Last Friday, Feb. 14, the Eureka Lady Tornadoes delivered a commanding performance on their home court, securing a 67-38 victory over the Bluestem Lions. The Valentine’s Day matchup was anything but ordinary, with junior Lydia Mason putting on an offensive clinic, racking up a career-high 25 points. Laynie Winfrey contributed a stellar triple-double, finishing with 21 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds.
The game started with Britta Mongeau finding Winfrey on the wing for a three-pointer to set the tone. Bluestem responded quickly with a layup, but Mason made her presence known with a steal in the backcourt, converting it into an easy two. She went on to add 10 more points in the first quarter, while contributions from Winfrey, Alaina Westerman, and Arabella Shepherd helped the Tornadoes build a 20-9 lead after the first eight minutes.
The second quarter saw both teams trading baskets, but Eureka’s defense proved relentless. Elle Coulter intercepted a cross-court pass and took it coast to coast for an easy score. Moments later, Mongeau inbounded the ball to Winfrey, who found Westerman cutting backside for another bucket. By halftime, the Tornadoes had extended their lead to 38-20.
Eureka was unstoppable in the second half. Winfrey, Mason, and Mongeau combined for 26 points, with Mason netting 12, and Winfrey and Mongeau each adding 7. Defensively, the Tornadoes continued to disrupt Bluestem’s rhythm, forcing turnovers with drawn offensive fouls and steals. When the final buzzer sounded, Eureka had sealed a decisive 67-38 victory over the Lions.
With another dominant win under their belt, the Lady Tornadoes continue to build momentum heading into the final stretch of the season.
Stats and Scoring Leaders: POINTS: Mason 25, Winfrey 21, Mongeau 10, Westerman 6, Coulter and Shepherd 2 and Kimber Ptacek 1. REBOUNDS: Winfrey 10, Mason 3, Coulter 2. ASSISTS: Winfrey 11, Mongeau 4, Ptacek 3. STEALS: Ptacek 4, Coulter 3, Mongeau, Mason, and Hannah Perrier 2.
Up Next
The Lady Tornadoes were slated to host Cherryvale on Thursday, Feb. 20 for their annual Parent’s Night event. Little Dribblers are also slated to perform. The Tornadoes will then begin Sub-State week, Feb. 27-March 8.
