Shawnee — All Jacob Walker was asking for was a little help.
OK, so the soft-spoken junior guard for Tonganoxie High probably wouldn't ever say such a thing, but for the first 91/2 minutes of the second half he was the only Chieftain to score and Mill Valley's intense comeback bid looked feasible.
But as soon as a few other Chieftains found the basket, Tonganoxie had little trouble going on a quick surge to pick up a 69-53 boys basketball victory at Mill Valley on Friday night.
"I really don't know what to say," Walker said about his 10 points that carried Tonganoxie through its rough scoring slump. "I was just feeling it and kept putting it up."
Tonganoxie (4-5) had no trouble scoring early, as it took a 15-10 lead after one quarter and poured it on in the second.
The Chieftains outscored Mill Valley 22-14 while shooting 67 percent in the second quarter. They hit all three free throws during the quarter and were 3-of-5 behind the three-point arc, seemingly running away with the Kaw Valley League contest.
"We really started playing as a team," said Tonganoxie's Jordan Glenn, who scored 11 of his 13 points in the second. "We were tired of getting beat and we really came out hard that quarter. When we play hard like that we can play."
Then came the third, when, besides Walker, who scored a game-high 17 points, the Chieftains were ice cold.
"I think sometimes halftime can cool off a team that's on a hot streak," Tonganoxie coach David Walker said. "But you have to give them credit. They did some things different defensively. I thought we did a good job countering that but it didn't turn out the way we planned."
The Jaguars quickly erased a 13-point halftime deficit and trailed by only five after Ryan Cooley scored 30 seconds into the fourth.
Jacob Walker popped in his third three-pointer to provide instant relief. Teammate Joe Calovich finally gave Jacob Walker some help when he scored on a drive and was fouled with 61/2 minutes left in the game.
Calovich's free throw gave Tonganoxie a 50-41 advantage.
But the Chieftains weren't out of trouble quite yet, as Mill Valley's Travis Chavez scored four consecutive points, including a nifty reverse.
But Tonganoxie went on a 19-8 run and sealed the deal with late free throws. The Chieftains had no trouble scoring, as six players found the basket while Jacob Walker didn't score a point down the stretch.
"He (Walker) had a fantastic game," David Walker said. "But there are a few people on this team who can have those moments, and this team understands that that can happen and goes along with it."
The Chieftains will play host to the Tonganoxie Invitational starting Monday.
Tonganoxie girls 46,
Mill Valley 28
The Chieftains had little trouble picking up their second win of the season and adding to Mill Valley's losing streak.
Aimee Eisman scored 14 points, while Laura Korb had 10 and Alicia Stauch and Keri Walker combined for 17.
"It's really the first time we came out and played for four full quarters," Tonganoxie coach Leslie Foster said. "We defended, hit our shots and communicated as a team."
Mill Valley lost its 29th straight dating to last season.
Tonganoxie boys 69, Mill Valley 53
TONGANOXIE (69)
Matt Alexander 2-5 3-4 7, Joe Calovich 1-2 1-1 3, Bryan Gurss 4-10 3-5 11, Jacob Walker 7-10 0-0 17, Jon Gripka 3-4 0-0 8, Thomas Gilner 1-3 1-2 3, Shane Howard 2-4 3-4 7, Chad Turner 0-1 0-0 0, Jordan Glenn 4-7 4-4 13, Kraig LaRosh 0-0 0-0 0, Brad Reischman 0-2 0-0, Billy Baska 0-0 0-2 0. Totals 24-48 15-22 69.
MILL VALLEY (53)
Brandon Smith 2-4 4-5 8, Travis Chavez 8-18 0-0 16, Ryan Cooley 4-8 1-3 9, Ryan Draper 2-12 2-6 7, Sean Scott 3-8 3-4 9, Paul Thom 0-1 2-2 2, John Goodin 1-1 0-4 2, David Woods 0-2 0-2 0, Nick Sterner 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 20-55 12-26 53.
Tonganoxie 15 22 7 25 69
Mill Valley 10 14 13 16 53
Three-point goals Tonganoxie 6-8 (Walker 3-4, Gripka 2-3, Turner 0-1), Mill Valley 1-10 (Draper 1-7, Chavez 0-2, Scott 0-1).
Tonganoxie girls 46, Mill Valley 28
TONGANOXIE (46)
Kelly Brauer 1 0-0 2, Katie Jeannin 1 0-0 2, Aimee Eisman 5 4-6 14, Laura Korb 2 5-6 10, Alicia Stauch 4 1-4 9, Keri Walker 3 2-2 8, Jennifer Reischman 0 1-2 1. Totals 16 13-20 46.
MILL VALLEY (26)
Megan Niemann 2 0-0 4, Heather Woolever 2 0-0 4, Ellie Gundelfinger 1 0-0 2, Kara Hoschouer 0 0-2 0, Kelli Wilbur 1 0-0 2, Dionna Brown 2 0-0 4, Kendra Corley 4 1-2 10, Sarah Luschen 1 0-1 2. Totals 13 1-5 28.
Tonganoxie 12 9 12 13 46 Mill Valley 4 10 9 5 28
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