BY JIM MISUNAS jmisunas@gbtribune.com EMPORIA — The Salina Sacred Heart Knights survived Ellinwood's rally by outscoring Ellinwood 15-6 on 3-pointers to capture the 2A girls state basketball championship 43-34 Saturday. The Eagles nearly erased a 12-point deficit keyed by a crafty half-court trapping defense. Brynn Widener and Julia Schlessiger started the fourth quarter with baskets to slice the Knights' lead to 32-29. Knight sparkplug Skylar Douglass bounced back from a face plant that produced a bloody nose with clutch back-to-back 3-pointers sandwiched around Mette Maxwell's 3-pointer for a 38-32 Knight lead. Right before the second Douglass 3-pointer, Maxwell missed two chances for a 35-35 tie on 3-pointers. The Knights closed out the victory with a 8-2 scoring run. The history-making Eagles had an emotional finish. They gave it every ounce of effort they had, but came up short. "I'm proud of the girls. I don't question our effort," said Ellinwood basketball coach Greg Maxwell. "They won't handle what happened out there very well, but that's what I love about them. They realize all they've accomplished to get here." The Knights complimented 25% shooting on 3-pointers (5-20) with hard drives to the basket that produced 20 points off 2-pointers and eight free throws. Adelyn Lee scored 15 points and Douglass added 10 points, after combining for 50 points against Moundridge. The Eagles held the Knights to 33% shooting (15-46) and scored nine points after turnovers. Lee shot 4 of 16 against defense by Alyvia Batchman and Brynn Widener. "Their ballhandlers are strong and skilled," Maxwell said. "They understand the game, and take advantage of their opportunities. I was pleased with how our girls handled them defensively." Ellinwood controlled the boards 45-31. However, 19 offensive rebounds delivered just eight second-chance points. Schlessiger enjoyed her best state tournament game with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Maxwell scored seven points. Maxwell and Brynn Widener had no good luck shooting the basketball with a combined 3 of 27 shooting (11%). The overall lack of quality offense cost Ellinwood's girls, who played for their first state basketball title in school history. Ellinwood (27-2) converted 2 of 24 shots (8%) from 3-point range and converted 10 of 33 shots (33%) inside the stripe. "You've got to hit a few big shots in certain moments, and we didn't make shots," Maxwell said. "We didn't hit back-to-back shots today. We were close. Had we tied it, it would've changed the dynamics of the game." In one year, the Eagles have progressed from substate runner-up to 2A state runner-up featuring two seniors — Schlessiger and Regan Widener. "Julia and Regan have come a long ways as basketball players. It's fun to see their progress," Maxwell said. "It's about experiences. Now, we've been in the state championship game and understand what it takes to win in this situation." Sacred Heart 10 12 10 11 — 43 Ellinwood 8 11 6 9 — 34 SALINA SACRED HEART (25-4)—Adelyn Lee 4-16 (2-10) 5-6 15; Douglass 4-10 (2-4) 0-0 10; Emerson Lee 3-13 (0-3) 3-7 9; Sharpton 1-2 0-0 2; Bechard 2-3 0-0 4; Richards (1-3) 0-2 3; Totals 15-47 (5-20) 43 ELLINWOOD (27-2)—Schlessiger 6-11 0-2 12; Batchman 2-10 (0-3) 1-2 5; Maxwell 2-15 (2-13) 1-2 7; Brynn Widener 1-12 (0-7) 2-2 4; Joiner 1-4 (0-1) 2-2 4; Regan Widener 1-2 1-2 1; Ritchie 0-0 1-2 1; Totals 12-54 (2-24) 8-14 34 2A GIRLS, EMPORIA—1ST—Salina Sacred Heart 43, Ellinwood 34; 3RD PLACE—Eureka 61, Moundridge 49; Eureka (24-3); Moundridge (24-4); SEMIFINALS—Ellinwood 50, Eureka 47; Salina Sacred Heart, Moundridge; QUARTERFINALS—Ellinwood 55, Rossville 48; Eureka 52, Oakley 45; Moundridge 63, Valley Heights 48; Salina Sacred Heart 52, Pittsburg Colgan 42