The EJH girls basketball team hosted the Russell Broncos on Nov. 20th. The varsity won 27 to 19 and the JV lost by one 9-8.
In the varsity contest, the game was very close throughout the first half with Ellis going in down by one 12-13. Russell continued their full court pressure in the second half but Ellis continued to handle it well pulling ahead of Russell by the end of the third quarter 19-17. Ellis held Russell to just two points in the fourth quarter and pulled ahead by continuing to break Russell’s press and capitalize on scoring. Ellis put it away in the fourth quarter winning 27-19.
All five starters for Ellis scored. Leading scorer for Ellis was Mackinley Rhoden with nine points. Taryn Boydston had six followed by Rylan Aschenbrenner with five, Halee Comer with four and Lila Richards had three.
Leading rebounder for Ellis was Aschenbrenner with five, Rhoden and Richards each with four and Comer and Boydston each had one.
In the two quarters of the J.V. game, Ellis struggled with scoring in the first quarter with Russell leading 9 to Ellis 3. Ellis played good defense in the second quarter played and held Russell to nine points while building on their score to eight. Ellis ended up losing by just one point 8-9.
Leading scorer for Ellis in the JV contest Rhoden with three. Aschenbrenner and Boydston each had two and Nora Andrews had one. Leading rebounder for Ellis was Aschenbenner with three boards. Richards, Maggie Downing, Rhoden and Boydston each had two.
Coach Sheryl Butler commented after the game, “The girls did exactly what I asked them to do in breaking Russell’s press and handled it just like we want them to and took advantage of it. I love the spread in the scoring – that means we are looking for the open teammate and getting them the ball.”