BY ALEX HAMMEKE
Special to the Tribune
ELLINWOOD – Unbeaten 2A Ellis (6-0) was sparked by 5-6 guard Tyson Jimenez with 22 points that sparked a 56-44 non-league basketball victory to hand No. 8 ranked Ellinwood its first loss.
Ellinwood's Britton Dutton scored 18 points and Tyler Stuhlsatz netted 13 points. Parker Scheck contributed eight points and nine rebounds. Stuhlsatz and Dutton each hit 3-pointers for a 42-34 score with five minutes left. Ellis' Matthew Bieker scored six fourth-quarter points.
The Eagles (4-1) competed without Gage Hosman and Cody Zink, both out due to COVID protocol. Freshmen Alek Brack and Drew Heinz filled the void.
“We really missed them all week. They are guys who have experience and understand what our expectations are," said Ellinwood coach Derek Joiner. "They keep us focused at the task at hand. We battled this week from a maturity standpoint.”
Jimenez ignited a 6-0 run to spark Ellis to a 10-point halftime lead. Jimenez converted free throws after being fouled on a corner 3-pointer.
Ellinwood rallied with a 9-0 run in the third quarter with scores by Stuhlsatz, Dutton and Parker Scheck. Stuhlsatz's 3-pointer drew the Eagles within nine. Ellis' Matthew Bieker scored six fourth-quarter points. Dutton scored eight fourth-quarter points. Daniel Eck nailed two key 3-pointers.
“Eck, at the end, showed what a really good player does. He nailed them,” Joiner said.
The balance of the 2020-2021 season offers promise that the Eagles are one of the Central Prairie League favorites.
“If we reach our potential, we have an opportunity to up there at the top,” Joiner said.
Ellis 13 12 10 21 — 56
Ellinwood 7 8 11 18 — 44
ELLIS (6-0)—Jimenez 7 6-7 22, Bieker 3 3-6 9, Honas 4 0-1 8, North 2 0-0 4, Frickey 0 4-4 4, Schiel 1 0-0 3, Totals 19 13-19 56
ELLINWOOD (4-1)—Britton Dutton 7-15 3-4 18, Tyler Stuhlsatz 5-11 1-2 13, Parker Scheck 4-7 0-3 8, Koy Behnke 1-3 0-0 3, Alek Brack 1-4 0-4 2, Totals 18-40 4-13 44
3-pointers—Ellis 5 (Eck 2, Jimenez 2, Schiel 1), Ellinwood 4-12 (Stuhlsatz 2-5, Behnke 1-2, Dutton 1-4, Brack 0-1). Rebounds—Ellinwood 23 (Scheck 9). Assists—Ellinwood 7 (Dutton 3). Steals—Ellinwood 2 (Dutton 1, Scheck 1)
ELLIS GIRLS 63, ELLINWOOD 46
ELLINWOOD — Ellis Railer Grace Eck scored 28 points to spark a 63-46 non-league basketball victory over the Ellinwood Eagle girls.
Ellinwood's Brittany Simpson scored 16 points with seven rebounds. Mya Maxwell converted four 3-pointers and scored 16 points. Daphne Doll contributed 10 boards and four points. Bella Baker scored four points with seven boards.
The Eagles (3-2) led 14-10 behind Maxwell's two 3-pointers. Eck scored 19 first-half points for a 31-20 halftime lead. Ellis' Abby North dominated the third period with eight points and eight rebounds for a 63-32 lead. The Eagles closed with the final 14 points.
Ellinwood had a good game plan prepared for Eck.
“We focused on containing the 3-point shot.” said Ellinwood coach Andrew Cherry. “She got in the middle of the lane and she was able to score. Early on, Brittany did a good job getting a hand in her face and forcing a contested shot. Unfortunately, she saw the first one go in, and went off.”
Ellis (5-1) lost its game to Phillipsburg, which snapped Central Plains’ 138-game winning streak.
The Eagles had an extended layoff from their last contest, as their regularly scheduled contest versus Ell-Saline on Tuesday was postponed due to COVID-19 quarantines with the Cardinals.
The Eagles were plagued with foul trouble, with Daphne Doll and Bella Baker drawing fouls fouls. Ellis' Abby North scored eight points in the paint to extend the Ellis lead.
The Railroaders were able to secure a running clock off a pair of made free throws from North.
Ellinwood's schedule includes a non-league matchup against SE of Saline.
Ellis 10 21 23 9 — 63
Ellinwood 14 6 9 17 — 46
ELLIS (5-1)—Grace Eck 9 6-8 22, Abby North 5 2-2 12, Emily Eck 4 1-2 11, Hannah Schiel 3 1-2 10, Guffey 1 0-0 2, Schmidt 0 0-2 0, Kohl 1 0-0 2,Totals 24 11-14 63
ELLINWOOD (3-2)—Brittany Simpson 8 0-1 16, Mya Maxwell 6 0-0 16, Mary Dimitt 2 0-0 5, Bella Baker 1 2-8 4, Daphne Doll 2 0-0 4, Totals 19 3-11 46
3-pointers—Ellis 4 (G. Eck 2, E. Eck 1, Schiel 1), Ellinwood 5 (Maxwell 4, Dimitt 1)
