Louisburg senior Brianne Kuhlman knocked down 7-of-8 free throws in the final two minutes to help the Lady Cats to a 51-39 win Tuesday over Chanute in the sub-state semifinals.

Any coach will say how important free throws are in a close game and that was no different Tuesday for Louisburg.

In what was a tight contest in the Class 4A sub-state semifinals against Chanute, the Lady Cats knocked down 10 of 12 from the free-throw line in the final two minutes to earn a 51-39 win over the Blue Comets.

“Free throws are huge and I tell them that all the time,” Louisburg coach Adrianne Lane said. “It is the difference between winning and losing. We made 10 down the stretch and we won by 12. It is a huge difference there if we don’t make them.”

Louisburg stayed calm and collected at the line, especially senior Brianne Kuhlman. The 3-year starting point guard knocked down 7 of 8 free throws to help seal the win for the Lady Cats. Emma Prettyman also hit a pair of free throws and Emma Lohse made one late.

After a close first half where Louisburg led by just three at halftime, it was the Lady Cats’ defense that played a big role in the third quarter. Louisburg held Chanute to just four points in the frame and was able to build an 11-point lead early in the fourth.

The Blue Comets made one final run at it as they trimmed the Louisburg lead to 37-35 midway through the fourth, but senior Delanie Tally knocked in a 3-pointer to give the Lady Cats a little cushion.

Louisburg took care of the rest at the free-throw line as it earned a spot in the sub-state championship with the win.

“I was so proud of them to just stick with it and keep playing hard,” Lane said. “Obviously the free throws were huge. I think we made like 10 of them down the stretch. I think in that third quarter too we came out with more energy and got a lead.”

Chanute also employed things the Lady Cats hadn’t seen most of the season, including a zone trap near half-court. On offense, the Blue Comets ran a lot of motion and cuts that allowed them to get some easy baskets.

“Their defense was something we really haven’t seen yet this year,” Lane said. “I was a little worried about it going in because they play that zone defense really high. The second half we did a little better job of knowing when to attack it, versus just passing around it. We got better as the game went on.

“We hadn’t really seen what Chanute does on offense either with all the motion and different cuts they made. That is why we didn’t pressure all that much either. They did a lot of back cuts and that is not something we are used to guarding. I do think that Chanute is developing into a good team. That is the same team that played us here last year and they have gotten better.”

Kuhlman, who did a lot her damage at the free-throw line, led the Lady Cats in scoring with 14 points and also had four rebounds and three assists. Adyson Ross finished with 13 points and four rebounds.

Prettyman, who was also a factor on the inside, finished with eight points and eight rebounds. Tally added a pair of 3-pointers and three assists, while senior Ava Baker had a team-high three steals and five points. 

The Lady Cats (15-6) are now one game away from the state tournament as they host Parsons (15-6) at 6 p.m. tonight for the sub-state championship. Parsons rallied from 16 points down to defeat Holton, 63-54, in their semifinal contest.

Louisburg knows it will be another tough challenge as it tries for its second state tournament appearance in three years.

“The girls are really excited,” Lane said. “We want to get back to Salina. That is the ultimate goal. Some of them were there two years ago, didn’t get to play a lot, but they felt what it was like. They want a chance to get on that floor and show what they are capable of.”

LOU 10 13 11 17 — 51

CHA 9 11 4 15 — 39

LOUISBURG (15-6): Brianne Kuhlman 3-5 7-8 14; Adyson Ross 6-13 0-0 13; Emma Prettyman 3-6 2-2 8; Delanie Tally 2-10 0-0 6; Ava Baker 2-9 0-0 5; Emma Lohse 1-5 1-2 3; Ashley Branine 1-1 0-0 2. Totals: 17-48 10-12 51. 3-point field goals: 5, (Tally 2, Kuhlman, Baker, Ross)

Louisburg senior Colyer Wingfield drives to the bucket for two points Tuesday during the Wildcats’ sub-state tournament game at Bishop Miege. The Wildcats fell to the Stags, 87-42.

ROELAND PARK — Louisburg knew going up against Bishop Miege was going to be a tall task.

Bishop Miege, which has won five of the last six state championships in Class 4A, would be a big challenge for any team. 

A slow start dampened any hopes the Wildcats had of keeping their season alive. Miege downed Louisburg, 87-42, in the first round of the Class 4A sub-state tournament Tuesday at Bishop Miege High School.

