AWESOME TICKET GIVEAWAYS!!!!
Posted by: Bounty Hunter
January 24, 2012 - 10:35 AM

Stay tuned to 97.7 the DAWG as I've got a pile of tickets to give away!  The Monster Buck Classic in Topeka and World of Wheels at Bartle Hall in Kansas City, Mo.  Two awesome events and you could be a winner!     BH

BURLINGTON INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT RESULTS
Posted by: Jim Hills
January 23, 2012 - 12:55 PM

The 19th Annual  Burlington Invitational was the basketball buzz last week in Burlington. Games Tuesday and Friday nights set up a pair of nail biting final round games for both the LadyCats and Wildcats on Saturday.

Tuesday night saw the 9-0 undefeated #1 seed LadyCats open their tournament play against the Rossville Lady Bulldogs with a well matched first half ending with Burlington leading 21-12.  The LadyCats exploded in the third quarter with a 9-0 run  to gain some breathing room and finish with a 50-29 victory. Madison Stewart hit double figures with 12 points as 9 LadyCats scored in the winning effort. In Fridays semi-finals, Burlington met a physically imposing Hayden Wildcat team from Topeka. With six different girls scoring in the first quarter, the LadyCats jump out to a 19-8 lead and extend that to a final victory score of 54-33. Saturdays Championship game found the #1 seed LadyCats matched with the #2 seed Sabetha Lady BlueJays. Jacquelyn O'Connor started the scoring for Burlington before Sabetha overtook the opening lead. Madison Stewarts 3 point shot to open the second quarter tied the score at 12-12 before Sabetha again fought back to top the scoreboard. Trailing 30-20 with 6:13 left in the third quarter, Burling began a comeback on the strength of their defensive pressure forcing turnovers to tie the score 35 all with 2:48 remaining in the game. Trading baskets until a turnover put the ball in the LadyCats hands, they take the lead 41-39 with 45 seconds remaining in the game. Sabetha regained composure with their own defensive pressure and rebound to a 45-41 win.

Tuesday night featured the Wildcats taking on the Sante Fe Trails Chargers in a game which the Cats never trailed but also could never breakaway from the dangerous Chargers. Leading 20-18 at the half, Blake Thomsen scored all nine points of the 9-0 Wildcats run to open third quarter play though Sante Fe ties the score 30-30 with one minute left in the quarter. Burlington converted 9 of 11 free throws down the stretch to secure the 56-48 victory. Friday night found two teams of Wildcats on the floor as the boys also took on the Hayden Wildcats in semi-final action. Matching basket for basket in the first four minutes, the game changed on the defensive intensity of Hayden forcing turnovers they converted into buckets and the lead at the first break 25-14. The damage was done in the first half with Burlington scoring even with Hayden in the second half with the final score 77-53. Saturdays third place game found the boys also matching up as the girls did taking on the Sabetha BlueJays. Battling through the first half, the Cats trailed 27-26 at the break. Held to only 4 points in the third quarter, the boys trailed by 11 in the fourth quarter when Grant Shells' six points ignited a rally which brought the Cats back to within a three point opportunity to send the game to overtime as Sante Fe prevails 51-48.

A special note of recognition this week to congratulate LadyCats Coach Doug Stewart as this years team delivered win number 400 in his BHS coaching career with Tuesday nights opening round win over Rossville.

"Voice of the Wildcats"

Jim Hills

WINNING WEEK FOR WILDCATS AND LADYCATS
Posted by: Jim Hills
January 16, 2012 - 11:52 AM

The Burlington Express rolled right on through the TVL last week with wins over Fredonia and Eureka to remain on top of the league standings with perfect 6-0 records.

The LadyCats took on an athletic team of YellowJackets in Fredonia on Tuesday night.  A scorching 8-0 run to open the game by  Fredonia was matched with a 10-0 run by the LadyCats to go to the first quarter break tied at 12-12. The LadyCats took a one point lead to the locker room at half time 29-28. With more offense and a tighter defense in the second half,  the LadyCats secure a 71-54 victory at Fredonia. The  LadyCats hit the floor with a run and gun offense on Friday night, opening with an 11-0 burst against the Eureka Tornados on their way to a 54-26 victory. Defensive pressure forced 17 first half turnovers by Eureka as the Cats held the Tornados to a single three point completion in the second quarter. Nine LadyCats scored for Burlington with Madison Stewart leading the way with 20.

The Wildcats pulled the quick draw on Fredonia, racing to a 23-8 first quarter lead on Tuesday evening. Adding to the margin in the 2nd & 3rd quarters, the Wildcats poured it on in the 4th, outscoring  the Yellowjackets 18-6 to bring home the 63-33 win, Calebh Shedd and Korbin Ratzlaff each put up 12 with Blake Thomsen netting 20.  Friday night saw the Wildcats return home and go to the races again with a 22-8 margin at the end of the first quarter against Eureka. The Tornadoes fought back throughout the contest, closing the gap to single digits in the fourth, before Burlington finishes off  with the 64-53 victory. Topping Blake Thomsens 18 points was Ryan Reddings career high 24. 

The 19th annual Burlington Invitational Tournament opens Tuesday, January 17. Burlingtons LadyCats and Wildcats will host teams from Hayden, Iola, Labette Co, Paola, Sabetha, Sante Fe Trail, and Rossville. Tournament action begins at 3:30 with game in the middle school and high school gyms. The LadyCats bring a 9-0 record and #1 seed into their game with #8 seed Rossville at 6:40 in the high school gym. The Wildcats first game will follow in the high school gym at 8:15 as they bring a 6-3 record and #3 seed matching up with the Sante Fe Trail Chargers. Fridays game times will also be 6:40 and 8:15, Saturdays final round games begin at 12:00 with broadcast times determined by Friday nights game results.

Your home for Burlington LadyCat and Wildcat basketball tournament action. 97.7 THE DAWG

"Voice of the Wildcats"

Jim Hills