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THS tops Metro Academy for title

By Shawn Linenberger - | Dec 14, 2005

The Tonganoxie High girls basketball team did something that last year’s state team could not do — win the Central Heights Tournament.

THS defeated Metro Academy, 53-42, and won its first Central Heights Tournament, which also is known as the Ike Cearfoss Memorial Tournament.

Tonganoxie coach Randy Kraft was encouraged by his team’s effort against Metro Academy, which he called “a really good team.”

“Our defensive effort was the best we’d had all season,” Kraft said. “Granted, it’s four games in.”

The victory improved Tonganoxie to 4-0 on the season. This year’s squad overall is young, but Kraft said the team made strides at Central Heights, particularly against Metro Academy.

“Especially Saturday when they were playing a team of that caliber,” Kraft said. “They left it out on the floor.

“We’re very good about sharing the ball and doing the things that are necessary to win.”

Tonganoxie’s best effort came in the second quarter when the Chieftains outscored Metro, 16-6, after being tied at 14 at the end of the first quarter.

The only quarter in which Tonganoxie did not outscore Metro was the third, when Metro had a 14-9 advantage.

“They went to a zone and the scoring wasn’t quite as much,” Kraft said, discussing Metro’s defense.

Tonganoxie once again had three players score in double figures — Ali Pistora with 16, Rachel Bogard with 14 and Elizabeth Baska with 13.

The Chieftains also went 10-for-14 from the free-throw line. Another key to Tonganoxie’s win was its second-chance points. The Chieftains outscored the Mavericks 30-2 in that department.

“We made free throws and got on the boards well and played really good defense,” Kraft said.

Sisters Shalia Spani and Taher Spani scored most of Metro’s points. Shalia had 18 and Taher had 12 for the Mavericks.

Tonganoxie will finish out 2005 with a game Friday at Bonner Springs.

“Playing at their place, I’m expecting a pretty hard-fought game,” Kraft said.

Tonganoxie 54, Central Heights 29

Tonganoxie remained quite consistent against Central Heights in the semifinal game. The Chieftains scored 14 points in each of the first three quarters. In the fourth quarter, THS scored 12 on its way to the 54-29 win. Pistora (13), Rachel Bogard (13) and Elizabeth Baska (10) were in double figures, while Shannon Carlin nearly was in double figures with 8.

Tonganoxie went 11-for-23 from the free-throw line and went 3-for-5 from beyond the three-point line. Carlin had two of those three-pointers, while Pistora scored the third. Tonganoxie also was strong in the rebounding category. THS had 51 total rebounds compared to Central Heights’ 24.

THS 53, Metro Academy 42

Score by quarters
Metro Academy 14 6 14 8 — 42
Tonganoxie 14 16 9 14 — 53

Individual scoring
Metro Academy — Shalia Spani 18, Taher Spani 12, Tanis Spani 4, Mellen 4, Ceiss 2, Lane 2.
Tonganoxie — Pistora 16, Baska 13, Carlin 4, Stauch 4, Re. Bogard 2, Ra. Bogard 14.

THS 54, Central Heights 29

Score by quarters

Tonganoxie 14 14 14 12 — 54
Central Heights 4 6 9 10 — 29

Individual scoring
Tonganoxie — Hileman 4, Lohman 2, Pistora 13, Baska 10, Carlin 8, Stauch 4, Ra. Bogard 13.
Central Heights — Adkinson 12, Wadkins 4, Ouellette 4, Turley 4, Kratzberg 5.