Boys basketball: Lions tackle Tonganoxie title

In what was an intense and entertaining basketball contest, the Lansing boys’ basketball team captured its first Tonganoxie Invitational Championship since 2008 Saturday.

Behind an 18-point performance from Joe Schneider, the tournament’s most valuable player recipient, the Lions toppled Blue Valley Southwest 51-47.

“It’s only the second time we’ve won this tournament and we’ve had a lot of disappointment here in semifinal games,” Lions coach Rod Briggs said. “We overcame a lot of hurdles so it was a nice win for us against a really solid team.”

Despite the Lions never trailing, the game was very much up for grabs in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter. However, Lansing hung tough to secure the victory with its late game execution.

“We executed our strategy at the end of the game very well,” Briggs said. “We fouled when were up three to put them on the line and fortunately, they missed their free throws.”

Besides Schneider’s honor, Lansing’s Roy Clayter and Clay Young received all-tournament honors as well.

“It was really nice we got a couple guys on the all-tournament team,” Briggs said. “But it was a total team effort all the way around.”

Khalil Bailey finished second in scoring for the Lions with nine points, followed by Lucas Mien with eight. Clayter and Young both had six.

The Lions, 11-1, will not play again until Jan. 29 at home against Tonganoxie at 7:15 p.m.

Spires flex scoring muscles

The final chapter to an undefeated conference season came one step closer Saturday for the Saint Mary men’s basketball team.

Hosting Bethel College, the Spires rocked its guests by shooting 54 percent from the field, 43 percent from the 3-point line and 71 percent at the free-throw line.

The hot shooting led to a 93-71 blow out win.

Ten Spires recorded a basket while five finished with double digits: Jordan Wilcox (23), Chip Schneider (16), Kevin Harvey (15), Shiron Willliams (12) and Marc McGory (10). McGory and Schneider also snatched nine rebounds a piece.

Saint Mary, a perfect 10-0 in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference and 15-5 overall, will try to extend its 11-game winning streak Wednesday when the squad hosts Friends University at 8 p.m.

Ralph Miller Classic ends poorly for Pioneers

The Leavenworth boys’ basketball team suffered through a five-point lost Saturday to close out the 2013 Ralph Miller Classic.

Playing in the tournament’s third-place game, Leavenworth sustained a 72-67 defeat at the hands of Shawnee Heights.

There will be little time to wallow for the Pioneers, who will travel to Hayden for a 7 p.m. game tonight.

Riverside drops Immaculata

An early 14-7 advantage could not be protected by the Immaculata boys’ basketball team Saturday.

The Raiders allowed Riverside to fight back to hold a one-point advantage at halftime. Then Imac put in just two points in the third quarter and never could recover.

Riverside toppled Immaculata 53-46, dropping the Raiders to 5-7 on the year.

Imac will play at Valley Falls at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 29.

Pleasant Ridge’s win search continues

The struggles continued for the Pleasant Ridge boys’ basketball team Saturday.

For the eighth-straight game, the Rams experienced defeated when the squad lost 68-48 to Wabaunsee at the Royal Valley Tournament Saturday.

After three quarters of scoring from both teams, where Wabaunsee led throughout, PR couldn’t keep up in the fourth as the team was outscored 16-8.

Nick Reckers led the team in scoring with 12 points, followed by Sean Spurlock’s seven. Josiah Strick and Nick Holmes each had six points.

Pleasant Ridge, 1-10, will play at Troy at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 29.