In a start to finish dominating performance, the Eureka Lady Tornadoes took down the Council Grove Braves on their home court on Tuesday, Feb. 6. The Lady Tornadoes controlled the game from start to finish, getting a 38-19 lead at halftime that rolled into their 64-30 victory.
The first few points of the game came from the three-point line when sophomore Britta Mongeau drained the shot on the wing. Brenna Rucker stole the ball in the backcourt and converted it into 2 points to add onto the 5-0 run for the Tornadoes. Council Grove put themselves on the board with a shot just under the basket. A defensive foul from Alaina Westerman put the Braves on the line to complete the three-point play. Rucker drained a deep three-pointer to match the shot.
Council Grove snuck in another 4 points, but Eureka finished the quarter with a smashing 24, giving them the 24-9 lead.
Rucker caught Laynie Winfrey diving to the basket for the first two points of the second quarter.
A back-door cut by the Braves gave them 2 points. Rucker responded in kind with another deep trey from the top of the key. For the remainder of the quarter, Eureka and Council Grove continued scoring back and forth, each team responding when the other would score. By the time the halftime buzzer went off, the Tornadoes were leading 38-19.
What hope the Braves might have had at halftime was quickly squashed in the third quarter.
Eureka dominated in the third, outscoring Council Grove 20-6. Winfrey kicked off the quarter with a left-handed layup. The Braves earned four of their six points early in the midst of a back and forth scoring battle. On a sideline inbound play, Rucker got a quick bucket in the lane, starting a run of six unanswered points by the Tornadoes. Council Grove finally responded, getting their last two points of the quarter. Eureka completed the scoring column for the third with another 6-0 run, strengthening the lead to 58-25.
Scoring slowed in the fourth quarter, with 6 points from the home team and 5 from the visitors.
A field goal from Westerman and 2 from Lydia Mason wrapped up the fourth quarter points. Eureka finished the game 64-34. Rucker led the Tornadoes in multiple statistical categories, and a double-double performance (29 points and 10 rebounds). The win maintains Eureka’s undefeated record on their home court and 12-4 on the season.
Stats and Scoring Leaders: POINTS: Rucker 29, Winfrey 15, Mongeau 8, Lydia Mason 6, Westerman 4, and Kimber Ptacek 2. REBOUNDS: Rucker 10, Winfrey, Mason, and Ptacek 3, and Westerman and Maddie Miller 2.
Up Next
The Eureka Lady Tornadoes will face the Bluestem Lions on the road on Friday, Feb. 9. For the last time during regular season, Eureka will play at home, hosting the Erie Red Devils, on Tuesday, Feb. 13 for Senior Night.
(Photo courtesy of Vandetta Mongeau)