“We got off to a slow start and I thought we would come out with a little more energy than we did,” Louisburg coach Ty Pfannenstiel said. “It took us a while to get used to the speed of the game and I thought we would be the team that had the energy. It just took us a little while to get there. We finally figured that out. 

“That second half was good and we played with better pace. The ball got moving and that is something we stressed all week. Against a team as good defensively as they are, it is going to be tough to get good looks, but if we move the ball enough then we can get some. That was the difference between the halves.”

The Stags got out to a quick start and took a 23-5 lead after the first quarter and led the Wildcats 49-15 at halftime. Miege’s Daegan Jensen was tough to stop all night for Louisburg as he scored a game-high 34 points and missed just four shots from the field.

Louisburg found its footing in the third quarter as the Wildcats scored 24 points —  nine more than they did the entire first half. Miege scored 27 of its own.

“That was the thing, we were able to score in that third quarter, but we just couldn’t get any stops at all,” Pfannenstiel said. “If we could have started off the game that way, maybe the game could have had a different feel to it. We got down early and took us awhile to get going.

“We knew with their athleticism that it would be tough for us to guard them man. Figured we would try to slow them down with the zone, but they passed the ball really well. They are a very good team.”

Louisburg senior Colyer Wingfield led the team in scoring in his final game as a Wildcat. Wingfield finished with a team-high 16 points and four rebounds.

Senior Mason Dobbins also had a strong outing in his final game in a Louisburg uniform. He finished with 11 points and eight rebounds.

Along with Wingfield and Dobbins, seniors Cade Gassman, Isaiah Whitley and Trey Myers also played their last game for Louisburg.

It is a team that Pfannenstiel has been proud to coach all season.

“I really enjoyed this group and they do the right things,” Pfannenstiel said. “I told them after the game that a lot of people on the outside think basketball is a November to March deal, but this is something we have been building on for a long time. These guys have put the effort in. They have put a lot of hours in during the summer and in the weight room. 

“That is what makes it tough when it is over because there was a lot of effort that was put into the season. I am proud of the way they played and the way they represented our school and community. They did things the right way.”

LOU 5 10 24 3 — 42

BM 23 26 27 11 — 87

LOUISBURG (8-13): Colyer Wingfield 4-12 6-10 16; Mason Dobbins 5-7 1-3 11; Luke Schultz 1-2 2-3 4; Myles Vohs 1-3 1-2 3; Conlee Hovey 1-2 0-0 2; Cade Gassman 1-1 0-0 2; Isaiah Whitley 1-4 0-0 2; Brock Vohs 1-2 0-2 2. Totals: 15-44 10-21 42. 3-point field goals: 2, (Wingfield 2)

Louisburg head girls basketball coach Adrianne Lane (left) and Harrisonville head coach BryAnn Middleton squared off with one another Thursday as the two sisters led their teams against each other for the first time.

Anchored on opposite sidelines Thursday at Harrisonville High School, Louisburg’s Adrianne Lane and Harrisonville’s BryAnn Middleton had a reunion of sorts.

At a glance, it might not seem that big of a deal for some, but if you were took look a little closer it touches many different levels.

Drexel Bobcat vs. Drexel Bobcat.

Louisburg Wildcat vs. Harrisonville Wildcat. 

Family vs. Family

Or more specifically, sister vs. sister.

That’s right, for the first time in a long while, Adrianne and BryAnn found themselves competing against each other — instead of competing together. Whether it was in high school at Drexel High, or later on in life, they both have had that competitive fire for the game of basketball.

After spending two years in high school on the same team, they went their separate ways to play college basketball. Throughout many of life’s journeys, they found their way back together on the court again — as coaches.

Not only was it a special moment for the two sisters, but it was also a big game for the respective teams.

For Adrianne, her team could clinch a top four seed, which would allow Louisburg to host sub-state.

And for BryAnn, this was a more special moment. Harrisonville had already clinched a conference championship, but it was Senior Night and she had to say goodbye to four players.

Neither team — or coach — wanted to lose and it had nothing to do with bragging rights.

“To be honest I was thinking more about senior night than coaching against my sister,” BryAnn said. “I knew it was going to be really special for our parents and daughters, but I think we both were just very concerned with our teams. We are both focused on the postseason and it was emotional for me because I’m losing 4 amazing players and people next season.”

“I knew going into the game that Harrisonville would play us tough,” Adrianne said. “I knew they would play great defense and would battle every possession. I felt like this was one of our more intense games the whole season.”

