BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
SMITH CENTER — Ellinwood's girls converted six fourth-quarter free throws to edge Hays Thomas More Prep 46-44 to earn the school's first state basketball trip in 20 years.
Brynn Widener sank three free throws, Julia Schlessiger two and Ayla Ritchie one in the fourth quarter.
"We were in a battle. They've learned a lot when we led for three quarters against Phillipsburg in last year’s substate championship game," said Ellinwood coach Greg Maxwell. "The girls made key plays when it mattered the most. They've worked hard to earn this opportunity. There are benchmarks you've got to achieve."
Ellinwood's Schlessiger scored 18 points and Mette Maxwell converted four 3-pointers for 12 points.
Ellinwood roared to a 13-0 lead holding the Monarchs scoreless for 20 offensive possessions, featuring 10 turnovers.
"Our defense was as good as it's been all year that first half," Maxwell said.
The Eagles stretched the lead to 27-10, but were outscored 34-19 in the final 14 minutes when the Monarchs switched to a 3-point attack.
After the Monarchs shot 3 for 20 in the first half, Claire Schippers hit two 3-pointers to ignite a half dozen 3-pointers after halftime. Schippers scored 15 points.
"We put pressure on their shooters because their strength is their perimeter shooting," Maxwell said. "They proved they're legitimate shooters. They started making 3s, but never took the lead. I'm proud of our girls for fighting until the end."
Ellinwood (25-1) will play Rossville (15-10) in Tuesday's 2 p.m. 2A quarterfinals at Salina's Kansas Wesleyan University, prompting USD 355 officials to cancel school Tuesday.
Ellinwood's girls qualified for the state basketball tournament for the second time. State champion Wichita Collegiate beat Ellinwood's girls 67-39 in the 3A state basketball tournament in 2006. It marked the fourth time in school history the Eagle girls qualified for a substate basketball championship game.
Ellinwood's leading scorers are Schlessiger (14 ppg, 8 rpg), Mette Maxwell (10 ppg, 4 assists, 4 steals) and Brynn Widener (10 ppg, 2 assists, 2 steals). The Eagles average 64 ppg.
"The girls accept their roles," Maxwell said. "We're hard to defend because we've got three guards who can play. If someone is hot, we give them the ball. The girls contribute in whatever way they can when they're on the court."
Hays TMP 0 7 16 21 — 44
Ellinwood 5 17 8 16 — 46
HAYS TMP (16-8)—Schippers 6-18 (3-8) 0-0 15, Rose 2-9 (2-3) 2-2 8, Rebel 2-10 (1-3) 2-3 7, Koenigsman (1-2) 3-4 6, Windholz 1-6 (0-1) 0-0 2, Allen 2-2 2-4 6, Totals 14-47 (7-17) 9-13 44
ELLINWOOD (25-1)—Schlessiger 7-14 5-7 18, Maxwell 4-13 (4-10) 0-2 12, Batchman 3-5 (1-3) 0-0 7, Brynn Widener 1-12 (0-4) 3-4 5, Joiner (0-1) 0-0 0, Ritchie 0-2 4-6 4, Regan Widener 0-2 0-0 0, Reese Stickney (0-1) 0-0 0, Panning 0-2 (0-1) 0-0 0, Totals 15-52 (5-19) 11-19 46
2A STATE QUARTERFINALS (3-10)—Ellinwood (25-1) vs Rossville (15-10), 2 p.m. SALINA KANSAS WESLEYAN; Eureka (22-2) vs Oakley (22-4), 12, KANSAS WESLEYAN; Moundridge (23-2) vs Valley Heights (18-7), 6 p.m. KANSAS WESLEYAN; Pittsburg Colgan (23-2) vs Salina Sacred Heart (22-4), 4 p.m. KANSAS CITY
ELLINWOOD STATE HISTORY (0-1)
2006—Wichita Collegiate 67, Ellinwood 39
ELLINWOOD ROSTER—2—Eleanor Joiner, 5-3, 10 (4 ppg); 3—Bennett Jacobs, 5-4, 11 (2 ppg); 4—Ayla Ritchie, 5-11, 11 (4 ppg); 5—Regan Widener, 5-10, 12 (3 ppg); 10—Mette Maxwell, 5-7, 10 (10 ppg); 11—Addi Stickney, 5-7, 11 (1 ppg); 12—Reese Stickney, 5-7, 11 (5 ppg); 20—Brynn Widener, 5-10, 10 (10 ppg); 21—Julia Schlessiger, 6-2, 12 (14 ppg); 22—Regan Wirtz, 5-3, 10 (3 ppg); 23—Alyvia Batchman, 5-7, 11 (7 ppg); 25—Avery Panning, 5-8, 9 (3 ppg)
2A GIRLS SUBSTATES
SMITH CENTER A—Ellinwood 46, Hays Thomas More Prep 44; SMITH CENTER B—Oakley 72, Hoxie 59
ARMA A—Pittsburg Colgan 92, Dexter/Cedar Vale 38; ARMA B—Eureka 56, Arma Northeast 25
ELBING A—Moundridge 33, Hillsboro 31; ELBING B— Salina Sacred Heart 59, Conway Springs 34
ESKRIDGE A—Rossville 58, Atchison Maur Hill 41; ESKRIDGE B—Valley Heights 57, Lyndon 39
