In what was set to be a marquee Tri-Valley League (TVL) game between two league frontrunners, the Eureka Lady Tornadoes defeated the Cherryvale Chargers 73-65 on the road on Thursday, Feb. 15. Junior Laynie Winfrey put on quite the show with a double-double performance and a layup that sent the two teams into overtime so Eureka could secure another league victory and their seventh consecutive league title.
Cherryvale won the tip and after two attempts at the basket, couldn’t put up any points. Winfrey secured the rebound and caught Brenna Rucker flying down the court in transition for a quick bucket. It wasn’t until about 2 minutes into the game that the Chargers were able to respond and put themselves on the board. A made free throw gave the Chargers the lead, 4-5, halfway through the first quarter. Britta Mongeau took the lead back after gaining the steal and converting it into two with a left-handed layup. The Chargers were able to match the basket. Kimber Ptacek found Alaina Westerman inside the lane. With defenders flying her direction, Westerman kicked the ball to Mongeau for a corner trey. The proceeding possessions resulted in back and forth scoring, each team responding when the other would score. By the end of the quarter, the two teams were tied 11-11.
The chargers were the first to strike in the second quarter with a shot from underneath the basket.
A few possessions later, the Tornadoes responded. Winfrey drove into the lane, pulling two Charger defenders, and sent a solid hook pass to Westerman on the opposite block for two. The basket spearheaded a 5-0 run for the Tornadoes. Rucker got a steal and brought the ball down into the lane, before turning back and finding a trailing Winfrey for a shot from behind the arc.
Cherryvale was quick to match it with a three-pointer of their own. The teams continued to battle hard in the last few minutes of the half. Mongeau secured another shot from three point land. Ptacek attacked on defense with a deflection that forced the Chargers into the backcourt.
Mongeau leapt into action and worked to rip the ball away, forcing a Cherryvale timeout. Eureka and Cherryvale both snuck in another basket before the buzzer. Elle Coulter wrapped up the scoring column, giving Eureka the lead 30-25 through one half of play.
The first possession resulted in a defensive foul on the Tornadoes, putting the Chargers on the line for the first two points of the third quarter. Rucker got into the lane and kicked it to the corner. Winfrey drained the three-point shot, pulling the lead to 33-27. The back and forth scoring continued for a few more possessions. Mongeau knocked down yet another shot from three point land, the first three points of a 7-0 run. Numerous runs were made by both Eureka and Cherryvale to complete the third quarter, Eureka leading by two, 48-46.
The final quarter of play was quite the nailbiter. Efforts from both teams were made in an attempt to secure the victory. Cherryvale fired off offensively and defensively, sneaking in short runs that provided them with the lead. With 1:07 left in the fourth quarter, the Chargers had the lead 62-55. While all hope may have seemed lost, the Tornadoes weren’t going to go down without a fight. After drawing in a foul from behind the arc, Rucker knocked down 3 free throws, shortening the gap 62-58. Cherryvale made an attempt at the basket, but Winfrey was quick to shut it down with an outstanding block. A nerve wracking drive from Coulter supplied Winfrey with another opportunity to score. A Tornado timeout was called. 11.1 seconds remained on the clock and Eureka was down 60-62. Lydia Mason fouled to stop the clock. Cherryvale missed both free throws and Winfrey got the rebound. Taking the ball from coast to coast, Winfrey scored the layup, tying up the game and sending the Tornadoes into overtime.
Eureka played an amazing four minutes in overtime, only allowing Cherryvale to score 3 points to their own 11. The Tornadoes earned 6 of their points from the free throw line. The rest came from a layup by Coulter and a threepoint basket by Mason. Winfrey had an amazing double-double performance, leading the team in 3 statistical categories. The final buzzer sounded a 73-65 Tornado victory, maintaining Eureka’s undefeated TVL record and awarding them their seventh consecutive TVL Championship.
Stats and Scoring Leaders: POINTS: Winfrey 24, Mongeau 16, Rucker 15, Coulter 12, Mason 4, and Westerman 2. REBOUNDS: Winfrey 12, Rucker 7 and Mason and Mongeau 4. ASSISTS: Winfrey 6, Rucker 4 and Mongeau and Westerman 2. STEALS: Rucker 3 and Winfrey and Mongeau 2.
Up Next
The Eureka Lady Tornadoes competed against the Olpe Eagles on the road on Monday, Feb. 19. The game wrapped up the regular season and sends the Tornadoes into Sub-State action next week. The Lady Tornadoes will host the first round of action on Monday, Feb. 26.
(Courtesy photo)
