By JIM MISUNAS
All-stater Emily Ryan was fully invested, cheering her teammates while the Central Plains Oilers polished off their 97th consecutive basketball victory.
“We work on being good teammates because that’s what it takes to succeed,” Ryan said. “We always support them because our second group gives it their best effort.”
Ryan’s 26-point performance keyed the Oilers’ 60-19 victory over pesky St. John, their sixth consecutive Hilltop Classic basketball championship.
Ryan scored 99 points in three games to earn All-Tournament honors with teammate Avery Hurley. Hurley and Rachel Lamatsch each scored 10 points.
The true value of a great player is whether they make their teammates perform better. Ryan is a consistent passing threat who always looks for her teammates.
“We play the game the right way,” Ryan said. “Whoever has the best shot takes it.”
Ryan’s team-oriented style indeed makes every Oiler better because they get to practice against her every day.
Ryan and the Oilers make sure they take nothing for granted.
St. John led 2-1 on Paige Doran’s basket.
But the Oilers scored 17 points in 41/2 minutes for a 18-5 lead.
Avery Hurley, Ryan and Rachel Lamatsch hit 3-pointers. Ryan converted three driving shots. Lamatsch and Hurley each had two steals and Addison Crites added a steal.
Lamatsch had four steals as the Oilers forced 23 Tiger turnovers.
“First half, our defense was spectacular,” Ryan said. “We always hang our hat on playing good defense. If the other team doesn’t score, we know we have a good chance of winning.”
The second period featured a stunning display of basketball. The Oilers outscored the Tigers 22-0 for a 40-5 halftime lead.
“Our team defense was really good tonight,” said Central Plains coach Pat Stiles. Our pressure worked and we got some easy baskets. We got them sped up. Our defense carries us.”
The Oilers limited the Tigers (6-7) to 16 field goals attempts. The Oilers has 12 assists and converted 20 of 36 field goals, a 56 percent average.
St. John (6-7) was paced by Darby Smith with five points. All-tournament Paige Doran and Kaylynn Claussen each scored four points.
The Oilers (13-0) play Otis-Bison (13-1) Tuesday and St. John again next week.
“Our team defense is getting better,” Stiles said. “We’re helping the helper and playing better team defense. We talk about getting better every game.”
St. John 5 0 12 2 – 19
Central Plains 18 22 14 6 – 60
ST. JOHN (6-7)–Smith 1-1 3-4 5, Doran 2-4 0-2 4, Claussen 1-4 2-2 4, Bree Meyer 1-2 0-0 2, Crissman 0-1 2-2 2, Rios 0-2 0-0 0, Garcia 0-1 0-0 0, Hudson 1-1 0-0 2, Totals 6-16 7-10 19
CENTRAL PLAINS (13-0)–Emily Ryan 9-15 6-6 26, Lamatsch 3-4 2-2 10, Rugan 4-7 2-3 10, Hurley 1-4 1-2 4, Crites 1-1 4-4 6, Nixon 1-1 0-0 2, Oeser 0-3 0-0 0, Cunningham 1-1 0-0 2, Totals 20-36 15-17 60
3-pointers–SJ 0-4 (B. Meyer 0-1, Crissman 0-1, Rios 0-1, Doran 0-1), CP 5-13 (Lamatsch 2-3, Ryan 2-5, Hurley 1-3, Oeser 0-2). Rebounds–SJ 14 (Claussen 3), CP 13 (Lamatsch 3). Assists–SJ 5 (Garcia 2), CP 12 (Hurley 4). Steals–SJ 4 (Crissman 2), CP 14 (Lamatsch 4). TO–SJ 23, CP 4
CENTRAL PLAINS GIRLS 82, MACKSVILLE 13
Two years ago, the Central Plains broke a school record with dazzling 3-point shooting at the Barton Hilltop Classic.
This time, all-stater Emily Ryan set what is believed to be a state record with 20 steals in addition to her 42 points and 10 of 10 free throw shooting.
The Oilers beat the Macksville Mustangs 82-13 in Tuesday’s first game. The Oilers made 22 of 32 first-half field goals, 69 percent.
Lexi Oexer contributed nine points and Delaney Rugan dished out six assists. The Oilers led 53-3 at halftime.
The five-time defending state champion Oilers 11-0 own the state’s second-longest winning streak at 95 consecutive wins. The Oilers play Larned 4-5 in Thursday’s semifinal.
Macksville’s BrayLynn Anshutz enjoyed a spectacular game with 4 of 4 field goals for nine points.
Macksville 1 2 4 6 – 13
Central Plains 23 30 21 8 – 82
MACKSVILLE 2-10—Anshutz 4-4 1-4 9, Galan 1-5 0-0 3, Smith 0-2 1-2 1, Mendez 0-1 0-0 0, Kuckelman 0-1 0-0 0, Wright 0-1 0-0 0, Ortiz 0-1 0-0 0, Totals 5-15 2-6 13
CENTRAL PLAINS 11-0—Emily Ryan 15-19 10-10 42, Oeser 3-7 0-0 9, Lamatsch 3-7 0-0 6, Rugan 3-9 0-0 6, Nixon 3-6 0-0 6, Hurley 1-7 3-4 5, Crites 2-4 0-0 4, Cunningham 2-3 0-0 4, Totals 32-62 13-14 82
3-pointers—M 1-5 Galan 1-4, Ortiz 0-1, CP 5-14 Oeser 3-5, Ryan 2-4, Cunningham 0-1, Hurley 0-2, Lamatsch 0-2; Rebounds—M 22 Ortiz 5, CP 18 Ryan 6; Assists—M 3 Ortiz 1, Mendez 1, Kuckelman 1, CP 22 Rugan 6. Steals—M 3 Anchutz 1, Ortiz 1, Kuckelman 1, CP 36 Ryan 20
