STERLING — Ellinwood High School’s girls’ basketball team picked a bad time for an off-shooting night.
Pratt-Skyline’s Kaitlyn Stark scored 23 points to spark the Lady Thunderbirds past Ellinwood 51-44 on Thursday night at a Class 2A basketball sub-state tournament.
Stark jump started the Lady T-Birds with a trio of 3-pointers and she helped finish off the Lady Eagles with 10 free throws. Skyline converted 16 of 30 free throws, including 12 in the final period.
Skyline (14-7) will meet top-seeded Central Plains (19-2) in Friday night’s semifinals at Sterling College at 6. Ellinwood finishes with a 12-9 record.
Sophie Hayes led Ellinwood with 15 points and Rachel Doll added nine. But the Lady Eagles were never able to overcome a cold-shooting night. They shot under 30 percent from the field and converted 12 of 24 free throws.
“I was worried about our 10-day layoff,” said Ellinwood head coach Ryan Mountain. “I wasn’t that worried because I knew we’d make a run at them. I kept thinking we’d get over the hump tonight, but it never happened. We were probably 2 of 15 on our 3-pointers.”
Skyline’s Stark, who plays point guard, knocked down five field goals and 10 free throws while helping to handle Ellinwood’s pressure defense.
“We got the turnovers like we wanted, but we missed some opportunities we normally convert,” Mountain said. “It was hard to find something to say to our two seniors (Omelia) Thomas and (Rachel) Doll because they gave us everything they could tonight. We played with great effort tonight, but we didn’t have a good shooting night.”
Ellinwood’s best play came when Brooke Panning scored six third-quarter points, and Kelsea Ward and Hayes added baskets to slice a
34-24 lead to 34-30.
But Stark answered with a 3-pointer for a 37-30 lead to end the third period. Stark passed to Morgan Flowers for a 39-30 lead and Alyssa Swonger added two free throws for a 41-30 lead with five minutes left.  
Swonger finished with 12 points.

HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL
Class 2A Sub-State Basketball Tournament

GIRLS

First round

At Sterling

Pratt-Skyline 51, Ellinwood 44
SKYLINE (14-7)
    Kaitlyn Stark 5 10-18 23, Alyssa Swonger 4 4-4 12, Janessa Davis 2 2-6 6, Morgan Flowers 3 0-0 6; Mycah Owens 0-0 0-1 0, Kadi Richardson 1 0-0 2, Brooke Fisher 1 0-1 2. Totals 16 16-30 51.
ELLINWOOD (12-9)
    Sophie Hayes 6 3-4 15, Rachel Doll 4 0-1 9, Kelsea Ward 2 4-6 8, Brooke Panning 1 5-6 7, Tawny Arndt 0-0 0-2 0, Blake Wilt 0-0 0-1 0, Omelia Thomas 1 0-2 3, Jenna Snell 1 0-2 2. Totals 15 12-24 44.
Skyline    11   14   12   14 — 51
Ellinwood   8   12   10   14 — 44
    Three-point goals — Skyline 3 (Stark 3); Ellinwood 2 (Thomas, Doll); Fouls — Ellinwood 26, Skyline 17. Fouled out — Skyline (Richardson); Ellinwood (Doll, Panning).