Coming off a 5-18 season, the Tonganoxie boys basketball team enters the 2026-27 season looking to establish a new identity.
For third-year head coach KC Simmons, that identity starts with pace.
With only two projected varsity players standing taller than 6 feet, the Chieftains will look to counter their lack of size by leaning on speed, ball skills and an up-tempo style of play.
“We look to find ways to take advantage of our collective speed and ball skills to play with more pace to combat our lack of size,” Simmons said.
Tonganoxie returns several players who saw significant varsity minutes last season, although many contributed in complementary roles. The next step will be for those players to expand their roles, become more consistent and emerge as leaders.
The Chieftains will need several players to make that transition as they look to build a cohesive team from a group with a variety of individual skills.
“The team will have a wide range of skills from player to player, so if we can come together and play as one cohesive unit, this group has the potential to complement each other very well on the court,” Simmons said.
That development will be tested immediately in the Frontier League, which Simmons describes as one of the most competitive Class 4A leagues in Kansas. Baldwin and Bonner Springs both captured state championships last season, underscoring the challenge facing Tonganoxie throughout the league schedule.
“It is important that we are ready to compete from day one,” Simmons said.
The Chieftains showed flashes of potential a year ago, but consistency will be a major emphasis entering the new season. Tonganoxie will look for its returning players to turn those flashes into sustained production while newcomers and younger players work to expand the team’s depth.
“There is definitely room to grow, but the foundation for a successful season is there,” Simmons said.
With a commitment to playing faster and making the most of its collective athleticism, Tonganoxie hopes its lack of size can become less of a limitation and its versatility can become a strength.
“We’re looking forward to the journey ahead and excited to see how this team develops,” Simmons said.
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