So there they were, screaming out instructions to their players in hopes of getting the win. Drawing up plays — plays and fundamentals they learned from when they were young.

You see, Adrianne and BryAnn were a part of state championship team at Drexel in 1996. Big sister BryAnn was a junior and Adrianne was a freshman.

It was see easy to see their competitive fires on the court and their coach had to find out the hard way one day in practice.

As a freshman, Adrianne was a member of the scout team, and with a player gone from practice, her coach, Brent Bartlett, decided to have her guard BryAnn. What happened next was unforgettable, you might say.

“Big, huge mistake,” BryAnn said. “She was not going to let me score and I was not going to let her stop me. It got pretty physical.”

“Let’s just say it ended with me pinning her against the wall, and she spit in my face, because that was her only defense,” Adrianne said. 

That seems pretty accurate.

“I think I put her on the floor and then when she got up she pinned me against the wall,” BryAnn said. “She had my legs and arms pinned so my only defense was to spit in her face. Not my brightest moment, but I didn’t want to lose.”

In the midst of the scrum, their coach — not sure what to do — decided to empty the gym. All except the two sisters. He had other ideas for them.

“After that the coach cleared the gym and made us run sprints,” Adrianne said. “And we ran hard.”

You would think after the tussle, their competitive fire would simmer a little. 

Nope.

“I think it was the hardest we had ever run, because again neither of us wanted to lose,” BryAnn said.

As rough as that day of practice was, it led to bigger and better things for the two sisters. Drexel went on to win the state championship that year and that team was eventually inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. 

BryAnn and Adrianne used all the running in practice and turned it into something good on the track. The two were members of the school’s 4×800 relay that won a gold medal at state that same year and finished second the following season.

“Being able to compete with my sister was always so rewarding,” Adrianne said. “She was quite the athlete and being able to be on her team, whether it was basketball or track relay team, was quite an honor. She worked so hard to be the great athlete she was.”

The two sisters then turned that success into college basketball careers, and then eventually into coaching. On Thursday, they were competing against each other once again.

They both knew their opponent well — not because of their players necessarily — but the two have similar ideas. When they have a chance to have family gatherings, basketball is always on the agenda.

“We are so busy keeping up with our schedules and our daughters’ schedules that we do not get a lot of time together,” BryAnn said. “When we are together that is almost all we talk about though. I love hearing her perspective and getting her advice. I love her take on new drills. I feel our philosophies are very similar and we realize that practice is where it is at and that is what you need to focus on the most to help your team and players level up.”

There to take it all in were their parents, Bryon and Lorrie Cook. Wearing neutral colors, they were there cheering on their daughters the best way they knew how — with smiles.

“I think my parents were probably the most excited they have been in a long time,” Adrianne said. “They spend most weekdays and weekends watching my family or my sisters family playing basketball. So having us all in one building was so exciting for them. I also know they are so proud of us and our programs. They are dedicated fans to both programs so I know they were cheering on every play.”

As the two teams traded shots in the first half, Louisburg got the best of Harrisonville with a big third quarter and held on for a 52-45 win. Adrianne got the bragging rights this time around, but neither coach was about to make this about them.

“I was so proud of the girls for finishing with a win,” Adrianne said. “It was a sweet win, but for me it was more about getting the 4 seed than anything.”

When the final buzzer sounded the two teams lined up to shake hands. As the two sisters came together, there was nothing but love between the two of them.

No spitting or pinning each other up against the scorer’s table, just admiration for what both have accomplished.

“From what I have seen, my sister has improved the Harrisonville girls basketball program tremendously,” Adrianne said. “Her work ethic is shown in this program as well as her dedication. I am so proud of her and how she has given herself to this program, the girls on her team are so lucky to have her.”

“I’m very excited for (Adrianne) and her sub-state this season,” BryAnn said. “Sounds like there is a chance we will get to go support them in Salina again this year. We are there when we can be.”

Just like any family would.

Here is the Louisburg Sports Zone Athlete of the Week for week 11 of the winter sports season, sponsored by Prime Accounting Solutions.

EMMA PRETTYMAN, SENIOR, GIRLS BASKETBALL

Louisburg senior Emma Prettyman put together a big week for the Lady Cat basketball team as she helped Louisburg to a pair of wins to end the regular season. Prettyman finished the week with a team-high 23 rebounds and eight assists in wins over Paola and Harrisonville. She also added 14 points.

