Update: Pleasanton Blu-Jays runner-up substate champs following Friday's playoff

Members of the Pleasanton Blu-Jays basketball team pose with the runner-up substate trophy following Friday's game against St. Mary's-Colgan. (Pleasanton Schools USD344 Facebook)

By Roger Sims, rsims@linncountyjournal.com

The St. Mary's-Colgan boys basketball team claimed the Class 2A Substate district No. 1 championship plaque after beating the Pleasanton Blu-Jays in the substate final 56-29 on Friday in Yates Center.

The loss ended the season for the Blu-Jay team, which was the only Linn County team left standing in substate after the Prairie View girls exited in the in the second round. Despite the loss in the final game, the Blu-Jays walked off the court for the last time with a 12-9 winning record for the season.

The fifth-seeded Blu-Jays, knocked off No. 12 seed Eureka 74-67, then went on to beat No. 13 seed Douglass 39-35 on Tuesday after that team upset fourth-seeded Uniontown to reach the substate championship match.

Eighth-seeded St. Mary’s on Tuesday beat No.1 seed Oswego 61-41 after beating ninth-seeded Erie (8-11) in the first round.

St. Mary’s likely was underseeded in the bracket. Throughout its season, the Panthers have played against many larger schools, beating large 3A schools like Girard, Frontenac, Baxter Springs and Columbus. The Panthers lost to Independence by 7 points and to Fort Scott by 16 points; both of those are medium-size 4A schools.

The Blu-Jays knew they a fight on there hands Friday night, but throughout the season they have remained resilient.

Blu-Jay Garrett Conley gets a good look in the first half of Tuesday's substate game at home against Douglass. The Blu-Jays won the defensive battle 39-35 and advanced to the substate championship game on Friday. (Billy Roudybush, special to the Journal)

Douglass defender Bronsyn Knisle can't stop Pleasanton's Kamden Staton from getting his shot off . (Billy Roudybush, special to the Journal)

Blu-Jay Gage McGinnis makes the easy layup, one of a very few that were easy against the Douglass defense. (Billy Roudybush, special to the Journal)