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Second-half collapse hurts Tonganoxie High boys

By Shawn Linenberger - | Feb 25, 2015

The Tonganoxie High boys basketball team opened its game Friday at Turner in good shape.

The Chieftains were off to a good start in the first quarter, as they built up a 15-10.

But dismal shooting in the second quarter slowed Tonganoxie’s momentum and the squad eventually fell, 52-41, to the Bears.

THS missed its first 10 shots form the floor in the second quarter.

“We were fortunate to only be down by three heading into the half,” THS coach Shawn Phillips said.

The Chieftains clawed back in the third quarter and actually took the lead, 30-29, into the fourth quarter.

But Turner converted two quick turnovers into points, outscoring the Chieftains, 23-11, in the fourth quarter.

Phillips said the rough night from the field did them in.

“Shooting 27 percent isn’t going to be good enough to win on a vast majority of nights,” Phillips said. “We didn’t shoot very well late, and with not shooting well, that’s when it got away from us.”

Greg DeVeau and Devan Smith each scored in double figures with 10. Dylan Staatz and Brady Swedo each had seven in the losing effort.

Lansing 58, THS 45

THS again started out well, outscoring Lansing in the first two quarters.

The Chieftains built a six-point lead heading into the half, but a poor second half — Lansing went on a 19-0 run — was too much to overcome and the Chieftains fell, 58-45.

“The first half was probably the best half of basketball we have played all year,” Phillips said. “We moved the ball well and everyone was getting involved.

“When you share the basketball and get it to multiple sides of the floor, you can usually get a quality look. We did get quality looks, and we finished them.”

Tonganoxie had a 16-2 run of its own earlier in the game and pushed its lead to 10 in the third quarter, but THS had turnovers on eight of 10 possessions and just couldn’t recover.

Carl Hecht and Brady Swedo led the team with 10 points each, while Greg DeVeau scored eight.

Tonganoxie fell to 3-15 overall and 0-12 in Kaw Valley League play with the losses.

THS played at home Tuesday for senior night against Mill Valley and will finish out the regular season Thursday in Kansas City, Kan., against Bishop Ward before substate begins next week. Check tonganoxiemirror.com for updates.