BonnerSprings.com

During the first two games of the Bonner Springs Metro Classic basketball tournament coach Ryan Hull saw two different teams in home jerseys.

He saw a team that played well for three quarters and lost to Atchison. He also saw a team that lost where players showed the effects of playing a game less than 12 hours after the tournament opener.

Bonner Springs played a close game against Atchison in the first round of the tournament, but lost 59-54.

The Braves failed to hold a 12-point lead entering into the final quarter of play.

Atchison outscored Bonner 25-9 in the fourth quarter to win the game.

"When it comes down to crunch time, we need to be able to control the ball a little bit," he said. "That was a major key. We weren't controlling it that well."

Atchison's Anthony Downing led the Redmen down the stretch with eight of the team's 10 points in the final minute of play. Atchison finished the game on a 10-2 run, which clinched the game.

Bonner had led 52-49 with 1:01 to play in the game before letting the game slip away.

Downing made an open jumper in the lane to start the run and then added six free throws down the stretch it pull the Redman to victory.

The Braves turned the ball over several times in the final minute, which allowed Atchison numerous scoring opportunities.

Downing poured in a game-high 23 points and Daris Calhoon added 10 for Atchison.

Senior L.T. Lee led Bonner with 10 while Martin Birch had 8 and Ariel Adger added 7.

Bonner Springs played with a lot of energy throughout the game, but couldn't hang on at the end of the game.

The next day Bonner Springs played a little out of sync against Lawrence Free State who defeated them 72-50 in the second round of competition.

"That was a definite case of one team waking up from their poor outing," he said. "We didn't do a lot of good things. I think that was attributed to we extended a lot of energy the night before."

Bonner Springs shot just 30 percent from the field in the game. Lawrence Free-State shot 61.2 percent in the game.

Adger led the team with 16 points in the game. Lee was the team's other player to score in double figures, finishing the game with 11 points.

Bonner Springs also was out rebounded 32-23 in the game.

With a pair of games behind performances behind them, Hull said hg believes the team that played Atchison is more indicative of the type of program they are building at Bonner Springs.

"We have already turned that around," he said. "We had one day of practice (Monday), but it looked like the way were playing Friday night," Hull said.

"I think we were able to take something out of each game and maybe apply it," he said. "If you make mistakes, it is better to do it now than later in the season."

The team practiced Monday, and worked out some of the problems from Saturday. They were idle on Tuesday because of inclement weather and played KC East Christian at 4 p.m. Wednesday.

Results of the game were unavailable at press time, but are available at Bonnersprings.com.

Other games were also to be played on Wednesday. Results of those games are also available on the Web site.

The following is a look back at Saturday's second round games.

Kansas City East Christian Academy lost to Lansing, 57-15 in another consolation bracket game.

Bishop Miege boys defeated Topeka Seaman 75-39. Shawnee Heights defeated Atchison 57-42. Bishop Miege played Shawnee Heights in the tournament championship game Wednesday.

Seaman played Atchison at in a third-place game.

Lansing played Lawrence Free State in the fifth place game at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Friday action.

In first round games on Friday, Bishop Miege crushed Kansas City East Christian Academy 80-25 and Topeka Seaman beat Lansing 56-45. Miege meets Topeka Seaman Saturday at 4:30 p.m. in the winner's brackets for the boys while the KC East Christian Academy game against Lansing will begin at 1 p.m. in the consolation bracket.