Eureka’s Lady Tornado high school basketball team took fourth place at the Marion Classic, going 1-2 for the week.
In the first round of the Marion Tournament, the Eureka Lady Tornadoes faced the Berean Academy Warriors. An impressive second half brought the team back into the game after their slow start. However, the showing wasn’t enough and the Lady Tornadoes suffered their first loss of the season, 39-42.
The Warriors won the tip, looking to score. Their search was unrewarded until a few possessions later. Brenna Rucker knocked down a three pointer after receiving a pass from Laynie Winfrey, putting a few points on the board for the Tornadoes. Berean was able to secure a 6-0 run on Eureka before Winfrey put it to an end with a deep two point field goal. The first quarter was wrapped up with Berean leading 8-5. In the second quarter, the Lady Tornadoes struggled to find the bottom of the net and found themselves in a hole at the end of the first half, 7-19.
The Tornadoes opened up the second half with a three point basket by Winfrey. The Warriors quickly responded with a three pointer of their own. Rucker drove to the top of the key, finding an opening and sinking the three point field goal. The teams traded baskets back and forth for the remainder of the quarter, but Eureka had the final answer, outscoring the Warriors 16-8 and ending the third quarter down 23-27. With the dry spell behind them, Eureka continued to build off of the momentum from the previous quarter. While Berean got the first two points of the fourth quarter, the Tornadoes matched it almost instantly. Winfrey got a steal, finding Rucker for the basket. After countless runs and baskets from both teams, the Tornadoes were trailing by just a few points, but they were forced to foul. Berean connected on free throws, giving Eureka their first loss, 39-42.
Scoring and Stat Leaders POINTS: Rucker 17, Winfrey 14, Elle Coulter 5, and Britta Mongeau 3.
REBOUNDS: Kimber Ptacek and Rucker 5, Winfrey and Alaina Westerman 3, Coulter 2, and Mongeau 1. ASSISTS: Winfrey 4, Ptacek and Rucker 2, and Mongeau 1. STEALS: Ptacek 4, Winfrey 3, and Rucker and Coulter 1.
Eureka v Marion
Looking to bounce back from a close loss, the Eureka Lady Tornadoes traveled to Marion for the second round of the Marion Classic on Friday, December 8 to face the Marion Warriors. Eureka dominated from start to finish to win 57-24 and advance to the consolation championship.
Eureka won the tip, quickly getting set up into their offense. After a deflection by the Warriors, the Tornadoes inbounded the ball from the baseline. Ptacek found Winfrey open inside the paint for an easy basket, giving Eureka a 2-0 lead. Their run continued after Ptacek got a steal and found Rucker for the three point basket. The Warriors finally managed to score two points after a 7-0 run by the Tornadoes. Winfrey dominated in the paint and teammates were able to find her for seemingly effortless baskets throughout the first quarter. Eureka squeezed in another 7-0 run on the Warriors to end the quarter, leading 18-4 by the end of the first.
The second and third quarters were all Eureka. They held the Warriors to just 8 and 9 points in the second and third quarters, respectively. Eureka caught fire on the offensive and defensive end. In the second quarter, Coulter lit it up from behind the arc, having drained two three pointers towards the beginning and adding another towards the end, extending Eureka’s lead to 37-12 at the half. The dominance continued into the third. Winfrey poured in 9 points while another three from Lydia Mason edged Eureka’s lead to 49-21 at the end of three quarters, and the eventual 57-24 victory.
Scoring and Stat Leaders: POINTS: Winfrey 24, Coulter 11, Rucker 10, Mongeau 7, and Mason 5.
REBOUNDS: Rucker 11, Winfrey 9, Westerman 6, Ptacek and Mongeau 2, and Madelyn Miller 1. ASSISTS: Rucker 10, Winfrey 2, and Ptacek, Westerman, Mongeau, and Mason 1.
STEALS: Winfrey 3, Rucker 2, and Ptacek, Westerman, and Mongeau 1.
Eureka v Halstead
In the third place game of the Marion Tournament, the Eureka Lady Tornadoes faced the Halstead Dragons. Both teams were 1-1 thus far in the tournament with Halstead holding the number eight ranking in 3A. While the match up was much anticipated, Halstead’s early runs and their high shot percentage, particularly in the first half, made all the difference in the game.
Halstead opened with a 7-0 run before Rucker put two points on the board for the Tornadoes off of a drive and spin move that split not one, but two Dragon defenders. After Halstead was able to get in two more points from the free throw line, Eureka’s offense began to respond, starting a six point run of their own. With a free throw from Rucker, a fastbreak layup by Ptacek, and a three point basket by Mongeau, the Tornadoes closed the gap, putting themselves within one point of Halstead. The opposing team answered with a free throw and a two point basket before Winfrey slashed the lead back to one with a make from three point land. The Dragons took the lead back before the end of the first, nailing three three pointers and a field goal, Eureka trailing by 11. The second quarter was a bit of a shooting drought for the Tornadoes. Eureka found themselves in a hole at the end of the first half, 21-41.
Mongeau kicked off the third quarter with a three pointer. Throughout the quarter, the teams exchanged baskets back and forth, but Eureka ended up outscoring the Dragons, 13-8. Winfrey’s 5 points and Rucker’s 3 shortened the gap from the first half of the game, ending the third quarter down 3449. The Tornadoes scored the first two points of the fourth quarter. Halstead was quick to respond, scoring 10 points before Winfrey and Rucker knocked down two free throws and a three pointer, respectively. That was the last the Tornadoes would score, as the Dragon’s offense held the ball to run down the remaining time. Halstead scored 16 points to Eureka’s 6 in the fourth quarter alone, giving the Lady Tornadoes their second loss of the season, 41-65.
Scoring and Stat Leaders: POINTS: Winfrey 10, Rucker 9, Mongeau and Coulter 7, Westerman 4, and Ptacek 2. REBOUNDS: Rucker 6, Winfrey and Ptacek 4, Coulter 3, Westerman 2, and Mongeau 1. ASSISTS: Winfrey 4, Mongeau 3, Ptacek and Rucker 2, and Mason 1.
STEALS: Winfrey 4, Westerman 3, and Rucker 1.
Next Up
In the first four games of the 2023-2024 season, the Lady Tornadoes have played against three ranked teams throughout 2A, 3A and 4A. Just before Christmas break, another 2A ranked team, Wichita Independent, will be added to the list. This week, Eureka will host the Flinthills Mustangs on Friday, December 15 on their home court.
(Photo by Vandetta Mongeau)
Brenna Rucker Shoots For Two
