The Chieftains did just that Tuesday night, when they picked up a 54-39 road win at Turner.

THS opened its post-break schedule with its best defensive effort of the season, holding the Bears to 32 percent shooting.

“When you do that,” said Tonganoxie coach Shawn Phillips, “you’re going to win a lot of games.”

The Chieftains (3-3 overall, 2-1 Kaw Valley League) only led by three at the half due to Turner getting easy buckets inside. Tonganoxie took away that option in the second half with a zone, forced the home team into contested perimeter shots and Turner only made 21 percent of its attempts after the break.

Senior forward Keaton Schaffer led the Chieftains with 17 points. Fellow senior Justin Jacobs scored 10, in part by cashing two threes.

Sub Austin Vickers also hit a pair of treys in the victory, and finished with six points.

Junior point guard Jeremy Carlisle and sophomore center Dane Erickson chipped in eight apiece.

On Friday, Tonganoxie travels to Piper, in Kansas City, Kan., for a 7:30 p.m. KVL contest.

Score by quarters

Tonganoxie 16 8 17 13 – 54

Turner 8 13 9 9 – 39

Tonganoxie scoring: Ben Williams 3, Dane Erickson 8, Dylan Scates 2, Keaton Schaffer 17, Jeremy Carlisle 8, Austin Vickers