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Back row: Kendall Kittelmann, Tyra O'Connor, Heidi LaBree, Amaya Rios, Kenzie Tooke, Shaun-tey Kerr, Katy Ivy, Coach Shannon Negaard, Emily O'Connell. Front row: Nicole O'Connell, Natalie Foxley, Manager Nasya O'Connor, Tegan Diede, Kendra Tooke, Brynn Loehding, Jennie Schmid.
Heidi LaBree comes off of a screen set by teammate Kendall Kittelmann.
Kenzie Tooke takes a jump shot in championship action.
For the past five years, the Ekalaka junior high girls have been in every championship game at the year-end-tournament held in Miles City, winning three of them. This year was no exception.
The first team the girls played in the tournament this year was from Broadus. Ekalaka started off strong and immediately took the lead from Broadus. The Ekalaka girls took the first quarter, 11-6. The girls showed more offensive aggression in the second quarter when they put up another 16 points, leaving Broadus in the dust. The score at halftime was 27-15. Broadus attempted to narrow the deficit in the third quarter but it ended, 36-23. In the final frame Ekalaka scored 11 and held Broadus to only 4, eventually winning, 47-27.
Ekalaka (A) 11 27 36 47
Broadus (A) 6 5 23 27
Kenzie Tooke 18, Heidi LaBree 12, Tyra O'Connor 7, Emily O'Connell 5, Amaya Rios 3, Katy Ivy 2
In the second round of the tourney, Ekalaka took on Jordan. Kenzie Tooke and the rest of the Bulldogs came out on fire, putting up 27 points in the first quarter and taking an early 22 point lead. Tooke accounted for 15 of those points. Jordan stormed back in the second and trimmed the Bulldog lead to thirteen by halftime.
In the third quarter, Jordan continued to shut down what had been a hot Ekalaka offense. Ekalaka was held to just nine points, and their double digit lead was no more.
Jordan outscored Ekalaka again in the fourth, 16-11. Luckily, Ekalaka's hot start was too much to overcome though, as they held on to win 57-52.
Ekalaka (A) 27 36 45 57
Jordan (A) 5 23 36 52
Kenzie Tooke 30, Heidi LaBree 20, Tyra O'Connor 6, Katy Ivy 1
In the championship game, Ekalaka took on a very tough Melstone team. Solid first half defense gave Ekalaka a narrow halftime lead, 16-15.
In the third quarter the tables turned as Melstone put up 15 points and held Ekalaka to only 5. Draya Wacker of Melstone hit a pair of threes in each of the final two frames that really helped put Ekalaka away. Melstone outscored Ekalaka again in the fourth 16-9, and went on to win the championship game by a final score of 46-30.
Wacker was the leading scorer for the game with 23 points, 18 of which came from beyond the three-point arc. Kenzie Tooke led the way for the Bulldogs with 14.
Ekalaka (A) 8 16 21 30
Melstone (A) 5 15 30 46
Kenzie Tooke 14, Tyra O'Connor 10, Heidi LaBree 6
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