The Eureka Tornado junior high basketball teams concluded their seasons last week during the Tri-Valley League (TVL) single-elimination tournament. The boys faced a tough Neodesha team in the first round and were eliminated. Eureka’s Lady Tornadoes defeated Fredonia in the opening round and faced the #1 seeded Bluestreaks of Neodesha in the semi-finals. Eureka gave Neodesha their sole loss for the season earlier in the season, beating them by one in regular-season play. The two teams would finish once again just one point apart, but this time not in Eureka’s favor and the Lady Tornadoes were eliminated in the semi-final round.
Eureka also had a busy week gearing up for TVL action, facing Cherryvale, Caney and Bluestem.
Vs. Cherryvale
On Monday, Feb. 2, the Tornadoes traveled to Cherryvale, with the Lady Tornadoes claiming victories over the Chargers.
Eureka’s A-team Ladies won 43-37, while the B-team girls defeated the Chargers 15-10. The Tornado boys fell to Cherryvale in all three match ups. A-team lost 15-46, the B-team boys fell 16-31 and C-team lost the game 2227.
Vs. Caney
On Thursday, Feb. 5, the Tornadoes traveled to Caney to face the Bullpups, where the Tornadoes A-team girls claimed the sole victory for Eureka.
Eureka’s A-team girls trailed 2-4 after the first, and 4-10 at halftime, but came out strong in the third to outscore the Bullpups 8-1. Eureka claimed a 12-10 lead going into the final quarter and once again outscored Caney, this time 6-3, to win the game 18-14. Scoring for Eureka were Kinsley Cox 5, Molly Dehlinger 2, Braxtyn Evenson 3 and Bella Damron 8.
Eureka’s B-team lost a two-quarter match-up 3-4.
In A-team boys action, the Tornadoes fell 8-68. Scoring for Eureka were Cord Adkins 6 and Asher Euler 2.
Eureka’s B-team fell 9-50. Scoring for the Tornadoes were Landon Noonan 3 and Cooper Wunderlich, Brandon Cornett and Donald Baker all with 2.
In C-team action, the Tornadoes lost 14-53. Scoring for Eureka were Blake Wells 8 and Jessn Ogden 6.
Vs. Bluestem
On Friday, Feb. 6, the Tornadoes hosted the Lions of Bluestem for a make-up game, with Eureka claiming the sweep.
In A-team girls action, the Ladies struggled in the first and trailed 5-13 going into the second. Eureka more than doubled their score in the second, but didn’t cut the deficit and went into intermission down 12-23. With one quarter remaining, the Tornadoes trailed 17-31. Eureka lost the game 24-36. Scoring for Eureka were Dehlinger 12, B. Damron 5, Alivia Hare 3 and Evenson and Raegen Ashlock each with 2. The Lady Tornadoes B-team defeated the Lions, 16-2.
Eureka’s A-team boys claimed an early 16-6 lead and continued the momentum into the second to lead 23-8 at halftime. The Tornadoes were up 32-10 going into the final stanza and went on to win the game 46-12. Scoring for Eureka were Gavin Gonzalez and Adkins each with 13, Donovan Owings 8, Euler 6 and Liam Mead 4.
In B-team action, the Tornadoes held a 6-4 lead after the first, but trailed 9-10 going into the break. Eureka held the Lions scoreless in the third and added 6 of their own to reclaim the lead going into the final quarter, 15-10. Eureka went on to win the game 23-14. Scoring for Eureka were Ogden 7, Bryson Gilbert 6, Tucker Damron 3, Cornett and Donald Baker each with 2 and Blake Wells 1.
TVLTournament
Eureka’s Lady Tornadoes claimed a 48-36 victory over Fredonia in the first round.
The Lady Tornadoes claimed an early 11-4 lead. Both teams scored 18 in the second and 26 in the third with Eureka holding a seven point lead going into the final stanza. Eureka outscored the Yellowjackets in the final quarter to win the game 48-36. Scoring for Eureka were Dehlinger 20, B. Damron 13, Hare 8 and Evenson 6.
In the second round, the Tornadoes advanced to face the #1 seeded Bluestreaks of Neodesha, a team they defeated by a single point earlier this month, with a last minute jump shot.
Eureka trailed 9-13 after the first and 13-20 at halftime, but would outscore the Bluestreaks in the next two quarters. The Tornadoes outscored Neodesha in the third 10-6 and in the fourth, 6-4, but it wasn’t enough to claim the win and the Tornadoes fell, 29-30. Scoring for Eureka were B. Damron 10, Cox 6, Hare and Dehlinger each with 4, Evenson 3 and Ashlock 2.
The Eureka boys basketball team #6 seed, faced the Bluestreaks of Neodesha, the #3 seed, during the first round of the TVL Tournament. Eureka scored one basket in the first quarter and trailed 2-14 going into the second quarter. The Tornadoes were unable to add another basket until the fourth quarter and lost the game, 5-51. Scoring for Eureka were Donovan Owings 4 and Cornett 1.
