But it was a third quarter that saw Piper erupt for 30 points that ultimately doomed the visiting Chieftains.

Piper went on to win, 73-60, after a third quarter in which the Pirates outscored the Chieftains, 30-15.

THS got out to a slow start, as Piper opened with a 12-5 lead heading into the second quarter.

The Chieftains, though, got in a bit of a groove in the second quarter, outscoring the Pirates, 20-15.

That cut the lead to 27-25, heading into a third quarter that Tonganoxie couldn’t overcome.

Piper’s largest lead was 21 at 70-49, and THS just couldn’t catch up.

The Chieftains went 20-for-25 from the line, good for 80 percent. From the field, they shot 37 percent (19-for-51). They made two three-pointers out of 10 attempts.

Piper shot 38 percent from the field (26/68), but also had 13 three-pointers. The Pirates went 8-for-20 from the free-throw line.

The three-pointers seemed to be the big difference in the game, as Piper outscored Tonganoxie, 39-6, from beyond the arc. The Pirates also had 17 second-chance points to Tonganoxie’s four. THS mustered 12 points off turnovers to Piper’s 11, while the Pirates grabbed 45 rebounds to Tonganoxie’s 38.

THS fell to 3-11 with the loss.

Carl Hecht and Dylan Rinne led Tonganoxie scorers with 16 each, while Dylan Staatz, Jared Sommers and Greg DeVeau each contributed six points.

The Chieftains get ready for their archrival Friday when THS plays Basehor-Linwood in Tonganoxie.