In a back-and-forth Tournament of Champions game between Gardner-Edgerton and Wichita East, two players in particular were the difference.
Connor Langrehr poured in 32 points and Bubba Starling added 30, leading Gardner-Edgerton to a 78-73 win over No. 4-ranked Wichita East in an opening-round game Thursday night at the Dodge City Civic Center.
The Blazers duo offset the speedy Aces’ fast-breaking game in which Gardner-Edgerton survived a furious rush by Wichita East in the third quarter to advance to play Hutchinson (5-2) in tonight’s semifinals at 7.
East (7-2) falls into a losers’ bracket game today at 3:30 against Shawnee Mission South (4-4).
The Blazers led 38-29 at halftime, but East unleashed a 24-11 surge to grab a 53-49 lead entering the final period.
But Gardner-Edgerton answered in a big way, outscoring East 29-20 in the final period.
Jalen Love scored 16 points and Ja’ln Williams put in 14 for the Aces.
But East didn’t have any answer for Starling, who was 9-for-14 from the field and finished with a double-double, adding 14 rebounds. He also had four blocked shots.
On the outside, Langrehr buried 4 of 6 from downtown, as the Blazers finished 7-for-13 on 3s.
67th Annual Tournament of Champions
At Dodge City
Dodge City Civic Center
Thursday
Opening round
GAME 3
Gardner-Edgerton 78,
Wichita East 73
GARDNER-EDGERTON
Bubba Starling 9-14 11-15 30, Jalen Jones 1-2 0-0 3, Corbin Haas 1-2 0-0 2, Dexter Newsome 2-8 3-3 7, Jayden Juenemann 1-8 1-2 4, Connor Langrehr 9-14 10-10 32, Dan Mauszycki 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 23-49 25-30 78.
WICHITA EAST
Jalen Love 6-11 3-3 16, Ja'ln Williams 7-19 0-1 14, Dario Duque 1-1 2-4 4, Randall Rogers 5-10 0-0 13, Nathan Jackson 2-4 1-1 5, Teance Walton 3-5 1-1 7, Chris Johnson 3-5 0-0 8, Shamari Griffin 0-1 0-0 0, Jalen Carter 3-8 0-0 6, Chaquil Reed 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 30-64 7-10 73.
Gardner-Edg 19 19 11 29 — 78
Wichita East 14 15 24 20 — 73
Three-point goals — Gardner 7-13 (Langrehr 4-6, Juenemann 1-5, Starling 1-1, Jones 1-1); East 6-15 (Rogers 3-4, Johnson 2-4, Love 1-2, Williams 0-5). Total fouls — East 22, Gardner 10. Fouled out — Walton. Rebounds — East 34 (Walton 7, Jackson 5, Love 5); Gardner 33 (Starling 14, Langrehr 6). Assists — Gardner 15 (Jones 3, Newsome 3); East 13 (Love 5, Williams 3). Steals -- East 8 (Walton 3, Carter 3); Gardner 6 (Starling 2, Juenemann 2). Turnovers — Gardner 9, East 8. Blocked shots — Gardner 5 (Starling 4); East 3.
