John Lee, girls basketball coach said the team was struggling with its focus. He said the players on the team have had enough time to showcase their talents and that he’s going to pare his rotation to seven or eight players and maybe even six or seven players some nights.

“I think it’s that time of year,” Lee said.

The 59-52 Lansing win showcased the ebb and flow of the team’s play. Tonganoxie led after every quarter and looked like it might put the game away late in the second quarter.

Second half runs increased the lead to as much as 14 points, but Chieftains’ attention wavered, and the Lions crawled back into the game, closing the gap to within the reach of two long bombs in the final seconds of play.

The Chieftains led 11-8 after the first quarter. Pressure defense was causing turnovers, but Tonganoxie couldn’t defend Natasha Turner and Katelin Meyers, each of whom scored four points in the low post.

The teams played even for much of the second quarter. Leading 21-20 with about two minutes to play, the Chieftains made a run and looked poised to run away with the game.

Alicia Stauch made one of two free throws after being fouled. Andrea Korb hit two free throws. Deavan Workman scored on a pass from Jill Stauch. Jill Stauch grabbed the rebound on a Kerilyn Walker miss and put it back. The Tonganoxie lead was 28-21 with about a minute to play.

But Meyers added a basket and a free throw in the final minute, closing the halftime gap to 28-21.

Tonganoxie started the second half poorly, and Lansing jumped to a 30-28 lead. Andrea Korb drove from left of the foul line into the lane where she was fouled shooting.

Her free throws tied the game, and Tonganoxie never trailed again. Lansing tied it at 34-34 with four minutes left in the third quarter, but Jill Stauch answered, dribbling around a defender on the right baseline and laying the ball in from underneath the basket.

Jill Stauch’s basket was the first in a 15-2 run that stretched to 6:39 left in the game.

For much of the third and fourth quarters, the Chieftains looked unstoppable, causing turnovers on defense and scoring with drives to the basket. Walker hit a long jumper at 3:24, opening a 55-41 lead, the biggest of the night.

The Chieftains didn’t score another point from the field. Tonganoxie missed several shots and committed costly turnovers down the stretch.

A three point shot by Kristina Merrick pulled Lansing to within five points, 55-50.

Walker and Dodge sealed the Chieftain victory, both making two free throws in the final seconds.

Lee said the team needs to improve on defense.

“I think we’re giving up too many point now,” he said.

Jill Stauch had a double-double, grabbing 10 rebounds by the third quarter and scoring 15 points. Korb also scored 15, and Alicia Stauch forced six turnovers in the first half.

Junior varsity notes
The junior varsity girls improved to 3-2 with wins against Santa Fe Trail and Lansing.

The Chieftains routed the Lions 48-20 despite playing three quarters without any substitutes. Aimee Eisman scored 20 points in three quarters of play.

The girls beat the Chargers 28-27. Erin O’Brien hit the winning shot from the elbow of the free throw line with 15 seconds remaining in the game.

Up next
The Chieftains played at Perry-Lecompton Tuesday night. The junior varsity plays DeSoto at 4:30 p.m. Friday. The varsity plays DeSoto at 6 p.m.

The junior varsity will not play at the Lansing junior varsity tournament next week. The varsity has all of next week off too.