The Lady Tornado basketball team claimed fifth place at the Trojan Classic Tournament in Hillsboro last week, after they went 2-1 against strong competition. As the seventh seed, Eureka had their work cut out for them with a loaded tournament field. Two of the eight teams were undefeated prior to the three-day competition.
Eureka vs. Hesston
In the opening round of the Hillsboro Tournament, the Eureka Lady Tornadoes matched up against the Hesston Swathers on Thursday, Jan. 18. The Swathers are a highly respectable team, holding the number three ranking in 3A. Eureka battled throughout all four quarters, but they were unsuccessful in securing the win. Suffering their fourth loss of the season, the Tornadoes were defeated 3157.
Hesston opened the first quarter with a 4-0 run before Eureka finally answered with an inside bucket from sophomore Brenna Rucker. The Tornadoes struggled to get stops on the defensive end, allowing their opponent to acquire another 9-0 run. The run would be the last the Swathers would score in the first eight minutes of play. The Tornadoes, however, had a few more to supply before the first quarter buzzer would sound. Another drive from Rucker and a pair of free throws from junior Kimber Ptacek were added to the Tornadoes’ scoring column, closing the gap to 7 points and wrapping up the first quarter, Eureka trailing 6-13.
The first 6 points of the quarter came from Hesston. A shot from behind the arc, a free throw, and a second chance field goal off of an offensive rebound stretched Hesston’s lead, 6-19. Junior Laynie Winfrey put an end to the run after drawing a foul at the basket and finishing one free throw. The Swathers managed another two points before sophomore Britta Mongeau drained a corner three, assisted by Winfrey. Hesston snuck in another four points, but the Tornadoes threw the last punch of the half. Mongeau found Winfrey in the lane for a quick two points to finish off the half, Eureka down 12-25.
The second half was a fresh start for the Tornadoes, as they came out with a new sense of urgency. Eureka went to work both offensively and defensively, forcing turnovers and scoring a total of eleven points in the quarter, which was about as many as the first two quarters combined. Hesston managed a 4-0 run, but it was quickly shut down after Ptacek found sophomore Hannah Perrier wide open in the paint for two. Perrier was victorious in drawing the foul, however, she was unable to finish the free throw. The Swathers earned two more baskets from the three point line. Ptacek responded in kind with a one-dribble pull up jumper from the right wing and another field goal from the opposite wing after an assist from sophomore Alaina Westerman, forcing a Swather timeout. Coming out of the timeout, Hesston managed another shot from three point land. Rucker drew a foul, giving the ball to the Tornadoes on the baseline. With a quick lob over the defense to Winfrey, Rucker flew to the corner. Faking a pass back to Rucker, Winfrey was able to turn back to an open basket and finish the shot. A defensive rebound from Mongeau put Eureka into a fastbreak. After a deflected pass, Westerman and Ptacek entered a scuffle with some Swather defenders. Ptacek secured the ball and sent it across the court to Rucker on the opposite wing for a deep three pointer. Hesston matched the three with one of their own to bring the third quarter to an end. The Tornadoes were behind 23-43.
The Swathers kicked off the final quarter with 8 unanswered points. A steal from Ptacek was converted into two points after finding freshman Elle Coulter on the run for a lay-in. After another Hesston bucket, Coulter got the ball on the inbound and took it from coast to coast, driving to the right all the way to the basket for another two points. A few possessions were played before the Tornadoes scored once more. After setting a screen, Perrier slipped to the basket, receiving a hook pass from Ptacek, and finishing the field goal. While the Tornadoes battled hard, they were unable to beat the Swathers. After 32 minutes of play, Eureka was beaten 31-57.
Scoring and Stat Leaders POINTS: Ptacek 8, Rucker 7, Winfrey 5, Perrier and Coulter 4, and Mongeau 3. REBOUNDS: Winfrey 7, Rucker 5, Lydia Mason 3, and Madelyn Miller and Westerman 2. ASSISTS: Ptacek 3. STEALS: Ptacek and Winfrey 2.
Eureka vs. Riley County In the semi-final round of the Hillsboro Tournament, the Eureka Lady Tornadoes faced the Riley County Falcons on Friday, Jan. 19. The second round match-up was a battle until the last buzzer, Eureka winning 40-37 to advance to the fifth place game.
Eureka won the tip, but neither team managed to score until a few possessions later. A three-point basket by the Falcons started a 6-0 run against the Tornadoes. Rucker attempted a shot from behind the arc and was unsuccessful. Mason secured the rebound, found Rucker diving to the basket, and passed the ball inside. Rucker finished the two points and drew a foul. Draining the free throw, she obtained the first three-point play of the game. A defensive foul returned the Falcons to the free throw line, giving Riley County another point. Just before the end of the first quarter, Winfrey closed the gap to 5-7 with a 2-point field goal, wrapping up the first with Eureka trailing by 2.
The Falcons increased the scoring gap to five with another three pointer, but Eureka ret urned the favor with a 12-0 run, s c o r i ng unanswered each poss e s s i on five consecutive times. Winfrey received the ball inside for a quick bucket. The Tornadoes’ high pressure defense forced a turnover, returning the ball to Eureka for another scoring attempt. Ptacek added two points to the board with a drive to the left and a nice lay-in. Ptacek managed a steal in the backcourt, passing the ball to Mongeau. Some Falcon defenders were able to grab the ball before Rucker swooped in and kicked the ball to the top of the key. Winfrey, who received the pass from Rucker, drained the three point shot. Next possession, the Tornadoes had another shot from three point land. This time, it came from Rucker, who sank the deep three assisted by Mason. Riley County finally responded with a 2 point basket and a free throw due to a foul from Mason. Coulter matched the three points with a corner three of her own, assisted by Winfrey. Not only was Eureka firing off offensively, but their high pressure defense caused over half a dozen turnovers and violations against the Falcons throughout the first half. At the sound of the halftime buzzer, Eureka was ahead by 2, 22-20.
