Game of the Night: Tonganoxie Chieftains vs Ottawa Cyclones

Each week, we spotlight some of the most intriguing matchups across the great state of Kansas—featuring top programs from around the area and the talented athletes who make them special.   Today's Game of the Week highlights the Tonganoxie Lady Chieftains, owners of a 5–2 record this season. Tonganoxie brings a balanced attack with the ability to score inside and outside the paint. Standing in their way are the Ottawa Lady Cyclones, who enter the matchup unbeaten at 8–0 behind outstanding guard play.   The Lady Cyclones were in control of this game for nearly its entirety before Tonga made a run in the forth to get it within a point. Ottawa would hold on to that one point lead 47 - 46 as it would be enough to get them their 9th win on the season.   Lets take a look at some of tonight's key players.      Jaela came out aggressive, looking to get her offense going early. She showed range on her shot and the ability to get downhill off the bounce, attacking the defense with confidence. Her strong drives earned multiple trips to the foul line, and she showcased her playmaking ability by effectively running the two-man game with the post for easy layups.     Alyssa was a true floor general throughout the game, consistently understanding and dictating the pace for her team. In transition, she kept her head up and looked to push the ball ahead, delivering some excellent feeds to her bigs running the rim. She effectively guided her team into their offense, and when things got hectic, she showed poise by slowing the game down and getting everyone organized. Alyssa also demonstrated her scoring ability by attacking the basket and finishing strong. Her ability to handle pressure led to numerous trips to the free-throw line.     Schooler was a constant presence in the paint on both ends of the floor throughout the night. Defensively, she made opponents think twice about attacking the lane, blocking shots and forcing tough misses. On the offensive end, she was just as effective, showing soft touch and excellent footwork around the rim. She played with physicality in the paint and consistently earned trips to the free-throw line over the course of the game.           The athletic combo guard got off to a slow start scoring the basketball, but it allowed her to showcase her unselfishness and playmaking ability. Leah quickly found her rhythm late in the first quarter, knocking down a three before earning trips to the free-throw line. She attacked the basket when angles were in her favor and, when defenders closed out late, confidently displayed her range from beyond the arc.     The savvy point guard came out aggressive, showcasing her speed and ball-handling ability as she attacked the rim. She scored the first six points of the game for Ottawa, setting the tone early. But she didn't just score—she also distributed at a high level. Defensively, Price was active and disruptive, getting her hands on loose balls and coming up with timely steals. Price played with great effort and intensity and that helped propel them to a victory.    Kirby Evans - Sophomore, Guard, Ottawa High School   Evans was outstanding tonight, consistently doing the small things that helped her team maintain its lead. She was reliable on the glass all game and came up with several key plays at crucial moments. Evans also knocked down a three and added timely offensive rebounds that led to put-back points.

Each week, we spotlight some of the most intriguing matchups across the great state of Kansas—featuring top programs from around the area and the talented athletes who make them special.