CENTRAL PLAINS 43, ELLIS 23 — Central Plains Oiler Brodie Crites dominated inside with 27 points to outscore Ellis by himself with a 43-23 substate basketball victory over the Railroaders. The Oilers (16-4) will ride a 5-game winning streak against Tribune Greeley County (12-7) in Saturday's substate championship at Colby. The Jackrabbits won the 2022 and 2023 Division 2 state basketball titles.

Caleb Noble-Hart led Ellis (9-13) with eight points. The Oilers' shifting 2-3 zone defense shut out Aiden Aschenbrenner (11 ppg) and held  Jaren Frickey (11 ppg) to a 3-pointer. 

"We extended our 2-3 zone to their two shooters," said Oiler coach Michael Ryan. "Our guys did a great job playing to our scouting report. We're thankful we're still playing. We ended up playing well at the end of the season. We're playing faster and not thinking a lot."

Ellis 8 7 2 6 — 23

Central Plains 10 15 10 8 — 43

ELLIS (9-13) (FG 3 FT TP)—Noble-Hart 4 0-0 8, Honas 2 1-3 5, Carson Schartz 1 1-2 4, Frickey (1) 0-0 3, Wildeman 1 0-0 2, Reese 0 1-2 1, Trenton Schartz 0 0-2 0, Totals 9 (2) 3-9 23

CENTRAL PLAINS (16-4) (FG 3 FT TP)—Crites 11 (3) 2-2 27, Hekele 2 1-2 5, Stiles 1 0-0 2, Peyton Dody 2 0-0 4, Daniels 1 3-5 5; Totals 17 (3) 6-9 43

1A DIV. 1 BOYS  

COLBY A—3-8—Central Plains 16-4 vs. Greeley County 12-7; SEMIFINALS—Central Plains 43, Ellis 23; Greeley County 51, La Crosse 49; FIRST ROUND—Ellis 70,  Rawlins County 33; La Crosse 84, Osborne 12

COLBY B—3-8—Downs Lakeside 4-6 vs. Quinter 15-6; SEMIFINALS—Lakeside 68, Ness City 54; Quinter 50, Oberlin 48; FIRST ROUND—Ness City 61, Stockton 35; Oberlin 61, St. Francis 33