If the THS teams can build on efforts Thursday against Eudora, the Chieftains could enter 2024 with good tidings.

The THS girls are 1-3 on the season, but led at halftime at home Thursday against Eudora, which s ranked No.7 in 4A . The Cardinals didn’t pull away until the fourth quarter and eventually won, 37-27. Eudora moved to 5-0 with the victory. The THS girls face Baldwin (2-3) at 6 p.m. Tuesday on the road in the 2023 finale.

For the Tonganoxie boys, the Chieftains had an early lead on the Cardinals before trailing after a quarter, 12-9.

EHS built up a 19-9 lead, but THS clawed back and trailed just 25-20 at half.

Eudora was clicking on all cylinders and built up double-digit leads in the second half.

But then came a Tonganoxie surge.

Down 56-43 with 2:32 left, Tonganoxie rattled off six straight buckets. The last one was a thrilling and 1 from Lachlan McRae. The bucket made the score 56-55 and then McRae’s successful free throw tied the game at 56 with 24.7 seconds left.

THS went on a 13-0 run in those roughly 2 1/2 minutes.

Eudora called a timeout with 15.7 seconds left. EHS took the inbounds play after the timeout from near the THS bench.

Logan Sullivan proceeded to drive to the basket and get the winning bucket in the closing seconds, as elation turned to heartache for the Chieftains.

Eudora improved to 3-2, while THS fell to 0-4 on the season. The Chieftains will meet 4-0 Baldwin on Tuesday on the road. Baldwin is ranked No. 5 in 4A.