CHEROKEE — Marmaton Valley High’s Wildcat boys took home fourth place in the 2012 Southeast High Lancer Classic Friday. After securing a win in the tournament opener Tuesday, the Wildcats dropped decisions on Thursday and Friday.
Friday’s contest, a 52-47 loss to Columbus High, drops the Wildcats’ overall record to 3-7.
Marmaton Valley’s girls struggled to score in a pair of games, falling to Riverton High 44-15 on Friday and to St. Paul 55-28 on Thursday.
“It’s still the same old, same old,” Wildcat boys’ head coach Denny Lasley said of Friday’s contest. “We committed way too many turnovers. We tried to throw it through the trees. Both our guards and our post players had troubles.”
Jumped out to an 18-12 lead after one quarter, a margin that grew to 30-23 at halftime and 43-31 by the end of third period.
A 16-7 Wildcat run in the fourth quarter wasn’t enough.
Zach Louk led Marmaton Valley with 13 points and four steals. Levi Ramsey added 11 points and four boards. Cole Becker scored nine points to go with seven rebounds and three assists.
Colton Stanley scored 10 points to lead Columbus, which had four other placers score at least eight points.
Marmaton Valley was sent to the third-place game after losing to second-seeded Frontenac 43-32 Thursday night. The Raiders pulled away from the Wildcats in the second half.
The Wildcats stayed with the Raiders in the first half, trailing 17-13. Marmaton Valley was still within striking distance by the end of three quarters, down 28-23.
Frontenac outscored Marmaton Valley 15-9 in the final period for the win.
The Wildcats were led by Louk with 14 points and five rebounds. Becker also pulled five rebounds. Becker and Derrick Carr each had five assists.
Keith Lollar tossed in 19 for the Raiders. Devon Keith had 13 points.
MARMATON Valley’s girls remained winless, with a common ailment — shooting — afflicting the squad.
Riverton led Friday’s contest 12-2 after one quarter and 26-8 at the break. The margin grew to 43-12 after three quarters.