The third quarter was a bit of a dry spell for both teams. The Falcons managed two points, and Eureka was quick to match it with a back cut straight to the basket by Rucker and a pass inside from Winfrey. Rucker supplied another deep trey for the Tornadoes and Westerman contributed to the boards as well with a shot from the left elbow, assisted by Ptacek. Eureka’s defense allowed only four points, while scoring seven of their own throughout the third quarter of play, 29-24.
A three pointer by Mason and an additional 8 points by Rucker contributed to the eleven points Eureka scored in the final quarter of play. Riley County outscored the Tornadoes 11-13, but they fell short and were unable to defeat the Tornadoes. The 40-37 victory allowed Eureka to move on to the fifth place game, where they would face up against the Remington Broncos.
Scoring and Stat Leaders POINTS: Rucker 19, Winfrey 9, Coulter 5, Mason 3, and Ptacek and We s t e r man 2. REBOUNDS:
Rucker 9, Winfrey 4, and Ptacek, We s t e r man, and Coulter 2.
ASSISTS:
Winfrey 3, and Rucker, Ptacek, and Mason 2. STEALS: Rucker 4, and Winfrey, Ptacek and Mason 2.
Eureka vs. Remington In the fifth place game of the Hillsboro Tournament, the Eureka Lady Tornadoes competed against the Remington Broncos on Saturday, Jan. 20. With a very solid first half of play, the Tornadoes earned their sixth victory of the season. The 39-27 win over the Broncos allowed Eureka to take fifth place in the talented tournament.
On a baseline inbound play, Rucker lobbed the ball to the top of the key where Winfrey was waiting to knock down the three. The Broncos answered with a two-point bucket, but Eureka matched it with a quick bucket by Westerman. The teams traded a few baskets back and forth before the first quarter buzzer sounded. A corner three by Mason, assisted by Coulter, completed the Tornadoes’ scoring for the first. The last two points of the quarter, however, came from Remington, closing the gap to 10-6 with Eureka in the lead.
Rucker kicked off the second quarter with seven unanswered points, creating the first run of the game. Rucker thrived on transition, having scored two points on a right hand drive, another three on an and-1 play, and an additional two on a pull-up jumper from just outside the lane. Remington was finally able to respond with one made free throw, before another run by the Tornadoes was afoot. A two-point field goal by Winfrey started the 8-0 run for Eureka. Rucker secured the defensive rebound after Remington attempted a shot of their own. Winfrey received the outlet pass and drove the ball all the way down the court. Just before reaching the basket, and two Bronco defenders, Winfrey hooked the ball over her head and sent it straight over to Coulter on the opposite block for two. Layups by Rucker and Westerman wrapped up the points for the Tornadoes. Remington managed another two points before halftime. With a dominating second quarter, Eureka was able to shut down the Broncos. Only three points were added to the opponent’s board, while the Tornadoes successfully fired off 15 points, stretching the gap to 25-9 at the end of the half.
The second half built much momentum for both teams. The first two points of the third quarter came from the Broncos. Similar to the baseline out of bounds play from the first quarter, Rucker lobbed the ball over the defense to Winfrey at the free throw line for a two-point field goal. Remington traded another basket with Eureka. Mongeau drained a corner three in transition, starting yet another 5-0 run for the Tornadoes. Unable to score on offense, the Broncos were forced to get back and defend. Winfrey attempted a shot underneath the basket. Although it didn’t make its way through the net, Westerman secured the offensive rebound and gave it right back to Winfrey for a redemption shot. Remington managed a couple two-point buckets and a Tornado turnover put them back on offense for a third try. Winfrey poked the ball out from one of the Broncos and Rucker was able to shoot the gap and get the steal. Taking the ball from rim to rim, Rucker finished the right hand layup, another set of transition points for the sophomore. Eureka’s defense let up ever so slightly and Remington quickly took advantage of the slip, earning their first 8-0 run of the game. The Tornadoes threw the last punch of the quarter as Rucker drove to the elbow, pulling in three Bronco defenders, leaving Winfrey open at the top of the key for a trey. Remington managed to outscore the Tornadoes 12-16 in the third bringing the overall score to 37-25, Eureka still in the lead.
The fourth quarter was a scoring deficit for both teams. Another transition layup from Rucker and a two-point field goal for Remington contributed to the four total points of the final quarter. Eureka held the ball offensively, running out the clock. After 32 vigorous minutes, the Tornadoes claimed the victory 39-27. Though they were seeded 7th in the tournament, the Eureka Lady Tornadoes came out fifth.
Scoring and Stat Leaders POINTS: Winfrey 14, Rucker 13, Westerman 4, Mongeau and Mason 3, and Coulter 2. REBOUNDS: Rucker 11, Winfrey 7, Mongeau, Westerman, and Mason 4, Ptacek 3, and Miller and Coulter 2. ASSISTS: Rucker and Winfrey 4. STEALS: Rucker 6 and Winfrey 3.
Up Next
Eureka will now begin TVL play starting this week on Tuesday, Jan. 23, where they will be hosting the Caney Valley Bullpups on their home court. On Friday, Jan. 26, Eureka will remain at home, matching up against the Fredonia Yellowjackets.
(Photo courtesy of Vandetta Mongeau)
