Two former Cardinals basketball players wrapped up their college basketball seasons with trips to the Division II Final Four.

Harper Schreiner led the Pittsburg State Gorillas on one of the team’s best seasons in program history, finishing with a 33-4 record as one of the last four teams standing. Cole Parker and the Washburn Ichabods finished the year 30-4 and made the top four in the men’s bracket.

Schreiner, a 2022 Eudora graduate, averaged 7 points and 5 rebounds per game for the Gorillas. She said it was an honor to be a part of one of the best seasons in program history.

“Success is great and all,” Schreiner said. “But to be successful with some of your best friends is just so special.”

After the Gorialls dropped a game early in the year, Schreiner said the team adopted a “you have to win to survive” attitude that propelled them through the rest of the season. She said the team played some of its best basketball as the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association tournament got underway, leading them to the conference title with a close win over Fort Hays State.

“We knew, with that mindset, we were going to do whatever it takes to win,” Schreiner said.

That win was crucial because it meant the Gorialls would host a regional. After winning their three regional matchups, including two close finishes, the Gorillas had punched their ticket from Pittsburg, Kansas to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for the Elite Eight.

The Gorillas won their first game before falling to the eventual national champions.

Throughout the strong season, Schreiner said she was reminded of some lessons she learned in Eudora. She credited some of her success to being a multi-sport athlete, saying she would use similar footwork from sports like volleyball on the basketball court.

“You have to work your tail off at the little things,” she said. “Being really good at the little things and focusing on the little things can get you so far.”

Throughout the deep playoff run, Schreiner said it was special to see the Eudora community following along and cheering her on. Her former head coach at Eudora, Brandon Parker, made the trip to watch Schreiner multiple times during the playoff run.

“I always thought she made the right decision at Pitt State,” Parker said. “I was happy for her that it has been an excellent choice for her and for the teammates she got to play with and is getting to play with, and then the success that they’ve had.”

But Parker was doing double duty during the Division II playoffs.

His son Cole Parker played for Washburn this season as they stormed through the bracket and made the Final Four.

Cole Parker said playing for Washburn was special because of the great teammates. He said there were special moments throughout the season, from opening the season playing in Allen Fieldhouse to finishing it in the Final Four.

“We had a ton of guys that really just cared about each other,” Parker said. “I mean, one through 15, we had guys that just wanted to see each other do well. And I think, you know, that’s a really rare thing, especially today in college sports.”

He said he still stays in touch with mentors from his high school days, a testament to the type of community Eudora has.

“It’s just cool to come back and see all those people,” he said. “Getting to know that they’re still following along, and they, you know, still care about me.”

He said his time in Eudora taught him lots of lessons in life, like always treating people with respect and working hard. Those lessons he credited to his high school coaches: Kyle Deterding, Tyler Cleveland and Drew Steffen.

“Carrying that for the rest of your life is going to be so valuable for me,” he said.

His dad said it was fun to watch him have experiences that few athletes get in college while being surrounded by great people.

“It’s been a lot of fun to watch him and his teammates have success,” Brandon Parker said. “We are very blessed that he’s been in a situation that he enjoys and surrounded by really good people.”

Parker and Schreiner will both continue with their college careers next year. Parker said he was excited to play with some of his teammates again and get to bring in a new class of players.

“We should be set up to have a fun couple of years ahead,” he said. “So, it should be a good time.”

Reach reporter Cuyler Dunn at eudoratimes@gmail.com