Prettyman had a big performance against Harrisonville as the Lady Cat forward had a team-high 15 rebounds to go along with seven points and four assists. The victory helped Louisburg earn the No. 4 seed and host the upcoming sub-state tournament.

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: Adyson Ross

Week 2: Colin Brown

Week 3: Colyer Wingfield

Week 4: Kaven Bartlett

Week 5: Trace Eslinger

Week 6: Jay McCaskill

Week 7: Andrew Jamison

Week 8: Brianne Kuhlman

Week 9: Colton Prettyman

Week 10: Elijah Eslinger

Louisburg senior Ava Baker (left) celebrates with teammate Emma Prettyman after a big basket Thursday at Harrisonville High School.

HARRISONVILLE. Mo. — There was a lot riding on Louisburg’s regular season finale and it came against a different kind of opponent.

The Lady Cats ventured outside league play Thursday and traveled to Harrisonville. A victory meant they would host the sub-state tournament and a victory is exactly what they got.

Louisburg used a big third quarter to take a 10-point lead and the Lady Cats were able to hold on for a 52-45 victory over Harrisonville.

With the win, Louisburg earned the No. 4 seed in the sub-state tournament and will host No. 13 Chanute on Wednesday. If the Lady Cats advance, they will also host the sub-state championship game on Saturday.

“This was a big win for the girls,” Louisburg coach Adrianne Lane said. “We needed the win, and I felt like the girls played like they knew we needed to win. I thought we did a great job finishing the game. We made several free throws down the stretch to finalize it.”

It was close for much of the contest as the Lady Cats held just a one-point lead at halftime, however they put together an offensive showing in the third.

Louisburg responded with 19 points in the frame and took a 10-point lead going into the final quarter. Senior point guard Brianne Kuhlman led the charge with seven points in the third and senior Delanie Tally also hit a pair of 3-pointers before having to sit with foul trouble.

“At halftime we talked a lot about finishing better in the lane, and in the second half I thought the girls came out and did a better job of that,” Lane said.

Harrisonville didn’t go away, however, as it trimmed the Louisburg lead to just 48-45 late in the fourth quarter. The Lady Cats were able to seal it late with four free throws from Ava Baker and Kuhlman.

Tally had a big night for the Lady Cats despite dealing with foul trouble. She finished with a team-high 16 points, including four 3-pointers.

Senior forward Emma Prettyman dominated the glass with a team-high 15 rebounds to go along with seven points and a team-best four assists and two steals.

Kuhlman also had a strong outing as she tallied 11 points to go along with seven rebounds from the point guard spot. Senior Adyson Ross added 10 points and three assists.

Baker tallied eight points and three rebounds in the win. 

“Delanie had a great night, with four 3-pointers and had a couple 2’s down the stretch,” Lane said. “She played with confidence and I was so proud of her for keeping her head up even when she got into foul trouble.

“Brianne had a heck of a game, as she scored all her points in the second half and she did a great job getting to the basket. She made four really big free throws for us down the stretch as well. Emma P really dominated the lane and she made some big free throws as well.”

Now all focus is on the postseason as the Lady Cats try to earn a spot in the Class 4A state tournament. Their journey begins at 7 p.m. Wednesday when they host Chanute in the sub-state semifinals.

If they advance, Louisburg will plays the winner of Parsons and Holton on Saturday for the sub-state championship.

“We are very excited for the postseason,” Lane said. “If we play well like we have been all season, I feel like we have a great chance to get to Salina. That being said, we will work hard this week and be prepared for whoever we are playing.”

LOU 12 10 19 11 — 52

HAR 11 10 10 14 — 45

LOUISBURG (14-6): Delanie Tally 6-14 0-0 16; Brianne Kuhlman 3-6 4-5 11; Adyson Ross 3-12 4-6 10; Ava Baker 2-8 2-2 8; Emma Prettyman 2-8 3-6 7.  Totals: 16-56 13-19 52. 3-point field goals: 7, (Tally 4, Baker 2, Kuhlman)

Louisburg sophomore Gavin Lohse fights for a rebound Thursday at Harrisonville High School. In a battle of Wildcats, Louisburg fell 51-43.

HARRISONVILLE, Mo. — It wasn’t the best of shooting nights Thursday when Louisburg ventured outside of league play to take on Harrisonville..

The Wildcats shot just 25 percent from the floor and were 43 percent from the free-throw line. However, there they were, down just two points midway through the final quarter.

Unfortunately for Louisburg, Harrisonville scored the final six points of the game and handed the Wildcats a 51-43 defeat in their regular season finale.

