CHEROKEE, Kan. — Local boys basketball squads had opposite results on Tuesday night at the Lancer Classic.
Second-seeded College Heights Christian handled seventh-seeded Baxter Springs 59-44, while sixth-seeded McAuley Catholic suffered an 83-55 loss to third-seeded Southeast in the opening-round of the annual event at Southeast High School.
With the win, the Cougars (11-2) will meet the host Lancers at 8:30 p.m. on Friday in the semifinals.
Clinging to a two-point lead at the half, College Heights outscored Baxter Springs 23-6 in the game-changing third period go up 48-29.
Miller Long and Curtis Davenport combined for 49 points for College Heights.
Long scored 25 points and hit seven 3-pointers, while Davenport added 24 points on 11 field goals with two treys.
Kaden Niday scored 15 points for the Lions, while Kameron Williamson added 12 points.
Southeast finished strong against McAuley.
The Lancers led 19-13 at the end of the first quarter, but McAuley outscored Southeast 25-19 in the second period for a 38-35 halftime advantage.
Southeast won the third quarter 18-11 for a 53-49 lead. The Lancers owned the final frame, as the hosts outscored the Warriors 30-6.
Noah Black scored 24 points for the Warriors, while Rocco Bazzano-Joseph added 11 points.
Southeast’s Cade Burdette scored 26 points and hit five 3-pointers. Three others reached double figures for the Lancers, as Easton Renn scored 14 points, Wyatt Scales had 13 and Drake Guymon contributed 10.
McAuley Catholic (3-11) takes on Baxter Springs at 5:30 on Friday in the consolation semifinals.
In other action, top-seeded Erie defeated eighth-seeded Parsons 67-55 and fourth-seeded Columbus edged fifth-seeded Riverton 62-59.
