In their first appearance at the Winter Wildcat Classic, the Eureka High School Lady Tornado basketball team made a lasting impression by clinching the championship title.
Eureka vs. Bluestem The Lady Tornadoes opened the tournament with a commanding performance against the Bluestem Lions on Monday, Dec. 9, cruising to a 53-14 victory to advance to the semifinals.
From the opening tip, Eureka set the tone. Laynie Winfrey sank a corner three-pointer to kick off the scoring, followed by a quick layup before Bluestem managed to notch a free throw. While the Lions traded a few baskets with the Tornadoes early on, a 15-0 run by Eureka solidified their control. The first half ended with a highlight-reel driveand- kick from Winfrey to Lydia Mason, who nailed a three-pointer to give Eureka a commanding 25-9 halftime lead.
The Tornadoes came out strong in the second half. Kimber Ptacek grabbed a defensive rebound and launched a perfect outlet pass to Brenna Rucker for a fastbreak layup. Eureka’s transition game proved unstoppable as Rucker later found Britta Mongeau in the corner for another three-pointer. Rucker spearheaded the scoring spree, adding 9 of her 17 total points in the second half.
Eureka’s defensive dominance was equally impressive. The Tornadoes held the Lions to just five points in the second half while scoring 28 of their own. Contributions from Winfrey, Mongeau, Mason, Elle Coulter and Rucker rounded out a balanced offensive effort, sealing the 53-14 victory.
Stats and Scoring Leaders: POINTS: Rucker 15, Winfrey 9, Mongeau 7, Mason and Coulter 6, Ptacek 4 and Alaina Westerman, Hannah Perrier and Karsyn Osborne 2.
REBOUNDS: Ptacek 10, Rucker 8, Perrier 4 and Winfrey, Mongeau and Westerman 3. ASSISTS: Arabella Shepherd 5 and Winfrey 4. STEALS: Winfrey 3 and Rucker 2.
Eureka vs. Cherryvale: Tornadoes Storm Into Finals The Eureka Lady Tornadoes advanced to the Winter Wildcat Classic finals with a dominant 63-33 win over the Cherryvale Chargers on Thursday, Dec. 12.
The game began with Eureka winning the opening tip. Winfrey wasted no time, finding Mongeau cutting to the basket. Mongeau sank two free throws after drawing a foul, putting Eureka on the board first. The Chargers countered with a three-pointer, and the teams traded baskets in a tightly contested opening period. Mongeau showcased her playmaking skills, threading a pass to Westerman for a quick score, but Cherryvale’s pair of free throws capped the quarter, leaving the teams locked in a close battle.
Eureka shifted gears in the second quarter, igniting both offensively and defensively. The Tornadoes forced 10 turnovers, grabbed 5 steals and recorded 4 deflections, smothering Cherryvale’s offense. Meanwhile, Winfrey, Ptacek, Rucker, Mongeau, Perrier and Coulter led an offensive surge that ended the half with Eureka holding a commanding 3819 advantage.
The Chargers started the second half with a quick basket and a free throw, but the Tornadoes answered with authority. Coulter drained a three-pointer from the wing, absorbed a foul, and completed a rare four-point play. Moments later, Rucker converted a steal into a fastbreak layup, energizing the Tornadoes and leaving Cherryvale reeling. Eureka maintained relentless pressure on both ends, with Winfrey, Rucker, Mongeau, and Coulter raising the team’s three-point shooting percentage to an impressive 39%.
When the final buzzer sounded, Eureka had clinched a decisive 63-33 victory. With momentum on their side, the Lady Tornadoes turned their focus to the championship game against Neodesha.
Stats and Scoring Leaders: POINTS: Rucker 19, Mongeau and Coulter 12, Ptacek 8, Winfrey 6 and Mason and Westerman 2. REBOUNDS: Rucker 7, Ptacek, Mongeau and Coulter 3, and Winfrey 2.
ASSISTS: Rucker 7, Winfrey
3 and Ptacek, Mongeau, Mason and Coulter 2.
STEALS: Ptacek 6, Rucker 3 and Mongeau 2.
Eureka vs. Neodesha Lady Tornadoes Claim Winter Wildcat Classic Championship In the championship game of the Yates Center Tournament, the stateranked, undefeated Eureka Lady Tornadoes faced the equally formidable Neodesha Bluestreaks. After 32 intense minutes, Eureka claimed the Winter Wildcat Classic title with a 4536 victory.
Eureka set the tone early, winning the opening tip. Coulter delivered the first blow with a smooth spin move and a hook shot to open the scoring. Neodesha answered with a second- chance basket in the lane, but the Tornadoes responded as Mongeau fed the ball inside to Ptacek for a quick score. The Bluestreaks managed a 7-0 run before Rucker grabbed a crucial rebound and found Ptacek in the lane for two points, stopping Neodesha’s momentum.
The second quarter saw both teams battle fiercely. Eureka outscored Neodesha 13-11, with Winfrey carrying the offensive load, scoring 11 points in the period. As the halftime buzzer sounded, the game was deadlocked at 21-21, setting the stage for an exciting finish.
Winfrey opened the second half with a pair of free throws, and the Tornadoes’ defense quickly turned up the pressure. A steal by Winfrey led to a fastbreak assist to Westerman, who scored with ease. Westerman followed up with another bucket, assisted again by Winfrey. The Tornadoes added a three-pointer to extend their lead before Neodesha could respond.
In the fourth quarter, Eureka’s defense continued to shine, creating havoc with deflections, steals, and forced turnovers. Offensively, the Tornadoes took control. Rucker’s drive and kick set up Mongeau for a clutch three-pointer, prompting a Bluestreak timeout. Rucker then sealed the game with a deep three-pointer, a strong drive to the basket, and an additional free throw to put the final dagger in Neodesha’s hopes. When the buzzer sounded, the Tornadoes emerged victorious, 45-36, earning the championship title. With their stellar performance in the Winter Wildcat Classic, the Lady Tornadoes demonstrated their resilience and skill, setting the tone for the rest of the season.
Stats and Scoring Leaders: POINTS: Winfrey 17, Rucker 8, Westerman 7, Ptacek 6 and Mason and Coulter 2. REBOUNDS: Winfrey and Rucker 6, Ptacek and Mongeau 4, Westerman and Mason 3 and Coulter and Shepherd 2. ASSISTS: Winfrey and Mongeau 3. STEALS: Rucker 4 and Winfrey, Ptacek and Mongeau 2.
Up Next
The Lady Tornadoes were slated to face Humboldt on Monday, Dec. 16 before traveling to Rosalia to take on the Flinthills Mustangs on Friday, Dec, 20. Game time is slated for 6 p.m.