BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com

EMPORIA — Ellinwood's girls are living the dream headed for the 2A state basketball championship. Ellinwood (27-1) plays in Saturday's 12:30 p.m. championship game against Moundridge or Salina Sacred Heart.

The Eagles held off Eureka's rally 50-47 with five fourth-quarter free throws. Julia Schlessiger converted two free throws and Eleanor Joiner, Brynn Widener and Alyvia Batchman each added one free throw.

Mette Maxwell sparked the Eagles with 17 points and five 3-pointers. Joiner's clutch play delivered eight points, five in the fourth quarter.

Eureka's Brenna Rucker led the Tornadoes with 17 points before fouling out. Eureka still rallied with Britta Mongeau hitting a pair of 3-pointers and Arabella Shepherd contributed a 3-pointer for a 49-47 score. 

After Brynn Widener's free throw, Mongeau's final game-tying 3-pointer missed.

Coach Greg Maxwell gained the edge on Eureka coach Shelly Hoyt, who led Hoxie to four consecutive state titles and 107 wins in a row.

Eureka 8 7 17 15 — 47

Ellinwood 7 10 18 15— 50

EUREKA (23-3)—Rucker 5-13 (1-5) 6-9 17, Coulter 6-9 (2-3) 0-1 14; Mongeau 5-10 (3-7) 0-0 13; Shepherd (1-3) 0-2 3; Mason (0-2) 0-0 0; Totals 17-37 (7-20) 6-13 47

ELLINWOOD (27-1)—Maxwell 6-13 (5-10) 0-0 17, Batchman 3-7 (2-3) 1-4 9, Brynn Widener 3-12 (0-3) 3-4 9, Joiner 3-6 (1-2) 1-2 8, Schlessiger 0-5 2-4 2; Ritchie 1-3 0-0 2, Reese Stickney 0-2 (0-1) 0-0 0; Panning 1-3 (1-1) 0-0 3, Totals 16-51 (9-20) 7-14 50

2A GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP, EMPORIA (3-14)—Ellinwood (27-1) vs Moundridge (25-2)/Salina Sacred Heart (24-4), 12:30 p.m.

SEMIFINALS—Ellinwood 50, Eureka 47; Moundridge vs Salina Sacred Heart

3RD PLACE (3-13)—Eureka (23-3) vs Moundridge (24-3)/Salina Sacred Heart (23-5), 10:30 a.m.

QUARTERFINALS—Ellinwood 55, Rossville 48; Eureka 52, Oakley 45; Moundridge 63, Valley Heights 48; Salina Sacred Heart 52, Pittsburg Colgan 42