Chanute Christian defeated Veritas in last year’s KCAA state championship basketball game. Things were different Tuesday night at Haskell’s Tecumseh Gym.

“We were expecting a stronger team,” Veritas post player Mark Randtke said after the Eagles rolled to a 69-20 victory. “It was good to get some of our bench players in.”

Veritas coach Doug Bennett substituted early and often after the Eagles (4-1) scored the first 15 points. Randtke scored six points, and guard Casey Woods added five in the opening run against the Warriors, who returned just one starter from last year’s squad.

A three-pointer by Veritas reserve Michael Kay made it 18-1. Another backup, Matt Steinle, scored the next seven points with two layups and a three.

The Eagles turned 12 Warrior turnovers into easy layups in the first quarter and led 27-1.

Veritas led 40-6 at halftime, and Bennett pulled his starters for good with 3:16 left in the third quarter and his team leading 51-10.

Things didn’t get any better for the Warriors (0-5) against the Eagles’ bench.

“I was pleased with all of the guys who played,” said Bennett, who used the blowout as an opportunity to work on set plays and experiment with different defenses. “They played at the top of their game. They didn’t get sloppy. They stayed focused, hustled and executed real well.”

Randtke led Veritas with 13 points and seven rebounds, and Woods added 10 points. Noah Barclay added nine, Steinle eight, and Kay and Paul Kempf each had seven in the balanced attack.

Veritas Christian's Josh Masrud (11) goes up for a layup over Chanute Christian's Paden Rourk. The Eagles won, 69-20, Tuesday at Haskell Indian Nations University.

Since losing their season opener to St. Marys, 68-43, the Eagles have won four straight.

“In the first game we hadn’t played together much,” Randtke said. “It’s starting to come together.”

Randtke, who sprained his right ankle in the preseason, was glad to have most of the second half off.

“It’s still swelling up,” he said of the ankle. “I’ll rest it during Christmas break.”

The Eagles will face Topeka Cornerstone at 7 p.m. Friday at Auburn in their final game before winter break. Veritas won two of three games against Cornerstone last season.