Last week, the Chieftains won a close game at Basehor-Linwood and lost to Immaculata at home.

The mixed play has coach John Lee looking for one or two players to join the starters to produce in close games.

“We need somebody to come off the bench,” Lee said.

And, it’s not only defense the team needs.

“We need some unexpected points from somewhere to win a game,” Lee said.

The team had a chance to fold against Basehor-Linwood. After leading by 12 a couple of times and hitting 45 percent of its shots from the floor, Tonganoxie let the Bobcats back into the game.

The Chieftains led 44-29 after three quarters and weathered a 17-7 Bobcat run in the fourth quarter to win 51-46.

“I thought we played pretty well,” Lee said. Although the team was spotty in the final period, Lee said he was pleased that the team was taking better shots.

The Immaculata game was frustrating for Tonganoxie. Despite not having Deaven Workman, the Chieftains were tied with the Raiders at halftime.

Lee said his team took good shots during the third quarter, but it just couldn’t get anything to fall. Meanwhile, Immaculata was scoring easy baskets.

“We were giving up too many layups,” Lee said. “They’d push the ball down and get a two-foot shot.”

Shots not falling for the Chieftains and easy shots for the Raiders left the Chieftains with as 38-47 deficit after the third quarter.

Tonganoxie put together a 7-3 run early in the fourth quarter to pull within five.

Andrea Korb hit two free throws, Eisman hit two free throws, Jill Stauch hit one free throw, and Sara Poje followed a Korb miss for two more.

The Chieftains closed to 48-52 when Korb followed a Poje miss for two with less than four minutes remaining.

Immaculata, however, held off the Chieftains in the final minutes and won 65-56.

Workman didn’t play in the game because she was ill. The senior, who hit a big three point shot at Basehor-Linwood, normally contributes defensive intensity and dribble penetration on offense.

“We missed her a lot,” Lee said.

Lee praised Korb’s play. He said she was frustrated after the game against Immaculata in December.

“Andrea played a lot better this time around,” Lee said.

Korb scored 14 points. Poje had 18 points, her high for the year. Aimee Eisman had 12 points.

Lee said Eisman has been playing well on the varsity since he gave her more minutes during the DeSoto tournament. He said she might be the first player off the bench if she continues to play well.

The girls played 9-5 Piper Tuesday. The teams were evenly matched in two games in December. Tonganoxie won the first meeting by six at the Gardner-Edgerton tournament. Piper won the second meeting by six.

Junior varsity notes
The junior varsity girls split games last week. The girls lost last Tuesday to Basehor-Linwood, 43-30.

They won an exciting overtime game Friday against Immaculata, 28-24. Jennifer Reischman scored two, Alicia Stauch had seven, Erin Seymour had three, Laura Korb had three, Jasmine McCaffrey had six, Erin O’Brien had two, Kristin Korb had two and Eisman scored three.

Up next

The Chieftains play Lansing Friday. They play Santa Fe Trail next Tuesday.