BY JIM MISUNAS jmisunas@gbtribune.com EMPORIA — Ellinwood's girls are living the dream headed for the 2A state basketball championship. 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. Joiner's rebound basket handed the Eagles a 48-41 lead with two minutes left. Eureka rallied without all-stater Brenna Rucker when Britta Mongeau hit a pair of 3-pointers and Arabella Shepherd drilled a 3-pointer for a 49-47 score. After Brynn Widener's free throw for a 50-47 lead, Mongeau's final game-tying 3-pointer missed after being defended by Alyvia Batchman. One of Ellinwood's keys was scoring six points off second-chances in the fourth quarter. Joiner scored two baskets and Batchman and Schlessiger added free throws with rebounds off missed free throws. Eureka never got a chance to rebound a pair of free throw misses because Eureka coach Shelly Hoyt leaves no Tornadoes to contest rebounds. Batchman was the Eagles' defensive star defending Eureka all-stater Brenna Rucker, who led the Tornadoes with 17 points before fouling out. Eureka's Mongeau drilled a 3-pointer for a brief 36-35 lead, but Maxwell fed Avery Panning for a clutch 3-pointer and a 38-36 lead. Joiner's basket gave the Eagles a 41-39 lead they never lost. 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. Ellinwood (27-1) plays in Saturday's 12:30 p.m. championship game against Salina Sacred Heart. Eureka 8 7 17 15 — 47 Ellinwood 7 10 18 15— 50 EUREKA (23-3)—Rucker 5-15 (1-5) 6-9 17, Coulter 6-8 (2-3) 0-1 14; Mongeau 5-10 (3-7) 0-0 13; Shepherd (1-3) 0-0 3; Mason (0-2) 0-0 0; Totals 17-38 (7-20) 6-10 47 ELLINWOOD (27-1)—Maxwell 6-13 (5-11) 0-0 17, Batchman 3-8 (2-4) 1-4 9, Brynn Widener 3-13 (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 (1-2) 0-0 3, Regan Widener 0-1 0-0 0; Totals 17-54 (9-22) 7-14 50 2A GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP, EMPORIA (3-14)—Ellinwood (27-1) vs Salina Sacred Heart (24-4), 12:30 p.m. 3RD PLACE (3-13)—Eureka (23-3) vs Moundridge (24-3), 10:30 a.m. SEMIFINALS—Ellinwood 50, Eureka 47; Salina Sacred Heart, Moundridge QUARTERFINALS—Ellinwood 55, Rossville 48; Eureka 52, Oakley 45; Moundridge 63, Valley Heights 48; Salina Sacred Heart 52, Pittsburg Colgan 42