care of business in a 65-49 victory. It was the Wildcats’ third straight win as they continue their positive start to the new year and one that has put them as the No. 5 team in Class 4A.

“It was good to get another win.,” Louisburg coach Ty Pfannenstiel said. “We played well in spurts, but we definitely weren’t as consistent as we were against Bonner. We were a bit out of rhythm offensively. We didn’t seem to move the ball as well and forced some shots. 

“You’re going to have those games where things are clicking on all cylinders, but you hope to fix those mistakes watching film and in practice and prepare for the next one.”

The Wildcats got off to a cold start to begin the game as they trailed by two points going into the second quarter, but began to heat up in the second.

Louisburg opened up a 28-23 lead at halftime, and still had five-point lead going into the fourth, when the Wildcats outscored Baldwin 20-9 in the final frame to pull away for the win.

Senior Ben Guetterman led the Wildcat offense as he finished with a game-high 20 points, including four 3-pointers, and ended four rebounds and three assists.

“Ben has been playing very well,” Pfannenstiel said. “He’s been shooting it better since the break, but he’s at his best when he’s moving and being active without the ball. He’s an aggressive and explosive offensive rebounder.

“Ben has his best games when he plays active within the three point line. When he plays that way and then can add a few makes from the perimeter is when he really sparks us offensively.”

Junior Julian Margrave also had a big night as he helped the Wildcats pull away. He ended up with 19 points, six rebounds and four blocks.

Senior point guard Weston Guetterman also scored in double figures with 14 points and had five rebounds, three assists, three blocks and two steals.

“Julian had a stretch where he really took over,” Pfannenstiel said. “Our guys did a good job of getting him touches and he made some nice plays at the rim. We need to do a better job as a team of playing through Julian and then working off of that. If he’s getting touches inside, many times teams are double teaming him and that makes for great opportunities for other guys cutting to the rim or moving to get a good shot.”

Defense was also big for the Wildcats in the fourth quarter as they held Baldwin to single digits and forced 16 turnovers for the game. They turned those mistakes into 21 points to help turn the tide.

Junior Michael Seuferling, along with seniors Konnor Vohs, Andy Hupp and Dawson Barnes, have all provided Louisburg good minutes in that regard.

“Baldwin played tough,” We had to work for everything on both ends, but I’ve been pleased with our defensive effort this month – actually all year.  We’ve kept all of our opponents in the 40’s so far since break. We have guys that are really embracing their roles as defensive stoppers. 

“Michael Seuferling has played great defensively all year. He’s one of the best on ball defenders in our league. Konnor Vohs, Dawson Barnes and Andy Hupp have really been active on the defensive end as well. Those guys cause a lot of problems for other teams. Our goal is to make the other team uncomfortable all game long. Our kids have been playing with tremendous energy and effort and have executed really well.”

LOU 11 17 17 20 – 65

BAL 13 10 17 9 – 49 

LOUISBURG (6-2): Ben Guetterman 8-13 0-0 20; Julian Margrave 9-16 1-1 19; Weston Guetterman 5-12 2-2 14; Michael Seuferling 1-7 2-2 4; Maverick Rockers 1-1 0-0 3; Dawson Barnes 1-2 0-0 3; Konnor Vohs 1-3 0-0 2. Totals: 26-57 5-5 65. 3-point field goals: 8, (B. Guetterman 4, W. Guetterman 2, Rockers, Barnes)

Senior Konnor Vohs puts up a shot during a game earlier this season. Vohs and the Wildcats cruised to a 70-47 victory over Bonner Springs on Tuesday.

BONNER SPRINGS – For four quarters, the Louisburg boys basketball team had possibly its best performance of the season and it showed in the score.

The Wildcats went on the road to Bonner Springs on Tuesday and came away with a 70-47 win over the Braves to earn their second consecutive victory.

Louisburg, which defeated Eudora a week ago, is off to a good start in 2021.

“This was an important win for us,” Louisburg coach Ty Pfannenstiel said. “We played well at Eudora, but we needed to put back to back games together. It’s honestly the most complete game that we’ve played in my four years as coach. From start to finish, we were really good for all four quarters. 

“Bonner is a good team. I knew it was going to take a great effort to win, and fortunately we were clicking on all cylinders.”

The Wildcats (5-2) controlled the first half and took a 35-18 halftime lead and never looked back.

Not only did Louisburg make nine 3-pointers, but they also controlled the glass and did a lot of work on the inside. The Wildcats out-rebounded the Braves by 20 and scored 34 points in the paint.

Junior Julian Margrave finished with a double-double to lead the Wildcats. Margrave finished with a team-high 19 points and 10 rebounds, while senior Ben Guetterman had 16 points to go along with eight rebounds.

Senior point guard Weston Guetterman had 10 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Senior Dawson Barnes also had a big game on the glass with seven rebounds, while senior Konnor Vohs added nine points and five rebounds.

“We played team basketball,” Pfannenstiel said. “We had a lot of guys step up and contribute in lots of different ways. We need guys to play with great effort and play to their strengths and everything will come together like it did this time.

“We were good on the glass. We stress the importance of getting all five guys on the defensive boards and the stats show that we did a nice job of that. We have improved in our rebounding since the start of the year. We are focused on what needs to happen when a shot goes up and we execute well.”

Louisburg will try to keep its winning ways going tonight when it travels to Baldwin for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff.

“I really enjoyed watching us play with energy and confidence,” Pfannenstiel said. “No matter who was on the court or who was on the bench, they were all playing for each other and genuinely happy for each other. We are starting to come together. I hope we can continue to build off of this momentum.”

LOU 14 21 20 15 – 70

BON 7 11 10 19 – 47

LOUISBURG (5-2): Julian Margrave 6-11 5-5 19; Ben Guetterman 6-12 1-2 16; Weston Guetterman 4-12 1-2 10; Konnor Vohs 4-9 0-0 9; Maverick Rockers 2-5 0-0 6; Andy Hupp 2-3 2-4 6; Michael Seuferling 1-8 0-0 2; Dawson Barnes 1-2 0-0 2. Totals: 26-62 9-13 70. 3-point field goals: 9, (B. Guetterman 3, Rockers 2, Margrave 2, W. Guetterman, Vohs)