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Eudora’s Jayla Colter attempts a contested layup during a girls basketball game against Ottawa on Jan. 30 at Eudora High School.
A matchup featuring two of the top teams in the area lived up to top billing, as the Eudora Cardinals fended off the visiting Ottawa Cyclones 62-54 in a seesaw affair Friday night.
Both squads came out looking to aggressively attack the paint. Back-to-back buckets from dynamic guards Jayla Colter and Avah Dye midway through the first quarter handed the Cardinals a 12-8 lead.
Both teams also showed no signs of slowing their torrid offensive pace after they played to a 16-16 draw in the opening frame.
Eudora (11-2, 7-0 Frontier League) went on top 19-18 early in the second quarter courtesy of a 3-pointer off the hands of guard Payton Lewis — and then led 27-25 after Dye finished another driving score.
Kirby Evans’ short jumper keyed an 8-2 spurt as the Cyclones held a 33-29 lead late in the first half. But Eudora chipped into the deficit as sharpshooter Brynn Deterding buried a trey just before the halftime horn.
“We were a little slow transitioning back on defense in the first half, and Ottawa was making us pay,” Eudora head coach Brandon Parker said. “So we made a few adjustments to slow that up.”
Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports
Eudora’s Brynn Deterding attempts a contested layup during a girls basketball game against Ottawa on Jan. 30 at Eudora High School.
After more lead changes in the opening minutes of the third quarter, Colter’s 3-pointer from the left corner handed the Cardinals a 39-38 advantage. After a quick Ottawa bucket, Colter replied on the other end with a driving lay-in for a 41-40 lead.
Colter continued her offensive takeover. A steal and coast-to-coast score, followed by an offensive rebound and lay-in afforded the Cardinals a 45-40 cushion.
But it was Eudora’s final offensive possession of the third quarter that typified the grit they displayed throughout the contest. On the play, Lori Brooks corralled an offensive board, and with defenders bracketing her in the paint, the 5-foot-10 junior forward managed to bank in a high-arcing shot high off the backboard.
“Lori’s rebound and putback was huge,” Parker said. “The play was a strong catalyst for us going into the fourth quarter.”
Colter concluded her electrifying frame with nine points as Eudora built a 47-42 lead through three quarters of play.
“The mindset was to play with heart and not allow them to out-compete us,” Colter said.
Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports
Eudora’s Payton Lewis attempts a 3-pointer during a girls basketball game against Ottawa on Jan. 30 at Eudora High School.
Ottawa (12-3, 6-2 Frontier League) cut the Cardinals’ lead to 51-49 with five minutes remaining in the fourth, only for Colter to respond with a pair of free throws. But the game quickly tightened up again as Ottawa junior guard Leah Askins-Dieterich connected on her second 3-pointer of the frame to slice the Cyclones’ deficit to 53-52 with 3:45 remaining.
Lewis, Eudora’s freshman sharpshooter, extended the team’s lead back to four via her second 3-pointer of the contest as the Cardinals pulled away for the eight-point victory.
Colter concluded with 21 points, including 7 for 8 from the charity stripe. Dye dazzled with her all-around play — finishing with 17 points, a season-high 13 rebounds, and seven assists. Deterding was also efficient in distributing the rock, chipping in 11 points and six assists.
“We were able to play with composure when things weren’t going our way,” Dye said.
Added Deterding, “We have good pick-and-roll action, so finding her is a key to our offense.”
Of Dye’s big night on the board, Parker said that his squad was much improved on the boards in the second half after being “owned” on the glass in the first half.
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Eudora’s Avery Warren looks to a attempt a shot in the post during a girls basketball game against Ottawa on Jan. 30 at Eudora High School.
For Ottawa, Askins-Dieterich finished with a team-high 20 points. Evans concluded with 12 points, all coming in the first half.
“Ottawa came out attacking and played very confidently tonight,” Wood said. “Leah is a very talented player. At times, we were good defensively on her, and at times, we lost her — and she made us pay.”
Parker also notched a personal accolade as the seventh-year head coach secured his 100th career victory. He was subsequently honored during a short ceremony after the game.
“Like I told the kids in the locker room, I’ve never won a game at Eudora,” Parker said. “It’s always been the players who are busting their tail.”
The Cardinals return to the court Tuesday for a league-tilt with visiting Tonganoxie, followed by a Feb. 6 home clash against another Frontier League opponent in Baldwin.
“We have a very tough upcoming schedule,” Parker said. “Those are two of our main rivals who are really well coached.”
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Eudora’s players celebrate a score during a girls basketball game against Ottawa on Jan. 30 at Eudora High School.
Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports
Eudora’s Avah Dye brings the ball up the court during a girls basketball game against Ottawa on Jan. 30 at Eudora High School.
Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports
Eudora’s players celebrate a score during a girls basketball game against Ottawa on Jan. 30 at Eudora High School.
Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports
Eudora head coach Brandon Parker instructs his players during a girls basketball game against Ottawa on Jan. 30 at Eudora High School.
Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports
Eudora’s Izzy Brunkow attempts a layup during a girls basketball game against Ottawa on Jan. 30 at Eudora High School.
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Eudora fans celebrate a big play during a girls basketball game against Ottawa on Jan. 30 at Eudora High School.
Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports
Eudora head coach Brandon Parker poses with his team holding a banner celebrating Parker’s 100th win leading the Cardinals after a girls basketball game against Ottawa on Jan. 30 at Eudora High School.
