First-Ever State Girls Basketball Hardware
The Eureka Lady Tornadoes delivered one of the most memorable weeks in program history at the Class 2A State Basketball Tournament, earning the school’s first-ever state tournament victory and finishing the season with a historic third-place trophy.
Eureka opened the tournament with a hardfought win over No. 5 seed Oakley, 51-45, in Salina.
The win advanced Eureka to the semifinals against top-seeded Ellinwood, in Emporia. Despite a size disadvantage, the Lady Tornadoes battled throughout the game, but ultimately came up just three points short and fell 47-50.
Less than 24 hours later, Eureka returned to the court to face defending state champion Moundridge in the third-place game. The Lady Tornadoes responded with determination, exploding for 25 fourth-quarter points to pull away for a 6149 victory and the state third-place trophy.
The third-place finish caps the most successful seasons in program history. The Lady Tornadoes also won the Wildcat Classic Tournament and the War on 54 Tournament while claiming the Class 2A Substate championship. The Lady Tornadoes capped the season with an impressive 24-3 record.
This year’s appearance marked the fourth state tournament trip for the Lady Tornadoes in school history, as Eureka also qualified in 2019, 2023 and 2024.
Eureka’s basketball history also includes the Tornado boys reaching the state tournament in 1937, 1943, 1945, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1957 and 2019, with the 1937 team finishing fourth.
Additional details from the state tournament games, held at White Auditorium in Emporia, can be found on page 8 of this week’s edition.
