BY CHARLES

EL DORADO — One of the longest tournaments in the state’s history tips off on Thursday, Jan. 23 inside El Dorado High as the Bluestem Classic enters its 57th year running.

Here’s a quick summary of the results from the first day of action. As always, we’ll have your complete coverage of all three days here at the Butler County Times-Gazette

Goddard 46, Manhattan CHIEF 39

Goddard overcame a 10-point first half deficit to stun homeschool squad, Manhattan CHIEF, 46-39.

CHIEF went on a 11-2 run in the first half, with the Goddard Lions going cold from the field. It wasn’t until late in the first half when #21 finally got going for Goddard, scoring a bucket and then getting the first part of an and-one opportunity.

CHIEF led 18-11 at the break.

Out of the halftime, CHIEF built their lead to 19-12 before Goddard finally found the bottom of the net. Goddard shot just 4 of 24 (16.7 percent) in the first half but came out with some momentum in the second half, going on a run that eventually gave them the lead. It was behind the 3-point shooting of Brysyn Warren that the Lions finally were able to tie it at 22-all. Then, he went to the line, split the spair, giving Goddard the lead with 2:40 to go in the third.

CHIEF would pull back in front leading 35-30 with just over four minutes left in regulation but then Erik Olivas hit a three-pointer and Warren build a brand new house at the free throw line. In the fourth quarter, the senior went 9 of 10 at the as CHIEF went cold and the Lions were able to capture the lead and never relinquish.

It wasn’t until 30 second remaining in the game did CHIEF finally end their more than nearly three minutes without a score.

Warren finished with 20 points for Goddard, 18 coming in the second half. Warren’s 20 point performance was the only one of the night in the first four games. He was the 394th person to score at least 20 points in a single game. It’s also the seventh time a Goddard player has scored at least 20 points in a game.

Tanner Shurle and Conor Mericle led CHIEF with nine points a piece.

Goddard 46, CHIEF 39

Goddard 5 6 15 20 – 46
CHIEF 8 10 8 13 – 39

GODDARD: Manuel-Phillips 2 4-6 – 8; Warren 2 (2) 10-12 – 20; Haskell 3 1-2 – 7; Henderson 3 0-0 – 6; Bliss 0 2-2 – 2; Olivas 0 (1) 0-0 – 3. TOTALS: 10-35 3-14 17-22 – 46.

CHIEF: Shurle 4 1-2 – 9; Upshaw 1 0-0 – 2; L. Wertenberger 1 3-8 – 5; Moldrup 0 (1) 0-0 – 3; Mericle 1 (2) 1-1 – 9; Schrader 1 1-2 – 3; B. Wertenberger 0 (2) 0-0 – 6; Goff 0 2-2 – 2. TOTALS; 8-29 5-15 8-15 – 39.

Wichita Collegiate 70, Ark City 42

The No. 1 ranked team in Class 3A opened the second half on a 21-2 run before Ark City finally scored their first bucket of the half as Collegiate ran away with the opening round game over Ark City, 70-42.

The Spartans outscored the Bulldogs 31-9 in the third quarter and only allowed 16 points in the second half. It was a defensive masterpiece from Mitch Feigel’s team who has been on the cusp of being the best team in 3A for the last couple of seasons.

So far, they’re living up to the expectations.

There was a stretch in the third quarter that saw Collegiate score on 10 consecutive buckets. They made 12 of their first 14 shots of the second half.

The first half wasn’t much different despite the better fight from Ark City. Collegiate still shot 45 percent in the first half and had build a double digit lead midway through the second quarter as the turnover machine finally started working for Collegiate. They were up 29-19 with 4:47 to go in the half.

Credit Colin Frazier and Co. for battling. they were able to ut it down to seven before a Kamari Jennings 3 right before the half pushed it back to double digits.

They would never be that close again.

Jennings led the Spartans with 16 points off the bench. The former Ark City star is now a role player after transferring to Collegiate and a big reason why they’re so dangerous. He came off the bench, hit four threes against his former team. Jennings highlighting why he might be the best sixth man in the state.

Frazier finished with 17 points to lead all scorers for Ark City.

Collegiate’s win gives them 45 all-time in the Bluestem Classic, moving them to third most in the tournament’s history, behind Kapaun (74) and El Dorado (90).

WCS 70, Ark City 42

Collegiate 20 16 31 3 – 70
Ark. City 15 11 9 7 – 42

Collegiate: Clay 1 0-0 – 2; Bastiste 5 (1) 0-0 – 13; Bond 0 (1) 0-0 – 3; Chege 4 0-0 – 8; Parker 4 0-1 – 8; M. Drumright 0 (1) 0-0 – 3; C. Drumright 1 (2) 2-2 – 10; Grace 2 0-0 – 2; Jennings 2 (4) 0-0 – 16; Langson 0 (1) 0-0 – 3; TOTALS: 19-33 10-25 2-3 – 70.