“It’s amazing we were still in the game with the way we shot the ball,” Louisburg coach Ty Pfannenstiel said. “We were getting decent looks, we just couldn’t get them to fall. Our guys actually had really good composure and kept grinding.”

Harrisonville jumped out to a quick 13-6 lead after the first quarter and then scored the first seven points of the second to go up 14 points. The Wildcats clawed back to make it a nine point contest at halftime.

Louisburg (8-12) played strong defense at times as it forced 18 Harrisonville turnovers. The Wildcats were also active on the glass with 15 offensive rebounds in the game and that led to 14 second chance points.

The Wildcats got some of those in the second half as it trimmed the lead to seven going into the final quarter.

A free throw from Colyer Wingfield made it four point game with two minutes remaining, and after a Harrisonville free throw, junior Nathan Parker hit a 3-pointer with 1:25 left to make it a 2-point contest.

The Wildcats got the ball back after a blocked shot from Mason Dobbins, but a 3-pointer from Parker rimmed out that would have given Louisburg the lead. Instead, Harrisonville went to the free-throw line and put the game away.

“Our guys always keep battling,” Pfannenstiel said. “When shots aren’t falling, you just have to keep getting stops and getting more opportunities on the offensive end. We were much better in the second half. We gave ourselves a chance in the end. Credit to the boys for continuing to fight.”

Wingfield led the Wildcats in scoring with 13 points and also had seven rebounds. Dobbins added a team-high 11 rebounds to go along with nine points, two blocks and two steals.

Parker came off the bench to hit a pair of 3-pointers and finished with eight points.

The loss put the Wildcats as a No. 13 seed in the sub-state tournament and will travel to No. 4 Bishop Miege for a 7 p.m. tipoff tomorrow at Bishop Miege High School.

Louisburg knows going up against the defending state champions will be a tough challenge.

“We are excited to play in the postseason,” Pfannenstiel said. “Not everyone gets a chance to play this week, so we are going to make the most of it. Like we do each game, I expect our guys to play hard and represent our school the right way. Our kids have worked really hard, so I know they will make our community proud.”

LOU 6 11 11 15 — 43

HAR 13 13 9 16 — 51

LOUISBURG (8-12): Colyer Wingfield 5-21 2-4 13; Mason Dobbins 4-7 1-6 9; Nathan Parker 2-7 2-2 8; Trey Myers 2-9 0-1 5; Conlee Hovey 1-3 1-2 3; Gavin Lohse 1-2 0-0 2; Brady Hickey 0-5 1-2 1; Myles Vohs 0-0 1-2 1; Brock Vohs 0-0 1-2 1. Totals: 15-60 9-21 43. 3-point field goals: 4, (Parker 2, Myers, Wingfield)

Louisburg senior Colyer Wingfield scored a team-high 16 points and helped the Wildcats to a 52-41 win over Paola on Tuesday.

Nothing like ending a losing streak and doing it against your rival — and on Senior Night nonetheless.

That’s exactly what Louisburg did Tuesday as the Wildcats used a big fourth quarter to get a 52-41 win over Paola and snap a 6-game losing streak in the process.

It was the perfect way for the Wildcats to send their five seniors — Cade Gassman, Trey Myers, Isaiah Whitley, Mason Dobbins and Colyer Wingfield — out with a win in their final home game.

“It was a great team win,” Louisburg coach Ty Pfannenstiel said. “We had a lot of guys step up and make plays. It was definitely the best we’ve played as a whole.”

All five of the seniors contributed in the victory, but it was a pair of underclassmen who sparked the Wildcats in that pivotal fourth quarter. Junior Brady Hickey and sophomore Myles Vohs came off the bench to score eight of the team’s 20 points in the final frame. 

Wingfield also scored six of his team-high 16 points in the fourth quarter to help the Wildcats outscore Paola 20-8 and pull away.

The Wildcats shot the ball well throughout the game, despite it being and back-and-forth contest through the first three quarters. Louisburg shot 58 percent from the field and knocked down six 3-pointers.

“We were really effective on offense,” Pfannenstiel said. “I feel like after most of these games we have talked about our offensive woes, but in this one our offense is what bailed us out.  Putting the ball in the hole solves a lot of problems.

“We were great in the fourth. Brady and Myles came in and gave us a big spark. They brought energy, played great defense, and made some big shots.  We also made our free throws down the stretch so that’s what sealed it.”

