Basketball Recap: Payton Blue's Big Game Can't Quite Lead Eisenhower over Arkansas City

If Eisenhower was feeling good fresh off their 64-32 takedown of Chanute last Saturday, their most recent game may have dampened their spirits a bit. The Eisenhower Tigers fell just short of the Arkansas City Bulldogs by a score of 49-47 on Tuesday. While losing is never fun, the Tigers can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' Kansas basketball rankings (they are ranked 212th, while the Bulldogs are ranked 38th).

Eisenhower's loss came despite a true team effort from the offense, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Payton Blue, who posted 19 points in addition to five boards and five steals. The match was Blue's third in a row with at least ten points. The team also got some help courtesy of Mallori Rose, who went 6 of 9 on her way to 16 points.

Arkansas City's victory was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Savannah Phillips, who earned 16 points and five assists. The dominant performance gave Phillips a new career-high in assists. Kierslynn Waggoner was another key player, going 5 for 8 en route to 13 points.

Eisenhower's defeat dropped their record down to 4-9. As for Arkansas City, the win (which was their fifth in a row) raised their record to 12-1.

Both squads are looking forward to the support of their home crowds in their upcoming games. A feisty cat fight is on tap when the Eisenhower Tigers duke it out with the Derby Panthers at 6:00 p.m. on Friday. That game will pit two of the most dominant forwards against one another: Macayla Askew and Blue. As for Arkansas City, they will be playing at home against Goddard at 6:00 p.m. on Friday. Arkansas City is strutting in with some offensive muscle as they've averaged 50.4 points per game this season.