Tongie girls excited about trip to state

? Tonganoxie High’s girls basketball team’s state-tournament berth wasn’t built in one day, in one game, or even one year.

For coach Randy Kraft and the Chieftains, it’s been a long, slow process since he took over three years ago. But tonight Tonganoxie (21-2) will play in the state tournament for the first time since 1998, taking on Hoyt-Royal Valley (17-6) in the first round.

Tipoff is 8:15 p.m. at the Bicentennial Center in Salina.

The trip to the state tournament especially is rewarding for two of the team’s seven seniors, Heather Deaver and Addie Heim, who made their way into Randy Kraft’s starting lineup as sophomores after he took over as head coach.

The two have seen Tonganoxie transform from a struggling basketball team to one of Class 4A’s elite teams.

But standout sophomore Ali Pistora punched Tonganoxie’s ticket to the tournament. Despite their transformation into a class powerhouse, Kraft said his team wasn’t taking its task today lightly.

“They’re real excited,” Kraft said. “I don’t want to say they’re overconfident, but they’re not there just to be there, they’re ready to compete.”

The Chieftains definitely earned their way to the tournament in a hard-fought sub-state championship game against Kansas City Sumner. Tongie was pushed into overtime before scooting past Sumner for the sub-state championship, 56-49.

Royal Valley, by contrast, played in a comparatively easier sub-state section and advanced to the state tournament with a sub-state championship victory over Jeff West, 57-48. Jeff West was the only common opponent the two teams faced; Tongie crushed Jeff West, 45-27, Jan. 21.

Kraft admitted that he didn’t know much about Royal Valley and only was able to acquire a few highlights on video. Kraft will have to look out for forward Misty Stone, who scorched Jeff West for 17 points.

But even so, Kraft said that his team wasn’t going to alter its game plan for Royal Valley or any other team it faces this week.

“We’re going to try to be business as usual as much as possible,” Kraft said. “We don’t do a lot of changing for anyone.”

Kraft also said that he was pleased with how his team had practiced this week, even with the pressure of a state tournament looming ahead. Monday’s practice was confined to a casual shootaround to work off any lingering letdown following the sub-state championship, and then fell back into its normal routine Tuesday.

If the Chieftains win tonight, they likely will play No. 2 Iola tomorrow night at 6:30