The Ellington Lady Whippets came in to the Black River League Tournament ranked # 9 in Class 2, and were hoping to win back to back tournament championships. Although the Lady Whippets are very young overall with one Senior, Gracie Price, three Sophomores, Gretchen Hackworth, Tyler Conkright, and Abby Harper and one Freshman, Kaylee King in the starting 5, they were able to do just that: capture their second straight Black River League Championship trophy. The Lady Whippets are led by their coaching staff Paula King and assistant Bobbie Conkright, and they have done a really good job of preparing the young Ellington team.

Their opponent in the championship game was a team they know well, as they have faced each other in the conference championship game the last two years. South Iron came into the game themselves Ranked # 1 in Class 1, so the Lady Whippets knew they would have to bring their a game in order to go back to back. While they found themselves down 9, 35-26 at the half, they came out in the second half and got theirselves right back into it as Gracie Price began asserting herself at the rim and Tyler Conkright and Gretchen Gackworth started turning up their game to match the intensity of the Lady Panthers. The Lady Whippets also got some huge shots from Sophomore 
Laura Gore, who hit 3 three pointers and two free throws to give the Lady Whippets 11 off their bench. In the end this was crucial to Ellington staying close enough for Hackworth to hit a mid range, base line jumper to win the game 53-51.

The Lady Whippets were led in scoring by Sophomore, Gretchen Hackworth with 13 pts followed by sophomores Tyler Conkright with 12 and Laura Gore with 11 pts, then Senior Gracie Price with 10 pts and freshman Kaylee King with 7 pts.

The Lady Panthers were led in scoring by Senior, Michaela Ayers with 30 pts and Freshman, Madison Ayers with 10 pts. This game was what a championship game was supposed to be - a type of game that the Lady Whippets had to dig within themselves to win, which will only help come district time. The Lady Whippets are now 12-3. You can next catch them in the Big Springs Conference Tournament in Bunker, Missouri January 27th through February 1st.