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Back on the court in Tonganoxie

By Shawn Linenberger - | Jun 10, 2015

Tonganoxie High boys basketball coach Shawn Phillips saw the makings of his 2015-16 boys squad last week for the first time.

THS had its summer camp five days last week, with varsity and junior varsity players practicing in the mornings and freshmen in the afternoon.

THS has just two players with varsity experience returning next year in seniors-to-be Tyler Novotney and Dylan Staatz.

Phillips said it was a productive camp. He said players were receptive to what coaches were trying to implement, including plenty of new plays and strategies.

“I was very pleased with their desire to learn and fulfill their responsibilities to their teammates,” Phillips said. “This group overall, they’re just a very coachable group. They like to learn what you’re showing them and they try to replicate it quickly.”

Phillips had 36 players at camp.

Staatz had another commitment and couldn’t attend, while Dalton Trimble suffered an injury Saturday.

Trimble, playing with his teammates in a tournament at Pittsburg State University, was undercut while diving for a loose ball. Trimble, who will be a senior, missed his junior year because of a knee injury that required surgery. Phillips said he’s waiting on a prognosis of Trimble’s latest injury.

The team will have plenty of chances this summer to get more experience.

The squad is leaving Friday for a trip to Omaha, Neb., and a competition at Creighton.

Younger players will compete in a summer league at Bishop Miege, while tournaments at Northwest Missouri State in Maryville, Mo., and Eudora are on the summer schedule.

Phillips, who will enter his eighth season when practice starts in November, also is sending his freshmen to camp and shootout at Kansas State.

Joining Phillips’ staff for summer camp was new junior varsity coach David Hillman. Phillips currently is without a freshman coach.

Former ninth-grade coach Phil Jones stepped down to take the eighth-grade boys basketball position, while former junior varsity coach Doug Sandburg will coach seventh grade next year.

The team’s summer weightlifting program starts Monday, with basketball skill development days being Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Additional team camps will be taking place throughout the summer, including THS volleyball camp this week.