Ark. City: Frazier 7 (1) 0-0 – 17; Fleig 1 (1) 0-1 – 5; Jackson 0 (1) 0-0 – 3; L. Abrams 0 (2) 2-2 – 11; Pinion 1 0-0 – 2; Cockrell 0 2-2 – 2; J. Abrams 1 0-0 – 2. TOTALS: 10-24 6-17 4-5 42.

Kapaun Mt. Carmel 83, El Dorado 14

Sam Greene hit a three to start the game and then Kapaun Mt. Carmel, the defending champions of Class 5A and the Bluestem Classic went on a run.

Kapaun scored 40 consecutive points after Green’s three to give KMC the 83-14 win over host El Dorado in the tournament.

10 different Crusaders reached the scoring column in the win.

El Dorado was led by Peyton Wight and Greene, who each had six points.

Kapaun now has won 12 consecutive games at the Bluestem Classic and are on pace for their fourth consecutive tournament championship.

Kapaun 83, El Dorado 14

Kapaun 35 20 19 9 – 83
El Dorado 3 7 2 2 – 14

Kapaun: Keller 2 (1) 0-0 – 7; Porter 8 (1) 0-0 – 19; DAniels 2 1-1 – 5; Johnson 3 (3) 1-1 – 16; Dalian 6 0-2 – 12; Stuhlsatz 3 0-0 – 6; Hurtlocker 3 1-2 – 7; Adams 1 0-0 – 2; Barrier o (1) 0-2 – 3; Carey 0 (1) 0-0 – 3. TOTALS: 29-44 7-18 4-10 – 83.

El Dorado: Green 0 (2) 0-0 – 6; Lechtenberg 1 0-2 – 2; Wight 3 0-2 – 6. TOTALS: 4-18 2-10 0-4 – 14.

Emporia 72, Wichita Trinity 46

The Emporia Spartans started the game on a 13-0 run and never looked back as they beat Wichita Trinity, 72-46 in the final game of the Bluestem Classic first round.

It’s 2-for-2 as Emporia also won their first game last season vs. Collegiate and eventually finished third.

Trinity tried to make a game of it, cutting it to single digits on numerous occasions. They were able to climb out of a 15-2 hole in the first quarter and eventually get it down to 31-24 by the break with some sharpshooting by Kyler Moore but the size was too much for Tinity.

It felt every loose ball and every rebound Trinity needed went against them and it boiled over in the second half. Much like Collegiate’s game, Emporia used halftime adjustments and came out to blow the barn doors off in the second half. They outscored Trinity 12-3 to start the half.

They bookended the quarter by ending it on a 11-0 run to put the game out of reach as they eventually led by as many as 36 by game’s end.

Emporia shot 58.8 percent, unofficially, for game, including 28 of 46 inside the 3-point line. If they had a place to improve, it would’ve been the free throws. They were only 10 of 18.

The defense was electric as well. They forced 12 turnovers and held Trinity to only 7 of 29 from 3-point range, including 3 of 15 in the second half.

Emporia was led by Crowell who finished with 16 and Chase Harrington who had 15 points, including nine in the second half.

Moore finished with 19 to lead Trinity.

Emporia 72, Trinity 46

Trinity 13 11 8 14 – 46
Emporia 19 12 22 19 – 72

TRINITY: Shaffer2 (3) 0-0 – 13; Eklund 2 (1) 2-3 – 9; Moore 2 (3) 4-5 – 19; Koster 1 0-0 – 2; Rodriguez 1 1-1 – 3. TOTALS: 9-31 7-29 7-9 – 46.

EMPORIA: Trelc 3 (2) 1-2 – 15; Shivley 4 1-3 9; Jacob 1 0-0 – 2; Rios 3 0-1 – 6; T. Franklin 1 0-0 – 2; Seidl 1 0-0 – 2; Crowell 8 0-2 – 16; K. Franklin 2 3-4 – 7; Harrington 5 5-6 – 15. TOTALS: 28-46 2-5 10-18 – 72.

Day 1 schedule and results

Thursday, Jan. 23

Game 1: Goddard 46, Manhattan CHIEF 39
Game 2: Wichita Collegiate 70, Arkansas City 42
Game 3: Kapaun Mt. Carmel 83, El Dorado 14
Game 4: Emporia 72, Wichita Trinity 46

Day 2 schedule and results

Friday, Jan. 24

Game 1: El Dorado (2-6) vs. Wichita Trinity (3-7), 2:30 p.m.
Game 2: Manhattan CHIEF (2-8) vs. Arkansas City (2-7), 4:15 p.m.
Game 3: Kapaun Mt. Carmel (7-3) vs. Emporia (5-3), 6 p.mm.
Game 4: Wichita Collegiate (8-1) vs. Goddard (4-7), 7:45 p.m.

Day 3 schedule and results

Saturday, Jan. 25

7th place game, 11 a.m.
5th place game, 12:45 p.m.
3rd place game, 2:30 p.m.
Championship game, 4:15 p.m.