For the fourth time in school history, the Lady Tornadoes basketball team punched their ticket to the state basketball tournament. The Lady Tornadoes went 3-0 at the Northeast Arma 2A Sub-State 2 Tournament to claim their fourth title in eight years.
This was the eighth straight sub-state championship appearance for the Lady Tornadoes, with them advancing to state in 2019, 2023, 2024 and 2026.
This year, the Tornadoes defeated Oxford, 76-11; Chase County 53-25; and Northeast Arma, 56-25; to claim the Sub-State Title.
Eureka enters the state tournament with a 22-2 overall record, earning the fourth seed. The Lady Tornadoes will face Oakley (#5, 22-4), in the 2A State Quarterfinal round this Tuesday, March 10, at 12 p.m. The winner will advance to semi-final action against the winner of the Ellinwood (#1/25-1) vs Rossville (#8/15-10) game. Other teams competing at 2A state include: Moundridge (#2/23-2); St. Mary’s Colgan (#3/23-2); Sacred Heart (#6/22-4) and Valley Heights (#7/19-7).
Quarterfinal games are played at various locations across the state, with three of the four 2A girls games, including Eureka’s matchup, being held at Tony’s Pizza Event Center in Salina.
All remaining 2A games will be played at White Auditorium, in Emporia. If the Lady Tornadoes win on Tuesday, they will be guaranteed a state medal, and would advance to semi-final action on Thursday, March 12, at 2 p.m. Winners of the semi-final games will advance to the 2A State Championship at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 14. The losers of the semi-final games will play for third place on Friday, March 13 at 10:30 a.m.
A special basketball send-off was held at Eureka Junior/Senior High School on Tuesday, March 10, at 8:30 a.m., for the Girls Basketball team.
Members of the 202526 team include: seniors: Lydia Mason, Britta Mongeau, Hannah Perrier, Brenna Rucker and Alaina Westerman; juniors: Elle Coulter and Milly Koop; sophomores: Syndey Lindamood and Arabella Shepherd; and freshman: McKenna McDonald. The team is coached by Shelly Hoyt and Brendan Ptacek.
Results from the Eureka 2A Sub-State can be found elsewhere in this week’s edition.