Vohs was the team’s second leading scorer with nine points and Hickey finished with seven. Both players had key 3-pointers early in the fourth quarter.

Dobbins finished the game with a team-high six rebounds and five points. Gassman and Whitley added five points, while Myers added a basket in his final home game.

It is a group of seniors that Pfannenstiel has come to enjoy and that has brought a lot to the program.

“This is a fun group,” Pfannenstiel said. “They’ve worked hard and bought into the work and preparation it takes to play at this level.  They are truly program guys. They’ve hit the weight room, put in the time over the summers, and have made a lasting impact on our program. And best of all, they are good kids. Just a fun group to be around.”

Louisburg will try for back-to-back wins as it heads into postseason play. The Wildcats will try and improve their seeding tonight as they travel to Harrisonville for their regular season finale. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.

“Paola was a huge win for us,” Pfannenstiel said. “Hopefully it’s a good confidence booster. Not only was it good for us to just get a win, but it was really important for us seeding wise. The Harrisonville game is going to have a lot of implications as well.  We really need to get another one.”

LOU 11 13 8 20 — 52

PAO 15 8 10 8 — 41

LOUISBURG (8-11): Colyer Wingfield 7-9 0-0 16; Myles Vohs 3-3 2-4 9; Brady Hickey 2-3 2-2 7; Cade Gassman 2-5 0-0 5; Isaiah Whitley 2-3 0-0 5; Mason Dobbins 2-2 1-2 5; Conlee Hovey 0-0 2-2 2; Trey Myers 1-3 0-2 2; Gavin Lohse 0-1 1-2 1. Totals: 19-33 8-14 52. 3-point field goals: 6, (Wingfield 2, Hickey, Gassman, Vohs, Whitley)

Louisburg senior Adyson Ross finished with a double-double Tuesday against Paola on Senior Night and helped the Lady Cats to a 47-39 win.

As the ball was thrown into the air for the opening tip — the whistle blew and a technical foul was called on the Louisburg bench.

Normally, technicals are followed with frustration, anger and probably a bunch of yelling. Not in this case. Instead, the smiles could been seen up and down the Lady Cat bench.

It was Senior Night for Louisburg on Tuesday against Paola and the Lady Cats wanted to honor their seven seniors in the proper way. Only five could start, but that didn’t stop head coach Adrianne Lane from starting all seven.

One of the seven included senior Tehya Harvey, who has been out all season with a knee injury and Harvey was able to suit up and take the floor one last time.

“As a coach I have never had to worry about having too many seniors to start on senior night,” Lane said. “I wanted all of the girls to get the opportunity to start because all seven of them deserved to be honored on Senior Night.

“Tehya was very excited to suit up and be on the court with her teammates. I think this was a very special moment for her and I am so glad she got the opportunity to get on the court this season.”

Along with Harvey, seniors Adyson Ross, Delanie Tally, Emma Lohse, Emma Prettyman, Brianne Kuhlman and Ava Baker made it a memorable one as they left the floor with a 47-39 win over Paola.

The Lady Cats got out to a fast start and never looked back as they took a 17-point lead at one point in the second half. Louisburg has now won five of its last six games as the postseason draws near.

“The girls were very excited to get the win against Paola,” Lane said. “They started off great and played hard. I feel the girls have started playing so well together and their trust for each other is shown on the floor.”

It showed early on as the Lady Cats took a 15-8 lead after the first quarter and then held Paola to just four points in the second quarter. Louisburg led 28-12 at halftime.

Ross was a big part of the Louisburg success as she finished with a double-double to end her regular season home career. She finished with a team-high 14 points and had 10 rebounds.

Baker was second on the team with eight points. Prettyman had a strong performance under the basket with seven points, eight rebounds and a team-high four assists.

With the Lady Cats’ recent success, they have shot up the Class 4A standings and are currently in the mix for the No. 4 seed, which would allow them to host the upcoming sub-state tournament.

Even with all that success, the Lady Cats (13-6) will need to win one more to stay in contention for a top four seed. Louisburg will travel to Harrisonville (Mo.) tonight for a 5:30 p.m. tipoff in its regular season finale.

Along with all that, it will also be a special night for Lane. Her sister, BryAnn Middleton, is the Harrisonville head coach and Lane is excited for the opportunity to go up against her big sister.

“It will be a fun game for my family,” Lane said. “Harrisonville won its last game to make them conference champs, so they are having a great season. I think it will be a defensive battle.

