The Ellinwood girls basketball team converted six fourth-quarter free throws to edge Hays-Thomas More Prep-Marian 46-44 to win the Class 2A girls sub-state Friday night at Smith Center.
Ellinwood’s Julia Schlessiger scored 18 points and Mette Maxwell sank four 3-pointers for 12 points. The Eagles led 24-7 but were outscored 37-22 in the final 15 minutes.
In the fourth quarter, Brynn Widener sank three throws for the Eagles, Schlessiger two and Ayla Ritchie one.
Ellinwood’ qualified for the state girls basketball tournament for the second time in school history (the first time in 20 years) and improved to 25-1. It was the program’s fourth trip to a sub-state title game.
Claire Schippers scored 15 points for the Monarchs. The TMP girls finished the season with a 16-8 record.
The 2A girls tournament Elite Eight consists of Moundridge, Salina Sacred Heart (21-4), Ellinwood (25-1), Pittsburg St. Mary’s Colgan (23-2), Eureka (22-2), Oakley (22-4), Valley Heights (19-7) and Rossville (14-10).
Quarterfinal matchups will take place on Tuesday at sites to be announced. Ellinwood is the No. 1 seed and will No. 8 seed Rossville, Eureka plays Oakley, Moundridge plays Valley Heights and Pittsburg-St. Mary’s Colgan plays Salina Sacred Heart.
The winners advance to the Final Four semifinals on Thursday at Emporia’s White Auditorium.
The semifinal losers play for third place on Friday at Emporia’s White Auditorium and the winners play for the state title on Saturday.
