BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
The Central Plains' record-breaking basketball streak keeps rolling. The Oilers swept past unbeaten Rexford-Golden Plains 50-39 Thursday to qualify for its seventh consecutive state championship. The Oilers (21-3) play in Saturday's 2 p.m. championship at the Kirkman Center at Barton Community College.
Brynna Hammeke scored 25 points while driving past the Bulldogs' man-to-man defense. Kassidy Nixon grabbed 11 rebounds with nine points and four assists to spark the Oilers.
After leading 19-16 at halftime, the Oilers played a near perfect third quarter with 8 of 10 shooting and zero turnovers against the Bulldogs' man-to-man defense. Jennah Jeffrey scored nine third-quarter points and Hammeke added eight points for a 41-30 lead.
"We needed to relax," said Central Plains coach Pat Stiles. "Jennah Jeffrey really came through for us in that third quarter."
Breanna Rath’s 3-pointer cut the Oilers' lead to 25-24. Jeffrey converted an offensive rebound into two free throws. She scored on a driving shot, two free throws and a 3-pointer. Nixon assisted on Hammeke's basket for a 38-26 lead. Hammeke returned the favor with an assist on Nixon's 3-pointer for a 41-30 lead after three quarters.
Few teams choose to play the Oilers' in man-to-man defense because of Hammeke and Nixon.
"We leaned on each other. That's what we needed to do," Hammeke said. "We ran our offense right and got the ball to the basket. We had confidence in each other. The coaches have confidence in me, so I have to maintain confidence in myself."
Oiler seniors Lexi Oeser, Monica Short, Jennah Jeffrey and Callie Zink earned a shot at the Oilers' seventh consecutive state title.
The Oilers have won 46 consecutive postseason games and 21 consecutive state-tournament games, both all-time girls state basketball records. Oiler coach Pat Stiles is 48-1 in postseason play. The Oilers (21-3) are a perfect 8-0 in state tournament championship games.
“Our seniors stepped up. They want to show they can play, too," said coach Stiles. "They played behind a really good squad for three years, just getting spot play. Now it’s their turn. They’re playing well.”
Golden Plains' Brooke Stoll kept the Bulldogs within 19-16 of Central Plains after four 3-pointers. The Bulldogs kept the Oilers slowed down with a aggressive man-to-man defense. Hammeke scored 10 points to spark 8 of 16 first-half shooting. The Oilers did a nice job attacking the Bulldogs' man-to-man defense.
The Bulldogs (23-1) converted 6 of 27 3-pointers, keyed by Brooke Stoll's four and Rath's pair of 3-pointers. The Bulldogs converted 19 offensive rebounds into 12 second-chance points to stay within range.
“I knew No. 15 (Brooke Stoll) was a good shooter,” Stiles said. “No. 2 (Rath) I didn’t know she’d shoot as well as she did. They were undefeated. They’re a good team. I’ve never seen a team crash the offensive glass as hard as they did. They're really well-coached.”
The Oilers showed nerves with an 8 of 16 first-half with eight turnovers. But Jeffrey, Hammeke and Nixon regained control with a 22-14 edge in the third period.
“We survived and advance,” said Stiles. “It doesn’t matter how ugly or how pretty it is as long as you advance to the next round.”
Nixon fed Hammeke for a final 3-pointer and a 46-30 lead. Golden Plains scored nine more points as Ashley Stoll and Kassie Miller each scored four points and Brooke Stoll added a jumper. Brooke Stoll scored 14 points off 5 of 19 shooting and Ashley Stoll added 12 points and 10 rebounds for a double/double.
The Bulldogs had their unbeaten season end last year against Central Prairie League member Otis-Bison in substate play.
