Hays, Kansas

For the first time since 1960, The McLouth Bulldogs stepped onto the State Championship tournament floor facing off against the #2 ranked team in class 2A in St. Mary's Colgan on Wednesday. In the opening round the Bulldogs would bow out falling 48-41 to the Panthers as their season comes to a close with an impressive 18-6 record.

McLouth jumped out early on Colgan to lead 12-10 at the end of the first quarter, they would even extend their lead to as many as 4 in the first half before St. Mary's Colgan would turn to Senior forward Aaron Higgenbothom for a response. Higgenbothom scored 10 of Colgan's 15 points in the second quarter as they lead at the half 25-22.

A back and fourth third quarter saw McLouth's leading scorer Garrison Pope explode with 7 of the 11 Bulldog points to bring McLouth within a 35-33 mark heading into the final frame. Colgan would use free throw shooting to put the game away late in the fourth quarter.

The Panthers led by only 2 with just under 4:00 left in the game and McLouth had an opportunity to tie the game, however a few turnovers and some run-out opportunities turned into free throws for the Panthers who went 7-9 from the line in the fourth quarter to salt the game away. McLouth was unable to hit from the outside as they went 0-11 from behind the 3 point arc while St. Mary's Colgan was 2-10.
 

A historic season for the McLouth Bulldogs as 3rd year coach Steve Lily looks to use this experience at Gross Memorial Coliseum as a building block in the years to come. The Bulldogs lose quality players from this years team though to graduation in Garrison Pope (Leading scorer), Jeremy Carlton (Great on ball defender), Jonah Willits (Scorer and 2nd leading rebounder) and Asher Robbins (Matchup Problem, Scorer). They'll rely heavily next season on 3 returning from this state team in Forward Jaxon Pope (Avg. 13 points 10 rebounds), Matt Kuglin (Scrappy Defender) and Tashawn Barfield (Scorer, Ball Handler).

Scoring

McLouth – G. Pope – 11, J. Pope – 11, A. Robbins – 6, T. Barfield – 4, M. Kuglin – 4, J. Carlton – 4, J. Willits – 1.

                              1    2    3   4     F  

    #3 Colgan – 10 | 15 | 10 | 13 | 48

  #6 McLouth - 12 | 10 | 11 |  8  | 41