BY JIM MISUNAS
No. 1 ranked Central Plains converted 30 Moundridge turnovers into 38 points to roll past the Wildcats 61-34 in Thursday’s Hilltop Hoops Classic semifinals. The Oilers (11-0) meet St. John (8-3) in Friday’s 8 p.m. championship game.
All-stater Emily Ryan scored 31 points and collected 10 steals. Delaney Rugan and Avery Hurley each scored nine points. Rachel Lamatsch contributed seven points, six rebounds and four assists.
The Oilers have won 69 consecutive games and have earned a 114-1 record over the past five seasons. Central Plains had won 45 games in a row before losing 66-58 to Ellinwood Feb. 24, 2015.
The Oilers led 41-14 at halftime behind dominating defense. The Oilers scored 23 second-chance points on 21 offensive rebounds.
Moundridge (7-5) was paced by Kassidy Kaufman and Bethany Stucky with 11 points apiece.
Moundridge 7 7 12 8 – 34
C. Plains 21 20 15 5 – 61
MOUNDRIDGE (7-5)—Kassidy Kaufman 4-9 0-1 11, Bethany Stucky 4-8 2-2 11, Ellen Durst 1-2 1-1 3, Erin Durst 0-1 0-0 0, Kourtney Kaufman 2-5 0-0 4, Helms 1-3 0-0 3, Katie Stucky 0-1 0-0 0, Unruh 0-1 0-0 0, Sebrant 1-1 0-1 2, Totals 13-31 3-5 34.
CENTRAL PLAINS (11-0)—Emily Ryan 10-21 8-8 31, Rugan 4-10 1-8 9, Lamatsch 2-8 1-2 7, Avery Hurley 3-8 2-2 9, Donecker 0-0 0-4 0, Cunningham 1-1 0-0 2, Crites 0-3 3-4 3, Totals 20-51 15-28 61.
3-point goals—M 5-16 (Kassidy Kaufman 3-6, Helms 1-3, B. Stucky 1-2, K. Stucky 0-1, Erin Durst 0-1, Ellen Durst 0-1, Kourtney Kaufman 0-2), CP 6-20 (Ryan 3-8, Lamatsch 2-7, Hurley 1-3, Rugan 0-2). Rebounds—M 27 (B. Stucky 9), CP 31 (Lamatsch 6). Assists—M 7 (Kassidy Kaufman 3), CP 12 (Lamatsch 4). Steals—M 8 (B. Stucky 3), CP 21 (Ryan 10). TO—M 30, CP 12.
ST. JOHN 42, LITTLE RIVER 24 – The St. John Tigers (8-3) scored 31 points after 32 Little River turnovers to earn a championship showdown against No. 1 ranked Central Plains. Torre Fisher led the way with 13 points and five steals. Tara Nelson chipped in 10 points.
LR 4 5 10 5 – 24
SJ 11 10 10 11 – 42
LITTLE RIVER (9-3)—Emma McBride, Renken, Madison Loder, Eberle, Gadberry, Bergkamp, Konen, Michelle Loder, Totals 24.
ST. JOHN (8-3)— Fisher 6-12 0-0 13, Nelson 4-13 2-4 10, Meyer 2-7 2-2 7, Crissman 1-4 0-0 2, Rios 1-4 4-4 6, Doran 2-6 0-0 4, Ramirez 0-1 0-0 0, Totals 16-47 8-10 42.
3-point goals— LR 0-2 (McBride 0-1, Michelle Loder 0-1),; SJ 2-12 (Meyer 1-3, Fisher 1-4, Crissman 0-2, Nelson 0-2, Ramirez 0-1), Rebounds—LR 28 (McBride 7), SJ 22 (Doran 5). Assists—LR 5 (Michelle Loder 2), SJ 7 (Fisher 3). Steals—LR 2, SJ 13 (Fisher 5). TO—LR 32, SJ 14.
MACKSVILLE 52, NESS CITY 45 – Macksville’s Lyset Ibarra converted four free throws and Denise Galan made two free throws after Ness City sliced a 10-point lead to 46-45 in a consolation game. Jenna Russell scored 13 points and Galan and BrayLynn Anchutz each scored 10 points. Lyset Ibarra had eight steals and seven assists.
Tiana Epperson led Ness City with 13 points.
MACKSVILLE (6-6)—Russell 5-11 0-0 13, Anshutz 3-7 4-6 10, Galan 4-7 2-2 10, Lyset Ibarra 0-15 8-12 8, Wright 1-5 0-0 2, Mendez 0-1 0-0 0, Cindy Ibarra 2-4 2-2 6, Ortiz 1-1 0-0 3, Garcia 0-0 0-0 0, Totals 16-51 16-22 52.
NESS CITY (0-12)—Epperson 4-10 4-6 13, Walker 4-9 0-0 8, Werth 1-4 0-0 2, Flax 0-1 0-0 0, Foos 3-4 0-2 6, Pfannenstiel 2-2 0-0 5, Guzman 2-3 2-3 6, Morales 0-1 0-0 0, Moody 1-2 0-0 3, Starr 1-2 0-2 2, Totals 18-38 6-13 45.
3-point goals—M 4-20 (Russell 3-9, Ortiz 1-1, Mendez 0-1, Wright 0-2, C. Ibarra 0-7); NC 3-7 (Pfannenstiel 1-1, Moody 1-2, Epperson 1-3, Walker 0-1). Rebounds—M 21 (L. Ibarra 3; NC 41 (Pfannenstiel 9). Assists—M 12 (L. Ibarra 7); NC 14 (Pfannenstiel 5). Steals—M 22 (L. Ibarra 8), NC 14 (Pfannenstiel 4).
BARTON HILLTOP
CLASSIC GIRLS
MONDAY—Little River 48, Ell-Saline 39; St. John 37, Larned 32
TUESDAY—Consolation—Larned 47, Ell-Saline 32; Central Plains 94, Ness City 14; Moundridge 47, Macksville 34
THURSDAY—Consolation—Macksville 52, Ness City 45; Semifinals—St. John 42, Little River 24; Central Plains def. Moundridge
FRIDAY
3 p.m.—7th— Ell-Saline (1-11) vs. Ness City (0-12)
4:30 p.m.—5th—Larned (2-10) vs. Macksville (6-6)
6:15 p.m.—3rd—Little River (9-3) vs. Moundridge (7-5)
8:15 p.m.—1st—Central Plains (11-0) vs. St. John (8-3), 8
