2014-15 schedule

Brady Swedo is the only returning Tonganoxie basketball player who saw time in all 21 games last season.

Dec. 4 — vs. Baldwin

Dec. 12 — at Ottawa

Dec. 16 — at Bonner

Dec. 18 — at Basehor

Jan. 6 — vs. Piper

Jan. 9 — at Lansing

Jan. 13 — vs. Turner

Jan. 16 — at Mill Valley

Jan. 19-24 — Tongie Inv.

Jan. 27 — at Heritage Chr.

Jan. 30 — vs. Bishop Ward

Feb. 6 — at Piper

Feb. 10 — vs. Bonner

Feb. 13 — vs. Basehor

Feb. 17 — vs. Lansing

Feb. 20 — at Turner

Feb. 24 — vs. Mill Valley

Feb. 26 — at Bishop Ward

March 2-7 — Sub-state

The Tonganoxie High boys might have a roster full of upperclassmen this winter, but as far as varsity experience goes, they’re are about as green as can be.

With three regular starters, more than 77 percent of their scoring and 65 percent of their rebounding gone from last year’s 10-12 team, the 2014-15 Chieftains will have quite a different look than the one they sported a year ago. With two games against Frontier League schools preceding an always challenging Kaw Valley League schedule, THS doesn’t have much time to step up to the learning curve.

Seniors Jared Sommers, Brady Swedo and Carl Hecht are the only returning players who saw time in more than six games last year, and coach Shawn Phillips will rely on all three to help their less experienced teammates acclimate to a varsity-type intensity before the season officially tips off.

“We’ve got guys that have been through the program and should have a general idea of what we expect of them,” said Phillips, a THS grad who is beginning his seventh year at the helm. “Hopefully, those guys who have been here for a while can share with some of the young ones because there’s going to be a lot of new faces out there on the floor.”

Swedo and Sommers will look to headline the front court after seeing extended time at guard last year. Sommers started in 13 games, while Swedo was the only returning Chieftain to play in all 21. They combined for 9 points and 3.6 rebounds per contest. Sommers was second on the team last season with 33 assists, while Swedo dished out 18.

THS no longer has the services of All-Kaw Valley League guard and 2013-14 leading scorer Jack Dale, who transferred to Basehor-Linwood at the end of the season. The Chieftains must also replace 2014 grad Tyler Ford.

Hecht is the team’s most experienced post player after playing in 19 games as a junior, including two starts. The tallest player on the team at 6-foot-5, he averaged 4 points and 3.5 rebounds in less than 12 minutes per outing. The Chieftains must fill the void left under the basket by All-KVL selection James Grizzle, as well as Ben Johnson, Eric McPherson and Eric Tate. Grizzle led the team in rebounding and was second only to Dale in scoring.

Other returning players who saw marginal varsity time last year are Devan Smith, Dylan Staatz and Dylan Rinne. They are among several hopefuls trying to crack the varsity lineup, which Phillips said is far from decided.

“It’s still up in the air,” he said. “Our senior class has been around for quite a while, so I expect there will be several seniors, but who it’s going to be, I don’t know. We’ve still got a long way to go.”

With more than two weeks remaining before the team’s season-opener — a home meeting Dec. 4 against Baldwin — players will have several opportunities to make a case for a starting role.

According to Sommers, the only player with more than two starts currently under his belt, the formula for a spot on varsity is simpler than one might think.

“Just compete on offense and defense for everything,” he said. “Coach is going to put the guys who compete the hardest on the floor, so that’ll be the biggest thing.”

Following its home date with Baldwin, THS will travel Dec. 12 to Ottawa before opening its league slate four days later at Bonner Springs. This year’s regular-season schedule could include as many as six games against 2014 state teams. The Chieftains will play Class 5A state champion Lansing and 4A-I participant Basehor-Linwood two times each in league play, while 4A-II champ Eudora and qualifier Holton are in this year’s Tonganoxie Invitational field.