See our Facebook Live post-game shows with head coach Brandon Parker here and with the senior players here.
More photos from the game can be found on our Facebook page.
For the first time in Eudora High School history, the girls varsity team made it to the final game in the 4A state championship.
The Cardinals gave it their all against Bishop Miege Saturday. When the buzzer ended the fourth quarter, it was Miege that came out as the state champions with a final score of 71-45.
The Cardinals ended the season with a 23-2 record.
Emotions were felt all throughout the gym Saturday afternoon, from the team to the student section. Senior Harper Schreiner was more than proud of her team and what they’ve managed to overcome this season.
“I’m super proud of what we’ve done all season. I mean we’ve exceeded expectations, and I couldn’t ask for anything more,” Schreiner said.
When the girls were down by a wide margin, it was the student section of fans and cheerleaders that kept that Eudora energy present in the arena. Mackenzie Mayer wanted to express her appreciation for the students and the pride that comes within the school.
“Thank all of you for the support. I think our student section is unmatched,” Mayer said.
Schreiner also praised the fans and thanked them for her highlight of the night.
“Towards the end, I hit a three right in front of our student section and they got really loud, that felt good,” Schreiner said.
Senior Abby Watson said she never expected to make it this far with her team. Watson had some highlights of her own, making some needed free throws, but wanted to give a special shout out to her teammates.
“One play that sticks out to me is in the beginning, Kenzie Yoder got an and-1. The energy just went up,” Watson said.
Watson and the rest of her team are no strangers to applauding their teammates. Senior Ashley Kuntz said the compassion they all show has brought them closer together.
“I think we worked hard and did everything that we could. We just worked together as a family,” Kuntz said.
Head coach Brandon Parker said he loves these kids and tears should be shed for more important things than the game.
“The hardest part is saying goodbye. We showed them what we could do. We left everything on the court every game this year,” Parker said. “It’s a special night for all our kids and our community. The scoreboard can’t change that and it never will.”
The girls made history for Eudora High School with their run at the state tournament.
Eudora made that happen when they defeated Clay Center in the quarterfinals. The girls team has never made it past the first game in the tournament. These are memories that will be cemented for future teams to come.
Assistant coach Jeremy Thomas said the team would have never made it this far without the support of the fans and family.
“It’s an awesome place to be and it is a special time for Eudora. I’m excited for where the future goes,” Thomas said.
It will surely be a season to remember for everyone invested in this team. The players, coaches, students, parents and fans all believe in the community that Eudora holds.
“We love Cardinal nation. We need to respect our community, respect our school and give everything we got and that’s what they did,” Parker said.
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Reach reporter William Crow at [email protected].
