The Eureka Lady Tornadoes faced the Olpe Eagles on their home court last Monday, Feb. 3.
The Eagles are a highly respected team in 1A and the Tornadoes had their work cut out for them.
Eureka rose to the challenge and a stellar defensive performance allowed them to stretch the lead offensively and claimed the victory, 4842.
Kimber Ptacek stole the ball and kicked it out to Britta Mongeau, who took it to the hole for two-points. Layups by Mongeau and Alaina Westerman, as well as a three-point basket by Lydia Mason contributed to the 9-0 run. Olpe was finally able to respond with a shot from behind the arc. As the teams battled in the first quarter, Eureka took the lead, 13-7, over the Eagles.
Olpe snuck in a 4-0 run during the second quarter, but Laynie Winfrey was quick to put it to rest with a three-point basket from the top of the key, assisted by Mongeau. At the halftime buzzer, the Tornadoes had the 23-13 lead.
Throughout the second half, the Tornadoes continued to pick off passes and force turnovers, making their offense boom, while preventing the Eagles from claiming the lead. Winfrey put 14 points on the board for Eureka in the third and fourth quarter. In the final minutes, Olpe attempted to come back, but their efforts went unrewarded and the Tornadoes won, 48-42.
Stats and Scoring Leaders: POINTS: Winfrey 25, Mongeau 6, Mason 5, Ptacek and Arabella Shepherd 3 and Westerman, Hannah Perrier, and Elle Coulter 2. REBOUNDS: Winfrey 7, Ptacek 4, and Mason, Coulter and Shepherd 2.
ASSISTS: Mongeau 6 and Winfrey 3. STEALS: Ptacek 6 and Mongeau 3.
Up Next
Next week, the Tornadoes hit the road to Douglass to compete against the Bulldogs on Tuesday, Feb. 11. On Friday, Feb. 14, Eureka will host the Bluestem Lions on their home turf.
