CENTRAL PLAINS 56, MACKSVILLE 33 — Central Plains locked down Macksville's standouts Diego Esparza and Hector Gomez, holding them to 8 of 28 field goals in a dominating 58-33 semifinal victory in the St. John basketball substate.
Aiden Hekele scored a career high 24 points and Peyton Ryan (16) and Brodie Crites (11) scored in double figures. Hekele dominated the paint with 11 field goals. Ryan keyed the ballhandling and passing.
Esparza scored 15 points and Kendall Grippin converted a trio of 3-pointers. Last year's 1A Div, 1 state champion Macksville (15-7) converted 12 of 43 field goals.
The Oilers (18-4) play La Crosse in Saturday's championship after losing to the Leopards 45-29 Feb. 9 for the Central Prairie basketball title.
"This was a great win," said Oiler coach Michael Ryan. "We need to play our best every game. Saturday’s finals match-up will be a battle, but these guys are ready to compete.”
Macksville 5 10 7 11 — 33
C. Plains 12 13 18 13 — 56
MACKSVILLE (15-7)—Esparza 5-18 4-6 15, Grippin 3-8 0-0 9, Gomez 3-11 0-0 7, Guevara 0-3 0-0 0, Clawson 0-4 0-0 0, Marquez 1-1 0-0 2, Scheck 0-1 0-0 0, Totals 12-46 4-6 33.
CENTRAL PLAINS (18-4)—Hekele 11-19 1-4 24, Peyton Ryan 5-16 4-5 16, Crites 3-7 4-6 10, Klima 1-1 0-0 2, Hurley 1-1 0-0 2, Daniels 1-3 0-0 2, Totals 22-47 9-15 56.
3-pointers—M 5-15 (Grippin 3-6, Esparza 1-4, Gomez 1-4, Scheck 0-1); CP 3-10 (Ryan 2-8, Hekele 1-1, Crites 0-1).
LA CROSSE 71, HODGEMAN CO. 55 — La Crosse showcased perfect offensive balance with five starters scoring in double figures for a 71-55 semifinal victory over Hodgeman County in the St. John Div. 1 basketball substate.
Hot-shooting Lee Holopirek (20), Caden Morgan (15), 6-foot-6 Logan Skillett (14), Conner Barriger (12) and Gage Burk (11) scored in double figures.
Hodgeman County's Owen Reece scored 28 points.
Hodgeman Co. 11 16 17 22 — 55
La Crosse 14 14 28 15 —71
HODGEMAN CO. (13-9)—Owen Reece 11 5-9 28, Rydquist 7 0-0 20, Burns 2 0-0 4, Ian Reece 1 1-2 3, Totals 21 6-12 55.
LA CROSSE (18-2)—Holopirek 5 5-6 20, Morgan 7 0-0 15, Skillett 7 0-5 14, Barriger 5 1-1 12, Burk 5 1-2 11, Totals 29 7-14 71.
3-pointers—HC 7 (Rydquist 6, O. Reece 1), L 7 (Holopirek 5, Barriger 1, Morgan 1).
1A DIV. 1 ST. JOHN—3-2—La Crosse 18-2 vs. Central Plains 18-4; La Crosse 71, Hodgeman County 55; Central Plains 56, Macksville 33; Hodgeman County 57, Spearville 55; Central Plains 65, Kinsley 36; Macksville 52, St. John 44