Central Plains 8 11 22 9 — 50
Golden Plains 8 8 14 9 — 39
CENTRAL PLAINS (21-3)—Hammeke 10-17 3-5 25, Jennah Jeffrey 2-6 4-4 9, Nixon 4-6 0-0 9, Lexi Oeser 2-3 0-0 4, Short 1-4 1-3 3, Steiner 0-0 0-0 0, Totals 19-36 8-12 50
GOLDEN PLAINS (23-1)—Brooke Stoll 5-19 0-0 14, Ashley Stoll 5-10 2-2 12, Rath 2-5 0-0 6, Miller 0-12 3-6 3, Nieman 0-3 2-2 2, Wark 1-3 0-0 2, Rayna Taylor 0-1 0-0 0, Fleckenstein 0-1 0-0 0, Totals 13-54 7-10 39
3-pointers—CP 4-10 (Hammeke 2-6, Nixon 1-1, Jeffrey 1-2, Lexi Oeser 0-1); GP 6-27 (B. Stoll 4-14, Rath 2-4, A. Stoll 0-2, R. Taylor 0-1, Miller 0-6). Rebounds—CP 30 (Nixon 11), GP 32 (A. Stoll 10). Assists—CP 8 (Nixon 4), GP 9 (Miller 4). Steals—CP 7 (Nixon 2, Short 2), GP 7 (Miller 5). TO—CP 14, GP 9
OILER ALL-TIME STATE RECORDS—46 consecutive postseason wins; 21 consecutive state tournament wins
Pat Stiles 222-7, 48-1 postseason (21-3, 1A-Div. 2 state semifinal; 25-0, 1A state Final Four; 27-0, 1A state champion; 26-0, 2A state champion; 26-0; 26-0, 2A state champion; 25-1, 2A state champion; 26-0, 2A state champion; 20-3, substate runner-up)
1A DIV. 2 GIRLS SEMIFINALS—Central Plains 50, Golden Plains 39; Cunningham 52, Beloit St. John's 31
SATURDAY'S FINAL—Central Plains 21-3 vs. Cunningham 22-2
1A DIV. 2 QUARTERFINALS—Golden Plains 57, Dighton 45; Central Plains 51, St. Paul 32; Cunningham 56, Ashland 28; Beloit St. John's 52, Wetmore 40
CENTRAL PLAINS GIRLS (36-14)
19 STATE TRIPS (8-0 FINALS)
2021—1A DIV. 2—Central Plains 51, St. Paul 32; Central Plains 50, Golden Plains 39; Central Plains vs. Cunningham
2020—1A—Central Plains 93, Ingalls 47
2019—1A—Central Plains 76, South Gray 28; Central Plains 76, Thunder Ridge 38; CHAMPIONSHIP—Central Plains 52, Hanover 34; Coach—Pat Stiles
2018—2A—Central Plains 55, Inman 30; Central Plains 60, Hill City 35; CHAMPIONSHIP—Central Plains 48, Valley Heights 32; Coach—Pat Stiles
2017—2A—Central Plains 60, Chase County 30; Central Plains 53, Valley Falls 41; CHAMPIONSHIP—Central Plains 60, Alma-Wabaunsee 48; Coach—Pat Stiles
2016—2A—Central Plains 48, Pittsburg Colgan 24; Central Plains 53, Hill City 47; CHAMPIONSHIP—Central Plains 62, Olpe 51; Coach—Pat Stiles
2015—2A—Central Plains 62, Alma-Wabaunsee 52; Central Plains 64, Meade 51; CHAMPIONSHIP—Central Plains 46, Moundridge 33; Coach—Pat Stiles
2014—2A—Central Plains 47, Pittsburg Colgan 38; Central Plains 60, Meade 45; CHAMPIONSHIP—Central Plains 47, Jefferson North 45; Coach—Pat Stiles
2012—2A—Central Plains 46, Oakley 35; Olpe 57, Central Plains 46; THIRD PLACE—Republic County 48, Central Plains 47
2007—1A—Centralia 43, Claflin 30
2006—1A—Claflin 44, Pike Valley 17; Claflin 54, Golden Plains 45; CHAMPIONSHIP—Claflin 47, Greensburg 35; Coach—Toby Holmes
2005—1A—Claflin 68, Jetmore 39; Claflin 50, Greensburg 30; CHAMPIONSHIP—Claflin 68, Wetmore 54; Coach—Toby Holmes
2004—1A—Claflin 54, Sedan 52; Sublette 65, Claflin 47; THIRD PLACE—Hoxie 65, Claflin 47
1997—1A—Claflin 69, Olpe 44; Centralia 56, Claflin 51; THIRD PLACE—Weskan 104, Claflin 74
1996—1A—Pretty Prairie 78, Claflin 74
