By Staff
LOST SPRINGS – On Saturday the Elyria Christian girls won their third straight game of the week while also winning the Championship game of the Centre Cougar Classic with a 15-point win over Rural Vista.
With the win the Lady Eagles are now 10-2 for the season as they have nine days off before getting back on the competitive hardwood at Wakefield on Tuesday, January 31.
“I was very proud of the resilience our team showed tonight against a very good Rural Vista team,” explained Lady Eagle head coach Greg Fields. “We told the girls before the game that this would come down to the fourth quarter. I felt like we had a deeper bench and we would eventually wear them down if we played with high intensity on defense. On a night where we had a difficult time making shots in the first half, we relied on getting a lot of stops. We forced them into 32 turnovers and that was the main reason we were able to maintain a slight lead through the first three quarters.”
Only holding a two-point, 10-8 lead at the end of the first quarter, the Lady Eagles took a six-point, 16-10, advantage into the halftime break. Both teams put eight points on the scoreboard in the third quarter before Elyria’s offense lit up enough to put 21 more points in the scorebook in the final quarter of play to get the final 15-point victory.
Ryland Hawkinson had a huge game as she not only recorded a double-double, she also scored more than half the team points with 24 to go with the 14 rebounds she pulled down. Allie Stone also reached double digits with 10 points. Julia Allen had the quick hands-on defense as she swiped six steals.
Coach Fields concluded his post-game reflections by adding, “We finally started hitting shots and breaking down their defense to get easy looks in the fourth quarter. Ryland (Hawkinson) had a monster game against one of the taller teams that we will see. Not only scoring against their height, Ryland dominating the boards was really fun to watch. Allie (Stone) also hit some great shots again tonight which seemed to come at critical times. Julia (Allen) was outstanding on defense as she seemed to be everywhere while getting a career high six steals. This was a total team win and a great way to earn a tournament championship.”
ELYRIA CHRISTIAN LADY EAGLES vs. Rural Vista at Centre Cougar Classic
SCORING: ELYRIA CHRISTIAN LADY EAGLES > 10-6-8-21 = 45; Rural Vista > 8-2-8-12 = 30.
TEAM STATS: LADY EAGLES > 2-FGs – 11/43; 3-PTs – 4/14; FTs – 11/17; AST – 10; REBs – 31; TO – 12; STLs – 20; BLKs – 1; FLs – 18. Rural Vista > 2-FGs – 10/19; 3-PTs – 0/9; FTs – 10/19; AST – 0; REBs – 27; TO – 32; STLs – 1; BLKs – 3; FLs – 13.
ELYRIA CHRISTIAN LADY EAGLE INDIVIDUAL STAT LEADERS: Scoring > Ryland Hawkinson – 24; Allie Stone – 10; Alexus Swenson – 5; Julia Allen – 4; Raegan Hawkinson – 2. 3-Pointers Made > Stone – 2; Ry. Hawkinson, Al. Swenson – 1. Assists > A. Swenson – 3; Ry. Hawkinson, Stone, Ad. Swenson – 2. Rebounds > Ry. Hawkinson – 14; Macy Reiff – 4; Stone, Allen – 3; Al. Swenson, Ra. Hawkinson – 2. Steals > Allen – 6; Ry. Hawkinson – 3; Stone, Al. Swenson, Ra. Hawkinson, Ad. Swenson – 2. Blocked Shots > Ry. Hawkinson – 1.
(The Staff covering McPherson County Activities can be reached by email at crossdovewriter@gmail.com)