The Chieftains dropped to 0-3 after losing to Osawatomie on Saturday at the Central Heights Tournament.

Tonganoxie stayed with Osawatomie throughout the game. The Chieftains were trailed just 15-14 after one quarter and trailed by that margin at halftime, 28-27.

In the second half, though, Osawatomie widened the margin just enough to escape with a 64-57 win.

“I think they hit some tough shots,” THS coach David Walker said. “They hit some shots they had to hit. Our defense was playing much better.”

The Chieftains had three players in double figures with Gabe Belabrajdic, Jeff Hughes and Zeb Kissinger. Belabrajdic led the team with 17 points, but the scoring output wasn’t enough for the Chieftains.

Osawatomie was led by Blake Draper, who scored 20 for OHS.

“I think defensively we cut down on the buckets,” Walker said. “We forced them to shoot those tough buckets, which unfortunately they did, but they were not easy buckets for them.”

Osawatomie connected on six three-pointers, compared to one from Tonganoxie. Keith Wentz-Hall hit Tonganoxie’s lone three.

The Chieftains will look to get in the win column with a Kaw Valley League game Friday at Bonner Springs. Tonganoxie will play one last time in 2005 with a non-league game Tuesday against De Soto at home.

Walker said his team was making strides and has been getting better each game.

“We still need to improve,” Walker said. “We’re giving away some fouls a few more times than we’d like and taking care of the basketball is a big key for us.

“We’ve got a number of unforced turnovers and we need to knock those down. And if we do that, we will make strides in the right direction.”

Olathe Christian 56, Tonganoxie 54

Tonganoxie came very close to winning its first game of the season in the opening round of the Central Heights tournament Nov. 6.

The Chieftains trailed by only two at halftime, 30-28.

Unfortunately for Tonganoxie, that also was the margin of loss.

OC hit a shot with 27 seconds left in the game. Tonganoxie had a chance at the tie, but couldn’t get a shot to fall and Tonganoxie lost, 56-54 in the first round of the tournament.

Hughes led the Chieftains in scoring with a game-high 20 points. Tyler Miles chipped in with 12 of his own in the loss.

LINE SCORES

Osawatomie 64, THS 57

(Score by quarters not available)
Individual scoring
Tonganoxie — Miles 4, Shaw 3, Hughes 11, Gabe Belabrajdic 17, Morris 2, Kissinger 11.
Osawatomie — Draper 20, T. French 4, Soucie 3, Clearwater 12, A. French 11, Russell 6, Dickinson 8.

Olathe Christian 56, Tonganoxie 54

(Score by quarters not available)
Individual scoring
Tonganoxie — Poterbin 2, Pistora 2, Shaw 2, Miles 2, Hughes 20, Belabrajdic 7, Kissinger 9.
Olathe Christian — Gorenc 7, Kangas 2, Shadoin 2, Freeman 13, Wishall 8, Speer 11, Goyette 13.