The Girls Varsity Basketball team had an exhilarating night on Wednesday as they journeyed to Troy High School for round 2 of the SWDAB D-I Sectional Basketball Tournament. Their opponents, the Sidney Yellow Jackets, had bested them earlier in the season with a score of 44-38 in January. However, this time, the Lady Elks emerged victorious with a final score of 41-34.

Coach Priefer and his staff orchestrated a brilliant game plan, and the girls executed it flawlessly. Throughout the night, the Lady Elk defense remained formidable, confounding the Yellow Jackets at every turn. The game opened with the Lady Elks leading 9-4 after the first quarter and maintaining a narrow 20-19 lead at halftime. Despite a challenging third quarter where they struggled from the field and faced turnovers, trailing 26-25 heading into the final quarter, the team rallied.

With the game tied at 29-29 and just over five minutes remaining, the Lady Elks embarked on an impressive 8-0 run, seizing control of the game. They capitalized on free throw opportunities and maintained their stellar defensive performance, ultimately securing a 41-34 victory. With this win, the team's season record improved to 15-9.

Emily Grim led the charge for the Elks with an outstanding 15 points, while Bella Keaton contributed 10 points, further solidifying the team's victory. However, the Elks had so many players that contributed in many different ways. Just a great team effort!

Looking ahead, the Varsity team advances to the District Semi-Final game scheduled for Saturday, February 24th, at Troy High School. They will face off against Springfield at 2:00 pm. The Lady Elks split with Springfield during the regular season. Tickets for the event can be purchased online at www.ohsaa.org/tickets or at the door using cash. Admission costs $8 for adults and $5 for students.