“We both coach very similar philosophies, so I think the game will come down to who can take care of the basketball and finish in the lane.”

LOU 15 13 11 8 — 47

PAO 8 4 10 17 — 39

LOUISBURG (13-6): Adyson Ross 6-14 2-2 14; Ava Baker 4-5 0-1 8; Emma Prettyman 3-7 1-3 7; Emma Lohse 2-2 0-0 4; Ashley Branine 2-6 0-0 4; Brianne Kuhlman 1-4 2-2 4; Delanie Tally 1-12 1-2 4; Ashlyn Kuhlman 0-0 2-2 2. Totals: 19-51 8-12 47. 3-point field goals: 1, (Tally)

Louisburg senior Emma Lohse drives the lane Tuesday during the Lady Cats’ road win at Eudora. Lohse came off the bench to score 13 points.

EUDORA — The Louisburg girls found themselves in a difficult situation in the third quarter of Tuesday’s road contest against Eudora.

Eudora scored the first nine points of the second half to take the lead, plus senior forward Emma Prettyman had to sit with four fouls. The Lady Cats needed a spark and they got it from their bench.

Senior Emma Lohse, junior Ashley Branine and sophomore Mackenzie Rooney played valuable minutes in the second half to help give the Lady Cats the lead back.

Senior starter Adyson Ross took over from there as she scored nine fourth quarter points to help Louisburg escape Eudora, 38-34, as the Lady Cats moved to 12-6 on the season.

Louisburg, which had a two-point lead going into the fourth, got two 3-pointers from Lohse and Ross to give the Lady Cats a little cushion in the final minutes.

Ross then hit a runner with two minutes left to give Louisburg a five-point lead. She would then go on to hit four consecutive free throws in the final seconds and finished with a team-high 16 points. She also tallied a team-high six rebounds.

“Adyson did great and finished hard,” Louisburg coach Adrianne Lane said. “I told the girls at halftime that even if your shots aren’t going in, you just need to keep shooting. Adyson finally got one to go, and it was a big one. She made some big plays there for us in the fourth quarter.”

The Lady Cats wouldn’t have been in that position for Ross’ heroics without the play of their bench, especially in the second half.

Lohse was second on the team in scoring with 13 points on the night, while Branine finished with six. Along with Rooney, all three provided a big defensive presence for Louisburg.

“Those three came in and played super hard and really gave us some good minutes,” Lane said. “When both Emma and Mack were in, we played super fast. I told the girls to take advantage of that and get out and play fast. Ashley has been playing so good lately. She has been rebounding and keeping the ball alive and doing a great job. Those three played some big minutes for us.”

It wasn’t the best of offensive nights for the Lady Cats, but they used their defense to get the road win. Louisburg forced 15 Eudora turnovers and held the Cardinals to just 31 percent shooting.

The Lady Cats scored 23 points off those Eudora mistakes. Louisburg will certainly take the win as they head into the final week of the regular season.

“A win is a win I would say,” Lane said. “We were able to play some good defense. We played a little zone, which is something different for us, and I think the girls did a good job with that.”

Louisburg will play their home regular season finale Tuesday when the Wildcats host Paola for Senior Night as the Lady Cats honor their seven seniors.

It will make for an emotional evening when they square off with their rival.

“Paola always wants to beat us,” Lane said. “I told the girls that their record doesn’t show how good of a team they are. They are fast, physical and they are going to want to come in and get a win. It will be a hard night with Senior Night, so we are going to have to play well.”

LOU 7 13 6 12 — 38

EUD 2 11 11 10 — 34

LOUISBURG (12-6): Adyson Ross 4-15 5-6 14; Emma Lohse 4-6 3-3 13; Ashley Branine 3-4 0-0 6; Ava Baker 1-7 0-1 3; Delanie Tally 1-8 0-0 2. Totals: 13-45 8-11 38. 3-point field goals: 4, (Lohse 2, Ross, Baker)

Louisburg sophomore Conlee Hovey battles for a rebound with a pair of Spring Hill players Friday at Spring Hill High School.

SPRING HILL — Down 10 points midway through the third quarter, the Louisburg boys were in a tough situation Friday in Spring Hill.

Still, the Wildcats found a way to get out of it. 

Louisburg rallied from a double-digit deficit to take a four-point lead with under two minutes left in the contest. As hard as the Wildcats fought, Spring Hill snatched the lead right back.

The Broncos scored the final seven points of the contest and handed Louisburg a 61-58 defeat.