1995—1A—Claflin 59, Hope 52; Marais Des Cygnes Val-ley 61, Claflin 48; THIRD PLACE—Logan 79, Claflin 76
1994—1A—Claflin 65, Wetmore 52; Logan 81, Claflin 78; THIRD PLACE—Claflin 62, Hutchinson Trinity 60
1987—1A—Quivira Heights 57, Grainfield-Wheatland 56, OT; Spearville 62, Quivira Heights 59; THIRD PLACE—Quivira Heights 58, Burrton 44
1983—1A—Claflin 46, Centralia 44; Grainfield-Wheatland 62, Claflin 38; THIRD PLACE—Frontenac 46, Claflin 30
By ALEX HAMMEKE
Tournament Correspondent
CUNNINGHAM GIRLS 52, BELOIT ST. JOHN’S 31
Behind the Cunningham student section, a banner hung that said two simple words. "Defense Decides."
That defensive tenacity powered the Cunningham Wildcats to their second state title game in school history with their 52-31 victory over Beloit-St. John's/Tipton Catholic. Cunningham last appeared in a state title game in 1988. Cunningham will take on the Central Plains Oilers, who defeated Rexford-Golden Plains 50-39.
The 1st Quarter was all Cunningham, with a 13-0 run to put the Wildcats in command early. Cunningham started off the contest with a 3-0 personal run from Maddi Panek. Future Barton Cougar Morgan Meyers hit her first of many buckets on the LT and Sheila Fleske Court when her first three pointer of the contest forced a Blujay timeout. Cunningham would extend their run and their lead with buckets from Panek and Meyers, alongside a 3-pointer by Reese McGuire. The Blujays would finally get on the board with a layup from Lauren Schmitt with 3:44 left in the quarter. St. John's would add a 3-pointer by Paige Hollerich before the end of the quarter.
Beloit-St. John's and Cunningham would trade buckets before future Newman Jet Lauryn Dubbert would go on a 5-0 run to cut the lead down to 8. That run would be met with a 5-0 run from her former Wheat State Elite summer team member Meyers. Cunningham extended their lead to 15, going into the locker room up 29-14. Meyers had 17 of her 28 points in the first half.
St. John's would cut the lead to 13 twice in the third quarter, with Lauryn Dubbert scoring 13 of her team high 18 in the second half. Even with her red hot shooting in the second half, Cunningham would look inside, with shots from Madie McGuire, Reese McGuire, Alana McGuire, and Meyers to keep St. John's at bay. The Blujays outscored Cunningham in the third quarter, 13-12, but Cunningham kept pace with St. John's throughout the quarter.
Cunningham would start the fourth quarter with a 5-0 run, forcing a couple Blujay turnovers during the run. St. John's would be held outside of scoring for the first five minutes of the frame, until Dubbert hit a jumper with 3:25 left. Cunningham would extend the lead out to 21 before the final minute, as the Wildcats secured their first title game appearance in 33 years.
The Cunningham defense held St. John's to 12-40 shooting and 17 turnovers. Cunningham forced 10 steals and led in points off turnovers 19-10 and fast break points 10-2. The Wildcats take on Central Plains, in what is expected to be a defensive juggernaut.
