On Monday, Feb. 5, the Eureka Lady Tornadoes took on the Fredonia Yellowjackets for the second time this season. In commanding fashion, the Tornadoes claimed a 74-34 victory over the Yellowjackets.
Eureka was quick to assert their dominance with a steal from Brenna Rucker. Britta Mongeau received the ball on a fastbreak and finished the layup, earning the first two points of the game.
The basket was the first 2 points of a 14-0 run for the Tornadoes. Fredonia managed to add one point to the board with a free throw, but Eureka was relentless on both offense and defense. A steal from Alaina Westerman put the Tornadoes back on offense and in position to score. Once again, Mongeau was found racing toward the basket for another layup. Fredonia matched the layup with one of their own. The remainder of the quarter consisted of back and forth scoring between the two teams. By the end of the first eight minutes, Eureka was leading 25-9.
The second quarter was much like the first. Winfrey kicked off a 9-0 run with an inside shot on a baseline inbound. The Yellowjackets finally answered with a three-pointer, slipping in a 5-0 run on the Tornadoes. Fredonia’s glory was short-lived as Eureka went on to score a total of 16 points in the second quarter to the opponent’s 13. Eureka’s defense wreaked havoc on the Yellowjackets, forcing countless turnovers and having nearly a dozen deflections and steals in the first half. The halftime buzzer sounded with the Tornadoes ahead 41-22.
Eureka was the first to score in the third, not missing a beat after halftime. Rucker obtained the ball on a steal and drove it down the length of the court for two. She ignited the scoring with 10 points for the Tornadoes in the third quarter alone. Winfrey’s 15 points brought her to an astounding double-double with 10 rebounds. In traditional Lady Tornado fashion, running the floor and sharing the ball, the lead grew for Eureka in the third, 65-32.
The scoring slowed the slightest bit in the fourth for Eureka. While they only secured 9 points themselves, the Tornadoes held the Yellowjackets to just 2 points in the final quarter of play.
Elle Coulter wrapped up the scoring for the game when Lydia Mason found her in the corner for a three, sounding the 74-34 victory. The win contributed to Eureka’s undefeated TVL record.
Stat and Scoring Leaders:
POINTS: Rucker 20, Coulter 16, Winfrey 15, Mongeau 12, Mason 7, and Hannah Perrier 4.
REBOUNDS: Winfrey 10, Rucker and Perrier 4, Kimber Ptacek, Mongeau, Mason, and Coulter 3, Westerman 2, and Madelyn Miller 1. ASSISTS: Laynie Winfrey 6, Rucker and Mongeau 4, and Ptacek 2. STEALS: Rucker and Winfrey 3, and Westerman 2.
Up Next
The Eureka Lady Tornadoes will host the Erie Red Devils at home for the last time this season.
The Senior Night game took place on Tuesday, Feb. 13. On Thursday, Feb. 15, the Tornadoes will wrap up Tri-Valley League play on the road in a showdown against the Cherryvale Chargers.