“It was a tough loss,” Louisburg coach Ty Pfannenstiel said. “We had a two possession lead with 1:13 left and didn’t finish it off. I was proud of how we got ourselves back in position to win the game, but we didn’t make enough plays in the end. We had our opportunities, we just didn’t get it done.”

Louisburg took the lead midway through the fourth quarter thanks to free throws from senior Trey Myers and a layup from Colyer Wingfield to go up 54-52.

Spring Hill tied it with a basket on its next possession, but the Wildcats scored four straight points thanks to a driving basket from Nathan Parker and a lay-in from Conlee Hovey.

With under two minutes left, the Broncos cut the lead to one as they hit the last of their 11 3-pointers for the game to cut it to one. Louisburg had back-to-back turnovers, while Spring Hill converted at the free-throw line to get the win.

Although the Broncos connected on those 11 3-pointers, the Wildcats still found themselves in the contest, but had a tough time at the free-throw line as they went 19 for 37.

“Spring Hill was hot from outside which kept them in it,” Pfannenstiel said. “We have to do a better job of making things tough on their shooters. The most glaring stat was our poor shooting night at the foul line. We did a good job of getting to the line, but we have to take advantage of those foul line opportunities. We have to knock those down if we want to win these close games.”

The Wildcats (7-10) made several big plays throughout the game to get back in it, and it started on the inside. Dobbins and Hovey were factors for the Wildcats on the glass and with some easy baskets.

Dobbins finished the game with a team-high 12 points to go along with eight rebounds. Hovey added nine points and had a team-best 10 boards.

Wingfield also scored in double figures for the Wildcats with 10 points and eight rebounds to go along with three assists.

“We had some really good offensive possessions during that stretch,” Pfannenstiel said. “We had a lot of guys step up and make plays for us. It was a total team effort. 

“Mason had a good night on both sides. He was active on defense and on the glass. He also put together his best offensive performance. Both he and Conlee were really good in there.”

The Wildcats will try and snap its four-game losing streak tonight when the Wildcats travel to Eudora. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.

LOU 9 13 14 22 — 58

SH 13 14 18 16 — 61

LOUISBURG (7-10): Mason Dobbins 4-9 4-7 12; Colyer Wingfield 3-11 4-11 10; Nathan Parker 3-7 2-3 10; Conlee Hovey 3-5 3-7 9; Luke Hill 2-7 0-0 5; Trey Myers 1-1 2-2 5; Cade Gassman 1-1 0-1 3; Isaiah Whitley 0-0 3-4 3; Brock Vohs 0-0 1-2 1. Totals: 17-41 19-37 58. 3-point field goals: 5, (Parker 2, Hill, Myers, Gassman)

Wildcats fall in close game to Tonganoxie

Louisburg got out to the start it wanted against Tonganoxie at home on Feb. 7.

The final three quarters weren’t what the Wildcats were hoping for. Tonganoxie defeated the Wildcats 52-48 after outscoring Louisburg by 10 after the first quarter.

“We had a terrible scoring drought there in the third and fourth quarter that really did us in,” Louisburg coach Ty Pfannenstiel said. “I think it was a 10 minute stretch of actual game time where we only scored one bucket.”

That drought haunted the Wildcats as Tonganoxie was able to build a 16-point lead midway through the fourth quarter. All this after Louisburg took a 12-5 lead after the first frame.

Defensively, the Wildcats were also able to turn the Chieftains over late and Louisburg was able to cut into the lead thanks to a barrage of 3-pointers from senior Colyer Wingfield. However, it was too big of a deficit to overcome.

“Our defense played ok, but our offensive struggles are making it to where our defense has to play nearly perfect every night,” Pfannenstiel said. “We have to do a better job of generating some offense.”

Wingfield had a big night from the floor as he finished with a game-high 28 points, that included five 3-pointers. Junior Nathan Parker just missed double figures with nine points.

Sophomore Conlee Hovey and senior Mason Dobbins each had a team-high nine rebounds. 

LOU 12 8 8 20 — 48

TON 5 15 13 18 — 52

LOUISBURG: Colyer Wingfield 9-19 5-7 28; Nathan Parker 3-13 0-0 9; Conlee Hovey 1-5 1-2 3; Trey Myers 1-3 0-0 3; Mason Dobbins 1-2 1-6 3; Myles Vohs 1-5 0-0 2. Totals: 16-52 7-17 48. 3-point field goals: 9, (Wingfield 5, Parker 3, Myers)