Last week, the Junior High Tornado basketball teams competed in the Junior High Tri-Valley League (TVL) tournament.
Eureka’s A-team Ladies claimed victories in the first two rounds to advance to the championship game. On Saturday, Feb. 3 Junior High Lady Tornado basketball vied for the championship title against Caney Valley. The Tornadoes fell behind early, trailing 6-28 at halftime. Eureka was only able to add 12 points in the second half and lost the game, 18-43. The Lady Tornado A-team concluded their season with an 10-5 overall record. The Lady Tornadoes finished third place in regular season play behind Neodesha and Caney. Caney defeated Neodesha, who was undefeated in the regular season, in semi-final action in tournament play.
Girls Round 1 - Bluestem Eureka girls hosted Bluestem in the opening round, at home.
The Lady Tornadoes A-team gained a fourpoint lead in the first quarter. Eureka tallied 19 additional points in the second quarter, before going to the half 27-6. Bluestem tried to gain momentum in the second half. Though the third quarter was their highest scoring period, with the Lions knocking down 12 points to Eureka’s 10, their work wasn’t enough to overtake the Tornadoes. Eureka went 37- 18 into the final quarter. Eight points for Bluestem and four for Eureka concluded the game with a Tornado win, 41-26. Scoring for Eureka were: Sydney Lindamood 15, Arabella Shepherd and Karsyn Osborne with 9 points each, Lylly Stapleford 6 and Jersey Cox with 5 points.
B-team Lady Tornadoes fell behind by two in the first quarter and were able to maintain a close score with the Lions through the end of the first half. Eureka sat 9-11 at the top of the third quarter. The Tornadoes lost their footing however, as third quarter action began. The Lions were able to build their lead, Eureka trailing 9-20 as they headed to the fourth quarter. Eureka fell, 15-25. Scoring for the Tornadoes were: McKenna McDonald and Anabell Bogle with 5 points each, Abbie Foth 4 and Celona Hall with 1.
Girls Round 2 - Humboldt With the championship on the line, the Lady Tornadoes A-team came out strong in the first half to lead 16-6 at the intermission. The Tornadoes continued to outscore the Cubs in the second half and clinched the game, 32-19. Scoring for Eureka were Lindamood 12, Osborne 8, Shepherd 6, Cox 4 and Stapleford 2.
In B-team action, the Lady Tornadoes outscored the Cubs in three of the four quarters; giving them a 12-7 lead going into the final quarter. The Tornadoes were outscored 4-10 in the final quarter putting them down by one as the final buzzer sounded. Eureka lost the game 16-17. Scoring for Eureka were McDonald 6, Bogle 4, and Foth, Guillaume and Hall all with 2.
Boys Round 1 - Humboldt Junior High Tornado boys’ basketball hosted Humboldt Monday, Jan. 29.
A-team boys fell behind by eight in the first quarter and were unable to come back throughout the remaining quarters. Sitting 2-10 at the top of the second period, Eureka was unable to reduce their deficit before going to the half, 6-22. Consistent scoring from Humboldt resulted in the Tornadoes falling further behind in the second half. After scoring four points in the third quarter and seven in the fourth, Eureka concluded the game 17-46. Scoring for the Tornadoes were: Tate Scott, Wacey Ross and Brody Mitchell each with 4 points, Eli Mason 3 and Will Morris with 2 points.
B-team Tornadoes saw a similar start to their game against Humboldt, trailing by 9 at the end of the first period. Humboldt led, 1-10. Eureka ended the first half with a 13-point deficit. The Tornadoes had their highest scoring quarter of the game, coming out of halftime. Knocking down eight shots, Eureka tallied 12 points in the third quarter, but was unable to match Humboldt. Humboldt totaled 18 points for the second half, claiming the win over Eureka, 18-36. Scoring for the Tornadoes were: Dylan Conard 5, Cash Escareno and Christian Sanchez with 4 points each, Ja-Kolby Robbins 3 and Morris with 2 points.
Boys Round 2 - Bluestem In the second round of the TVL tournament, Junior High Tornadoes faced Bluestem last Thursday, Feb. 1.
A-Team boys took an early lead, sitting 5-0 at the end of the first quarter. The Tornadoes went to the half still leading, 9-3. Eureka put 13 points on the board in the third quarter, pulling further ahead, 22-7. Both teams tallied a final 5 points before concluding the game with a Tornado win, 27-12. Scoring for Eureka were: Mason 7, Maddox Hughes 6, Scott and Ross with 5 points each and Morris and Mitchell with 2 points each.
Eureka boy’s B-Team fell in a close 24-25 match against Bluestem following a trip into overtime. The Tornadoes lead at the top of the second quarter, sitting 8-3 with Bluestem. The Lions came back before heading to the half, Eureka trailing by one, 10-11. Bluestem pulled further ahead in the third quarter, the Tornadoes down, 1218. Before concluding the fourth quarter, Eureka tied the ballgame at 22 and took Bluestem into overtime. The Tornadoes fell, 24-25. Scoring for Eureka were: Scott and Sanchez with 6 points each, Conard and Morris with 4 points each and Robbins and Killian Harrington with 2 points each.
