MANHATTAN – The No. 3 ranked Central Plains Oilers performed like state veterans to roll past Jackson Heights 67-42 in the Class 2A state basketball tournament Wednesday.
Michael Ryan scored 25 points and Layne Bieberle scored 24 points to spark the Oilers, who made 19 of 26 free throws. The Oilers made 22 of 37 field goals and converted four 3-pointers. Braedan Crites contributed six assists and Michael Ryan had four assists.
“We handled their full-court pressure,” said Brett Rolfs, Central Plains coach. “We knew we’d get looks out of that full-court press. We moved the ball around so well. They take chances. We made good ball fakes and made them pay at the line.”
Central Plains (21-3) plays Olpe (24-0) in Friday’s 4:45 p.m. Class 2A semifinals at Bramlage Coliseum.
“We did a really job good job on perimeter defense, and that was the biggest difference,” Rolfs said. “We made them uncomfortable contesting everything. We made them put the ball on the floor and do something different most of the time.”
The Oilers (21-3) took control early with six straight points and an 18-6 lead after one quarter. The Oilers easily broke the Cobras’ fullcourt pressure defense.
Jacob Warnken and Bieberle converted back-to-back 3-pointers for a 29-13 lead midway through the second period. Bieberle scored 16 points and Ryan netted 14 points by halftime. The Oilers led 36-23 at halftime on Ryan’s 3-pointer to end the half.
The Oilers converted 14 of 26 field goals while the Cobras made nine of 21 field goals.

CENTRAL PLAINS 67, JACKSON HEIGHTS 42
Central Plains 18 18 16 15 – 67
Jackson Heights 6 17 12 7 – 42
Central Plains—Layne Bieberle 8-16 6-6 24; Michael Ryan 7-9 10-14 25; Braedan Crites 2-4 0-2 4; Jacob Warnken 2-4 3-4 8; Michael Lamatsch 3-3 0-0 6; Hunter Ingham 0-1 0-0 0; Totals 22-37 19-26 67.
Jackson Heights—Zane Richter 7-17 5-6 20; Wyatt Oberding 4-8 2-3 12; Slocum 3-4 0-0 6; Strube 2-5 0-0 4; S. Holliday 0-4 0-0 0; Jacobsen 0-1 0-0 0; Totals 16-39 7-10 41.