By TYLER HENRY
Little Apple Post contributor
The Wamego girls basketball team battled down the stretch but fell just short to Eudora in the state semifinals on Friday by a final score of 49-41.
The Lady Raiders will take on Wellington in the third-place game at noon on Saturday while Eudora advances to face Bishop Meige in the championship.
This game was much closer than the regular season bout that the Cardinals won earlier this season, with the two trading punches all throughout.
Wamego made a big push to start the second quarter but Eudora closed out the half on a 9-1 run to take a three-point lead into the locker room.
The two were level at 32-32 going into the fourth and final quarter, but the Lady Cards would outscore the Raiders 17-9 in the final frame to survive and advance to the championship game.
Wamego was led in the loss by Paige Donnelly, who stood alone in double figures for the Raiders with 13 points.
Harper Schreiner, Sawyer Schreiner, and Mackenzie Mayer powered Eudora through with 16, 11, and 10 respectively in another gritty effort for Eudora who remain just a one-loss team.
Tip-off of the third-place game is set for noon at the Tony’s Pizza Events Center in Salina on Saturday.
For continuing coverage of Wamego at state, stay tuned to the Little Apple Post.